CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It is the ongoing process of building your knowledge, developing new skills and keeping your professional practice up to date throughout your career. Rather than learning stopping once you have completed your formal education, CPD encourages you to continue developing as your role, responsibilities and sector evolve.

CPD can take many forms, including training courses, workshops, conferences, webinars, mentoring and other structured learning activities. It gives professionals a way to reflect on the skills they already have, identify areas for development and take practical steps to improve their knowledge and performance.

Completing a CPD accredited course gives you a clear record of the structured learning you have undertaken. It can help you demonstrate your commitment to professional development to employers, professional bodies and potential clients, while also showing that you are actively investing in your skills and career.

For conservation professionals, CPD is particularly valuable because the sector is constantly changing. New approaches, tools, evidence and challenges continue to shape how conservation work is planned and delivered. By completing relevant professional development, you can strengthen your confidence, improve the way you work and apply new skills directly to real conservation projects.