What is CPD in a CDR?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a required component of your CDR submission to Engineers Australia. It demonstrates your commitment to maintaining and developing your professional engineering knowledge and skills throughout your career.
Your CPD list should be a chronological record of all professional development activities you have undertaken since graduating from your engineering degree.
What Counts as CPD?
Engineers Australia accepts a wide range of activities as CPD:
Formal Learning
- Short courses and workshops
- Postgraduate study
- Professional certification programs
- Online courses (Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning, etc.)
- Technical training programs
Informal Learning
- Technical reading (journals, books, standards)
- Webinars and online seminars
- Self-directed study
- Research and literature reviews
Professional Activities
- Conferences and seminars (attending or presenting)
- Professional society meetings and activities
- Technical committee participation
- Peer review activities
Work-Based Learning
- Mentoring (as mentor or mentee)
- Supervision of junior engineers
- Project-based learning
- Secondments and job rotations
How to Format Your CPD List
Engineers Australia requires CPD to be presented in a specific format. Each entry should include:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Date | March 2023 |
| Activity | Structural Steel Design Workshop |
| Provider | Engineers Australia |
| Duration | 2 days (16 hours) |
| Relevance | Advanced steel connection design for high-rise buildings |
How Many CPD Entries Do You Need?
There is no minimum number specified by Engineers Australia, but as a general guide:
- Standard CDR: 10–15 CPD activities
- Professional CDR: 15–20 CPD activities
- Premium CDR: 20+ CPD activities
Quality is more important than quantity. Each entry should demonstrate genuine professional development relevant to your engineering practice.
CPD Tips for Success
1. Start from graduation — Include activities from your entire career, not just recent years
2. Be specific — Include the provider, duration, and what you learned
3. Show variety — Include a mix of formal and informal activities
4. Demonstrate relevance — Explain how each activity relates to your engineering practice
5. Include recent activities — EA wants to see that you are currently active in your professional development
Common CPD Mistakes
- Listing only recent activities (should cover entire career)
- Being too vague about what was learned
- Including non-engineering activities
- Forgetting to include online courses and webinars
- Not including professional society memberships
Need Help with Your CPD?
Our CDR writing service includes professional CPD documentation as part of all packages. We help you identify qualifying activities, format them correctly, and present them in a way that demonstrates your commitment to professional development. Contact us for a free consultation.