Having 30 years of experience in your field isn’t enough to deliver the service to your clients anymore – if that were the case then we’d all still be walking round with mullets and corkscrew perms!

There are very few professions which remain static for too long; there are always new techniques, technology and developments appearing which means that you can’t rest on your laurels for fear of being left behind.

Much like your car or phone, the things you learned in your degree, diploma or training course are only relevant until the next upgrade – so what can you do to keep ahead of the curve and provide your clients with the best service possible?

The answer lies in CPD. Continuing Personal Development. 

What exactly is CPD training?

You might not be the most academic of people, but if you’re running your own business then you’ll be passionate about being seen as the leader in your field. You’ll want people to recommend you because you provide the very best service and most up to date products.

This can’t happen unless you stay on top of all new developments in your chosen industry and putting a long term CPD plan is crucial to your success (it’s also a legal requirement in some sectors.)

Continuing professional development ensures you continue to be competent in your profession and is something that should continue right throughout your career and not only will it benefit you, but it will benefit your business, your team and your clients.

Any learning activities you undertake that has the purpose of developing new skills and enhancing your current capabilities represent elements of CPD.

Essentially, CPD involves actively pursuing opportunities for personal and professional enhancement at all times and there are a number of learning techniques involved including e-learning programmes, classroom-based study, conferences, workshops and private research. 

Fully accredited CPD training means the learning activity has reached the required standards and benchmarks. The learning value has been scrutinised to ensure integrity and quality.

Implementing a structured, practical and methodical approach to continued learning helps you retain key staff and develop the skills & knowledge needed in order to maintain sustainability and a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

At a time when so many people are considering a move into the aesthetics industry, demonstrating your commitment to continual learning is a must if you want to stand out from the crowd. 

What are the benefits of Continuing Professional Development?

If we learned one thing from 2020, it’s that the ability to adapt quickly and implement new technologies can be the difference between surviving or not surviving.

The pace of change within every industry is probably faster now than it has ever been before so it’s never been more important to stay at the top of your game because if you stand still, you will get left behind.

Whether you work for yourself or as part of team, CPD helps you make a more meaningful contribution to those you work with or for. Being more effective and skilled can help you advance in your career and move into new positions where you can lead, manage, influence, coach and mentor others.

If you do what you’ve always done then you’ll get what you’ve always got so implementing a structured CPD plan will open you up to new opportunities to help you grow your business and offer a bigger range of services or products to your clients.

In a saturated marketplace, having a strong social conscience can encourage people to choose you over your competitors. Through continued learning you will become aware of new technologies, programmes and techniques that may have a wider impact than you imagined.

Accruing this knowledge can have a direct impact in local communities or the environment and local economy.

All of these factors will lead to increased public confidence in you as a professional and your profession as a whole.

How do you record CPD training?

Any CPD that you undertake will result in a credit, a point or a unit – these all relate to the same thing, hours. And the definition of a CPD Hour is the time you spend in “active learning”.

Most training institutes will give you a minimum number of hours to be completed on a yearly basis and assessment teams will evaluate the materials, review the structure and provide advice to help develop the training courses where required.

This process ensures that Botox training courses, cosmetic courses and lip filler courses are educational in content, structured coherently, with clear learning objectives and outcomes.

You will be responsible for tracking your CPD activities, making sure it’s up to date and that it meets the specific requirements of your professional body or association.

Continuing Professional Development undertaken is recorded
by a CPD Certificate of Attendance, CPD Self-Assessment forms and personal CPD
Record Cards.

According to the CPD certification service, there are 3 main types of learning that will be
incorporated into your annual accreditations:

• Structured CPD / Active Learning – this has a focus on proactive, interactive, participation based study which could include seminars, conferences, in person training etc.

• Reflective CPD / Passive Learning – this focusses more on listening to podcasts, studying industry related articles and
  blogs as well as informative educational videos.

• Self-Directed CPD / Unstructured Learning – this covers more ad-hoc learning and reading in the form of trade magazines, books by industry leaders, journals and research. 

Why is CPD training important in the aesthetics industry?

The aesthetics industry is fast moving with new products, procedures and techniques being constantly developed and implemented so it’s essential you keep up with the trends, especially if you’re looking to expand your services and be recognised as the best in business.

As an existing medical practitioner registered with the GMC, GDC or NMC, you are required to demonstrate that you have obtained CPD hours / points.

Continuing your professional development helps to give you an advantage in an already competitive market and can be used as a unique selling point.

Most importantly, it also helps to continually raise industry standards.

Whether you’re just considering a move into the aesthetics arena or you’re already a practitioner and want to grow your business and your reputation, CPD is definitely something to consider.

All of our courses are CPD approved so you know that you’re receiving outstanding training and follow up support as you move forward in the industry. Beginner? Learn more here about aesthetic courses and Botox courses.

At the moment, the aesthetics industry in the UK isn’t regulated so by undergoing approved training you are helping contribute to a safer future for the profession, setting standards that others should want to follow. 

At the heart of the continuing professional development scheme is a personal desire to uphold a certain quality of care and service which safeguards the public and exceeds the expectations of your clients and your profession.

Speak with Aesthetics Professionals

Have you got any questions? Contact Doctor Hennessy Academy training below or call 01704 567557