CPD courses for Construction

A guide to CPD for Construction Workers

Construction is a large, diverse and constantly changing industry, which is moving at a fast pace. Therefore, construction workers need to ensure they keep abreast with the latest developments and legislation.

Construction work covers a wide range of roles and activities and usually requires a high degree of competence. This means having a combination of training, knowledge, skills and experience to carry out activities safely. Regular CPD training is a vital part of achieving competency in construction.

There are many construction professional bodies and member institutions that make CPD a mandatory requirement for members. Some professional bodies may even require members to undertake a certain number of CPD hours annually. Employers may also require workers to undertake CPD as part of their role.

If you are not already aware of the CPD training required for your role and responsibilities, you should ask your employer and check industry standards. You can also think about the gaps in your knowledge and skills and what could help you improve.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a tradesperson, a small builder, a contractor, or you work for a large construction firm. Our e-learning courses will help you with your CPD.

CPD courses

Many things count towards your CPD, and they should be relevant to you and your goals. For example, you can attend seminars/lectures, read books/journals, mentor, deliver training and undertake work-based learning. You can also complete e-learning, which can also count as part of your CPD.

Our e-learning courses are CPD certified and accredited under the CPD Certification Service. When you complete your course, you will gain an accredited qualification and CPD points (hours). The more training courses you undertake, the more knowledge and CPD points you will achieve.

To make the most out of your learning, you should adopt a structured and consistent approach to your CPD by undertaking training that meets your personal development objectives.

CPD certificates 

Once logged in, you can work through your course in a few hours (depending on the type of course), and there is no time limit for completion. You can work through it at your own pace. Very rarely do students need help, but if you do, our staff are here to assist.

After completion of your course, including passing the quiz, you can download your PDF certificate immediately. Our professional-looking certificates are fully CPD regulated. They can provide evidence of training to enforcement authorities, construction clients and health and safety personnel.

You can log onto your account at any time and download your certificates. You can keep them on file or email them through to your manager. It is also easy to print off a hard copy of your certificate and keep it with your other qualifications and awards in your CPD portfolio. You will also receive a copy of your certificate in the post.

Logging CPD hours

Every course that is CPD accredited will have a number of points assigned to it. One CPD point is equal to one hour of active learning, which means that you will get one point for every hour you spend on a CPD activity

The number of points you will earn on completion of the course is in the course description, along with an estimated time to complete. This will give you your CPD hours.

You can keep a log of your CPD hours for the year and make a record of whether you have met your learning objectives. It is important to maintain an accurate CPD record as part of your CPD portfolio and personal development plan.

CPD may not be a mandatory requirement for your role, but it is a worthwhile exercise nevertheless. Logging CPD hours and keeping training records will have a positive impact on your overall career in construction. Also, knowing more about the risks you may face on site will help keep you and your colleagues safe and healthy at work.

Keeping evidence

Your certificates and any other documentation relating to your CPD should be retained as evidence. Some professional bodies require CPD records to be kept for a period of five years, and employers may want you to keep them for longer. You will need to check any requirements for CPD documentation retention times specific to your role.

There is not a prescribed format when recording your CPD. Although, you may be required to use a specific format by an employer or professional body

Your CPD record may be audited by your employer or by an external party, such as enforcement authorities and professional bodies. This is another reason why keeping evidence of your CPD is important.

Renewing CPD certificates

It is recommended that you renew your CPD certificate every two years. However, your employer may want you to complete a refresher every year. This will depend on the rules within your company.

Refresher training also counts towards your CPD. Therefore, you can log CPD hours for every course you undertake, including those taken as a refresher.