What Counts as Professional Development?
Professional development (PD) isn’t just about lender policies or compliance training — it spans all aspects of running and growing a business. That includes:
Marketing and business growth strategies
Diversifying your service offering
Learning new management techniques
Enhancing your compliance knowledge
Time management and productivity skills
The takeaway: Think beyond the basics. Evaluate what you really need to grow your business and upskill strategically.
Why You Need a CPD Plan
Without a clear plan, CPD can feel like a box-ticking exercise. A solid plan helps:
Ensure your professional development is purposeful and aligned with your goals
Prevent last-minute stress or rushed learning
Keep you accountable over the year
Tips for Building a Plan:
1. Identify the skills you want to improve — technical and soft skills alike
2. Find learning opportunities: webinars, workshops, short courses, peer mentoring
3. Schedule learning time into your routine (e.g. while commuting, during lunch breaks)
4. Use learning tools that suit your lifestyle — podcasts, mobile-accessible webinars, etc.
This structured approach makes the time investment more valuable and sustainable.
Practical CPD Ideas
Watch a webinar at the coffee shop
Listen to a session on your walk to the office
Do a time management course — improves workflow and counts as CPD
Attend Connective PD Days or Summits
Use Mercury’s CPD Register to keep track
The key is to integrate learning into your existing schedule rather than waiting for free time to appear.
Recording Your CPD – Why It’s Essential
Don’t wait until the end of the year to hunt through emails or calendars to log your hours. Instead:
Record CPD as you go
Save time and stress by keeping your register current
Use Mercury’s CPD Register tool – easy to extract and share with your industry body
Good record keeping is not just about compliance — it’s about making your CPD easier and more effective.
CPD Hour Requirements
Each industry body has its own minimum requirements. Be sure to check their websites for category limits as well:
Industry Body | Minimum Annual CPD Hours |
MFAA | 30 hours |
FBAA | 25 hours |
CAFBA | 20 hours |
Important: Industry bodies may cap the number of hours you can earn in specific categories (e.g., self-education, mentoring, etc.). Make sure your plan reflects these limits.
Connective’s CPD Monitoring Role
Connective does not mandate the number of hours, but:
Has an obligation to monitor completion
May request your register for auditing or lender accreditation purposes
So it’s still critical to:
Maintain a detailed and accurate CPD register
Be ready to provide it on request
Final Tips
Don’t just collect hours — collect skills
Use learning to improve how you work, lead, and grow
Make PD a part of your weekly rhythm
Reach out for help at: [email protected]