CPD Audit

CORU undertook a review of its CPD approach in 2017 that has informed changes to the documentation that registrants will be required to submit if called for audit.

Further information on CPD Audit Guidelines is available here.

Your Registration Board may audit this record of CPD to confirm that you have a system and process in place to ensure your knowledge, skills and performance are of a high standard. A random selection of registrants will be selected to submit their CPD record evidencing a minimum of 30 CPD credits in every 12-month period.

CORU CPD Record

The CPD record template is provided in an editable format to ensure that registrants can more easily and efficiently submit their record of CPD if selected for audit. The CPD record includes:

Implementation of learning activities that achieved 30 CPD credits of new or enhanced learning
Evaluation and reflection of the learning achieved
Review of learning needs for the next 12-month period
Planned learning activities for the next 12-month period

The word version of CORU’s CPD Record Template is available to download.

CORU has produced a visual aid to support registrants selected for CPD audit, to assist them with completing the CPD Audit Record Template. All registrants selected for audit are advised to view the video ahead of completing their CPD record for audit.

CPD Audit Periods

Profession	Audit Period	Audit Date
Dietitians Registration Board	01 November 2022 ending on 31 October 2024	01 November 2024
Medical Scientists Registration Board	01 April 2022 ending on 31 March 2024	01 April 2024
Occupational Therapists Registration Board	01 April 2021 ending on the 31 March 2023	01 April 2023
Optical Registration Board	01 April 2021 ending on the 31 March 2023	01 April 2023
Social Workers Registration Board	01 June 2021 ending on the 31 May 2023	01 June 2023
Physiotherapists Registration Board	01 October 2021 ending on the 30 September 2023	01 October 2023
Podiatrists Registration Board	01 April 2023 ending on the 31 March 2024	01 April 2024
Radiographers Registration Board	01 November 2022 ending on 31 October 2024	01 November 2024
Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board	01 November 2022 ending on 31 October 2024	01 November 2024

It is expected that at minimum a registrant can demonstrate achieving 30 CPD credits in every 12-month period. For those professions that are taking part in a 24 month audit cycle, you must demonstrate achieving 60 CPD credits in a 24 month period. You must submit 2 separate CPD records for each 12 month period, demonstrating how you have achieved 30 credits in each of these 12 month periods.

Continuing Professional Development Audit FAQs

1. Will I be called for audit automatically?

No. Only a percentage of the eligible register will be requested to submit their record as part of a random audit.

2. Can a particular group be called in the audit?

Yes. Registration Boards reserve the right to target a particular group of practitioners or an individual at any time.

3. Can I only be called for audit at the end of a CPD cycle?

No. Registration Boards reserve the right to target a particular group of practitioners or an individual at any time. For this reason, it is imperative that CPD is completed on an ongoing basis and an up to date record is maintained.

Dates of the audit period for your profession are available on profession specific CPD pages on the CORU website.

4. Are there any exemptions from the routine audit?

Only those who have been on the register for the full audit period will be eligible to be called for routine audit.

Those who join the register mid period should engage with CPD without delay in order to be compliant with their Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, but will be ineligible to be called for the random audit.

5. How will I know if I have been called for audit?

All registrants who are being called for an audit will be contacted directly. If you have not been contacted, you have not been called.

6. Once I have been called for audit, how long do I have to submit my CPD record?

Registrants who have been called for audit will be given 30 days to submit their record for review.

7. Can I defer an audit?

Registrants are expected to engage in CPD as a requirement under their Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. However, in recognition of personal circumstance, we understand that it may not always be possible to comply with the requirement to participate in CPD audit.

These circumstances may include maternity/adoptive leave/other statutory leave or long-term illness. Requests for deferral can be made to the Registration Board following request to participate in CPD audit and will be considered on a case by case basis. There is no guarantee that requests to defer audit will be successful. Those accepted for deferral will automatically be selected in the next round of audits.

8. How can I request a deferral of audit?

Deferrals may only be requested following a notification of random selection for CPD Audit.

You will have 30 days to submit your deferral form from the date that you have been selected for audit. You may request a deferral form from CORU and submit by email via cpdaudit@coru.ie.

9. My application for deferral of audit has been granted - what next?

You will automatically be called for audit at the end of the next CPD period.

10. Who will assess my CPD record?

The purpose of audit is to satisfy that a registrant has a system and process in place to keep their professional knowledge and skills up to date. The audit will look at a registrant’s record of CPD. The review of CPD records will be conducted by the CORU executive with expertise in CPD.

11. Will my CPD record be returned to me?

No. Records will not be returned to registrants. Registrants will only be submitting a copy of their record on CORU templates. All CPD records will be destroyed with 30 days of a Boards decision of compliance.

12. What are the possible outcomes of an audit?

A review of your CPD record could result in one of two outcomes. Either you are deemed compliant or non-compliant.

A registrant may be deemed non-compliant if they fail to engage with their Registration Board having being selected for CPD Audit, fail to submit a CPD Record and have not been granted a deferral by their Registration Board or if there are concerns raised regarding their fitness to practice as a result of information disclosed on their CPD record.

Further information on CPD Audit Guidelines will be available in due course.

13. Can I be selected again for audit if I have already been deemed compliant?

Yes. The random nature of sampling could select a registrant more than once to participate in audit. All registrants who have been on the register for the audit period are eligible to be called.

14. Do I need to submit supporting documentation with my CPD Record?

Registrants are not required to submit supporting documentation, for example certificates, case studies or minutes of meetings. CORU’s CPD Record Template is the only document that we require registrants selected for audit to submit.

Registrants should however maintain supporting documentation as evidence of engagement in CPD.

Further information on completing CORU's CPD Record Template is available as a visual aid here.

15. What are the Executive looking for when reviewing a record?

The CPD record should include your

Implementation of learning activities that achieved 30 CPD credits of new or enhanced learning
Evaluation and reflection of the learning achieved
Review of learning needs for the next 12-month period
Planned learning activities for the next 12-month period

16. I am not able to meet the deadline for submission of my CPD record due to exceptional circumstances that have arisen unexpectedly - what should I do?

If due to personal circumstances you are unable to submit your CPD record or meet the submission deadline you should contact CORU to request a deferral. Please email cpdaudit@coru.ie.

17. What feedback will I receive on my CPD records?

Registrants will be informed of compliance by their Registration Board. A registrant may be deemed compliant or non-compliant. There is no scope for CORU or a Registration Board to give qualitative feedback on a registrants CPD record.

18. I have more questions about CPD. Where can I find more information?

Registrants are advised to read the CPD Guidance and CPD Support issued by their Registration Board on the CORU website for more information about CPD.

Specific queries can be emailed to cpd@coru.ie.

19. I need help with completing my CPD Record Template. Where can I find more information?

20. Do I need to include a digital signature at the end of my CPD record?

Yes. Your CPD record should contain your digital signature. The last page of the CPD record must contain your electronic signature, registration number and date. If you do not have a digital signature, please take a photo of your signature on a hardcopy of the form and submit this with your along with your CPD record. We will not accept a typed signature.