A CPD checklist
Kari Koonin, Chair of the ITI Professional Development Committee, offers a reminder to make sure all your continuing professional development is up to date - and that you’ve recorded it for others to see.
It may feel that the year only began quite recently, but the 2023-24 CPD year ends on 30 April. Which means it’s time to make sure your CPD record is up to date and you have logged all your CPD for the past year using the ITI CPD Log. Rembember, you can’t backdate your CPD in the Log to previous years, and the ITI office can't edit your records. So don’t miss the deadline!
What counts as CPD?
Here are some ideas for topping up your CPD record – whether you’re an hour or two short of the 30 hours ITI members are recommended to do in each membership year, or generally looking for some extra inspiration for CPD over and above formal CPD such as workshops, courses, webinars etc.
Actually, you’d be surprised just how much of what you do routinely in your professional practice or studies may count as CPD. Have a look at the list below – you may recognise some activities you have been doing but haven’t logged as CPD yet. I also explain what doesn’t count as CPD.
Self-directed CPD
- Reading relevant journals, websites, reports, papers etc (except research as part of a paid work assignment - see below)
- Keeping up language skills (radio, podcasts, TV programmes/films in your source or B language, conversation sessions)
- Contributing to professional literature (ITI Bulletin, journals, blogs, software reviews and so on)
- Preparing and delivering presentations at events, webinars etc
- Assisting at T/I events, language career fairs, seminars, etc
- Lecturing and teaching
- Supporting ITI with PR, marketing or committee work
- Mentoring, acting as an examiner/assessor
- Other activities to maintain foreign language skills or improve subject knowledge (visiting exhibitions, libraries, museums, client premises)
- Outreach work (e.g. talking to schools or business groups)
- Networking (both inside and outside ITI) with peers, potential clients, etc
- Volunteering in non-ITI settings relevant to your specialist field
- In-house training for staff translators
- Peer learning: revision clubs, WhatsApp groups etc.
What doesn’t count?
- Time spent researching the subject of a specific translation or interpreting assignment (this would be considered part of what you are being paid for)
- General holidays abroad (although a stay in another country specifically with the aim of improving your foreign language skills does count as CPD)
- Any voluntary or professional work, conference attendance, networking, training, reading, writing, blogging and so on that does not relate to your work as a translator/interpreter
- Conference attendance or attendance at similar events for which you are being paid as part of your work as a translator/interpreter
- Undergraduate or postgraduate translation/interpreting degree programme or other degree programmes taken prior to entering the profession
Why log your CPD?
CPD is a way of proving to your clients that you take your profession seriously and are committed to constantly improving, honing your skills and learning. Undertaking CPD is an essential part of almost any profession these days, and it’s no different in ours.
Full details of how to log your CPD are available on the ITI website, where you can also download the CPD User Guide.
