CPD Co-ordinators
Firms that employ at least 3 qualified actuaries are encouraged to appoint a CPD Co-ordinator. The main role of the CPD Co-ordinator is to act as a link on CPD issues between individual actuaries, their managers and the human resources function within a company and with the Profession. Co-ordinators aim to raise awareness and understanding of the Actuarial Profession's CPD requirements and to encourage and assist actuaries to undertake CPD.
It is not necessary for a CPD Co-ordinator to be an actuary; many firms have allocated this role to somone in their compliance or human resources teams. However, a CPD Co-ordinator should be someone with an interest in ensuring that the actuaries in their firm keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date and comply with the requirements of the Profession's CPD scheme.
Possible functions which might be undertaken by a CPD Co-ordinator
The exact role and function of a CPD Co-ordinator will vary according to the firm and the requirements of actuaries within the firm. However, some possible functions include:
- Encourage actuaries to undertake CPD.
- Tell newly qualified actuaries about CPD and ensure that actuaries and managers are aware of the CPD requirements.
- Help actuaries to plan and record their CPD programme, encompassing needs in technical skills, business and management skills and professionalism.
- Monitor CPD undertaken.
- Organise and encourage the provision of in-house CPD meetings, keeping attendance records if appropriate.
- Encourage people within their firm to present at CPD events.
- Publicise CPD events (internal and external).
- Consult actuaries on CPD matters on behalf of the Profession.
- Act as a point of contact for the Profession on matters relating to CPD.
- Provide feedback to the Profession on all aspects of CPD.
- Liaise with other CPD Co-ordinators and regional societies on local CPD provision.
- Update the Profession with any change of CPD Co-ordinator.
- Attend regular meetings of CPD Co-ordinators to share ideas.
- Encourage actuaries to record their CPD and comply with the requirements of the Profession's CPD scheme.
These functions will vary depending on the following factors:
- Size of company.
- Type of company.
- Ethos of company in terms of general approach on training and development.
- Location of company.
- One site or multi-site.
- Numbers of actuaries.
The Profession keeps a database of CPD Co-ordinators and is in regular contact with them. We hold meetings of CPD Co-ordinators every one to two years to facilitate the sharing of ideas and good practice. The attached presentation was given at the CPD Co-ordinator's meeting on 29 November 2011. The CPD Co-ordinators' handbook sets out the role of a CPD Co-ordinator in full.
Further information
If you would like to know who acts as the CPD Co-ordinator for your firm, if you are interested in volunteering to become a CPD Co-ordinator, or if you would like to share feedback or obtain further information, please contact Debbie Atkins: debbie.atkins@actuaries.org.uk; tel: 0131 240 1803.