ENGINEERS BOARD OF KENYA

CONTINOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

AUGUST 2014
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 2

1.1 What is Continuing Professional Development ............................................ 3

2.0 POLICY STATEMENT .................................................................................... 4

3.0 TYPES OF CPD ACTIVITIES ....................................................................... 5

3.1 STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES: .......................................................................... 5

3.1.1 Formal activities...................................................................................... 5

3.1.2 Participation ........................................................................................... 6

3.1.3 Presentations .......................................................................................... 6

3.1.4 Activities contributions to knowledge....................................................... 7

3.2.1 Informal activities ................................................................................... 8

3.3 Summary of CPD Categories ...................................................................... 9

4.0 CPD RECORD ............................................................................................. 10

5.0 REMOVAL AND REINSTATEMNT TO THE REGISTER .................................... 11

APPENDIX 1: CPD RECORD SHEET .................................................................... 12

APPENDIX 2: NOTES TO THE FILLING OF THE CPD RECORD ............................ 14

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) policy for Engineers seeks to

develop and continuously improve the competence of professional engineers
in the country. The purpose of this initiative is to contribute towards
improving efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of services by
professional engineers.

Section 7(1)(q) of the Engineers Act 2011 provides that one of the functions of
the Board is to “plan,arrange,coordinate and oversee continuing professional
training and development and facilitate internship of graduate engineers”

The objective of the CPD policy is to;

 Improve professional competence of local engineers and engineering firms.

 Keep abreast of changing procedures and standards.
 Understand and apply advances in technology.
 Better serve the engineering profession, community and environment.
 Assist practicing engineers to increase capacity for learning so as to be
more capable, confident and adaptable when faced with change.
 Broaden into related fields, such as those covering management, financial
or legal aspects in order to improve work performance and enhance career
prospects.
 Maintain, improve or expand technical skills and knowledge.

It is generally accepted that a person’s ability to maintain high levels of

professional competence is achieved by continually upgrading his/her skills
and knowledge. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has many
benefits because it: -

1. Fosters excellence in the professions.

2. Provides a mechanism through which professionals are accountable for
remaining current in their practice thus improving the profession’s
credibility with the public.
3. Enhances and/or expands the domain of practice.
EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

4. Enhances professional image.

5. Facilitates practice mobility.
6. Facilitates upward movement in the value chain to clients and employers.
7. Improves marketability.

1.1 What is Continuing Professional Development

CPD simply means learning that helps the Professional Engineer fulfil
his/her present or future roles more effectively, maintain a sufficiently high
standard of professional competence, and remain current in an ever
competitive job market. This will usually comprise a combination of formal
and informal activities such as courses at educational training institutions,
attendance at conferences, participation in committees, self-directed study
amongst others. Members have a personal responsibility to develop and
maintain their knowledge and skills to ensure competence throughout their
careers. This can be achieved through a program of continuing professional
development which will provide:

 A means by which the Professional Engineer can take responsibility for

his/her lifelong learning.
 A means by which you can improve your employability and professional
practice.
 A framework to identify and plan for acquiring further skills needed.
 A method to plan career changes.
 A vehicle to ensure that professional standards are maintained.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

2.0 POLICY STATEMENT

Section 7(1)(q) of the Engineers Act 2011 has empowered the Engineers
Board of Kenya to “plan, arrange, coordinate and oversee continuing
professional training and development and facilitate internship of graduate
engineers”.

Professional Engineers seeking to be issued with a practising licence must

present a certificate of CPD issued by the Board pursuant to provisions of
Sec 32(2) of the Act.

The Board has therefore developed this policy on CPD as follows:

 The CPD requirement will apply to all professional engineers and

consulting engineers.
 The CPD shall be a minimum of forty (40) hours per year. Of these forty
hours, a minimum of thirty (30) hours shall be attained from structured
activities and the remainder may be obtained from either structured or
unstructured activities.
 The Board will have powers to audit CPD records of any professional
engineer and shall administer an audit of the CPD system – upto 10% of
the professional engineers will be randomly audited each year. The Board
may delegate this power.
 The Professional Engineer may apply to the Board for exemption of CPD
requirement.
 The Board will promote continuing education opportunities and facilitate
structured CPD activities and may organize for the activities with other
reputable organizations authorised by the Board.
 The Board will promote and endorse CPD courses offered by professional
institutions, educational institutions, employers and industry upon the
approval of the course content and accreditation by the Board.
 The Board shall allocate professional development units to the accredited
courses.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

3.0 TYPES OF CPD ACTIVITIES

For an activity to qualify as CPD must be related to the career as a

professional engineer.

To be in compliance with this guideline, members are required to complete an

average of 40 hours per year. Hours are accrued as Professional Development
Unit (PDUs). The combination shall be at least 30PDUS from structured
activities and not more than 10PDUs from unstructured activities.

The Board shall recognise structured activities and unstructured activities as

follows:

3.1 STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES:

Structured activities will include:

• Formal activities.

• Participation

• Presentations

• Contributions to Knowledge.

3.1.1 Formal activities

Formal activities are often for academic credit and may include an evaluation
process. Where there is no evaluation, credit may be claimed in this category
for activities that are at least four hours in length, such as a professional
development seminar, course or workshop. Activities claimed in this category
require proof of attendance (receipt or certificate, etc.). Delivery methods
might include a traditional classroom setting or remote techniques such as
written correspondence, webcast, video, CD-ROM, or interactive electronic
exchange. Formal activities include:

 Courses offered by universities, technical institutes, colleges, suppliers,

employers or technical societies;
 Short courses, technical sessions, seminars and workshops provided by
associations, technical societies, industry or educational institutions.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

The Board will maintain an updated schedule of universities, technical

Institutes, colleges, suppliers, employers and technical societies that can
offer formal activities for CPD.

One hour of course attendance equals one PDU.

The maximum units that an engineer can claim from activities listed under
formal category is 15 PDUs maximum per year.

3.1.2 Participation
Activities that promote peer interaction and provide exposure to new ideas
and technologies both enhance the profession and serve the public interest.
These activities include:

i. Mentoring/tutoring as an appointed mentor to a member-in-training or

applicant;
ii. Service on public bodies that draw on professional expertise (e.g.,
planning boards, development appeal boards, investigative
commissions, review panels or community building committees);
iii. Service on standing or ad-hoc committees of a technical or professional
nature, or managerial associations and societies.

One hour of participation activity equals one PDU.

The maximum units that an engineer can claim from activities listed under
participation category is 15 PDUs maximum per year.

3.1.3 Presentations
Eligible presentations are those of a technical or professional nature that are
discretionary, that is outside your normal job functions. Presentations might
occur:

i. At a conference, meeting, course, workshop or seminar;

ii. Within a company or at an event sponsored by a technical or professional
organization.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

Multiple deliveries of the same presentation count for only one presentation.

One hour of preparation and delivery earns one PDU.

The maximum units that an engineer can claim from activities listed under
presentations category is 15 PDUs maximum per year.

3.1.4 Activities contributions to knowledge

This category includes activities that expand or develop the technical
knowledge base in the disciplines of engineering or geoscience. These
activities include:

i. Development of published codes and standards (one hour of committee

work equals one PDU);
ii. Patents (credit can be claimed only one time per patent, each patent
registered equals 5 PDUs);
iii. Publication of papers in a peer-reviewed technical journal (each paper
published equals 5 PDUs);
iv. A thesis at the Masters or Ph.D. level, on a one time basis, upon
successful defense and approval (each thesis equals 10 PDUs);
v. Publication of a book (each book equals 10 PDUs);
vi. Publication of articles in non-reviewed journals or an internal company
report (each article equals 5 PDUs);
vii. Reviewing articles for publication (one hour of review equals one PDU.
Maximum of 5 PDUs);
viii. Editing papers for publication (one hour of editing equals one PDU).

The maximum units that an engineer can claim from activities listed
under contributions to knowledge category is 10 PDUs maximum per year.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

Table 1 below summarizes the activities contributing to knowledge:

Activity contributing to knowledge Limits

Development of Published Codes and Standards 1 hour = 1 PDU

Patents 1 patent = 5 PDU

Publication of Papers in Peer Reviewed Technical Journal 1 paper = 5PDU

Thesis at Masters or Ph.D level (successfully defended and 1 thesis = 10PDU

approved)

Publication of a book 1 book = 10PDU

Publication of Articles in Non-Reviewed Journals or Internal 1 article = 5 PDU

Company Report

Reviewing Articles for Publication 1 hour = 1 PDU (mas of 5

articles in a year)

Editing Papers for Publication 1 hour = 1 PDU

3.2 UNSTRUCTURED ACTIVITIES

Unstructured activities will constitute informal activities. The maximum

PDUs that can be attained through informal activities will be 10PDUs.

3.2.1 Informal activities

Informal activities are usually shorter in duration and do not involve any
evaluation, but nevertheless expand one’s knowledge, skills and judgment.
Informal activities include:

 Self-directed study (e.g., private reading including current technical,

managerial and business journals);
 Attendance at conferences and industry trade shows;
 Seminars, technical presentations, facilitated technical fi eld trips, and
workshops (courses and seminars greater than four hours in length may
be claimed in the formal category);
 Attendance at meetings of technical, professional or managerial
associations or societies;
 Structured discussion of technical or professional issues with one’s peers.

One hour of informal activity equals one PDU.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

3.3 Summary of CPD Categories

CATEGORY HOURS MAXIMUM

Formal 1 hour = 1 PDU 15PDUs

Participation 1 hour = 1 PDU 15PDUs

Structured Presentations 1 hour = 1 PDU 20PDUs

Contributions to
1 hour = 1 PDU 10PDUs
Knowledge

Unstructured Informal 1 hour = 1 PDU 10PDUs

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

4.0 CPD RECORD

An individual’s CPD records must demonstrate a minimum of 40PDUs in the

past calendar year.

The records must be accompanied by relevant proof of undertaking the

activity which will include, but not limited to:

 Certificate of attendance/participation.
 Curriculum/Syllabus/Course Outline whichever is applicable.
 Copies of presentations (where individual was a facilitator).
 Copies of memberships to professional bodies where applicable.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

5.0 REMOVAL AND REINSTATEMNT TO THE REGISTER

CPD record forms for a particular calendar year must be filled and submitted
by 30th March of the following year.

Failure to submit the CPD record sheet as stipulated in within the stated
period shall result in the removal from the register during the next calendar
year.

For an engineer to be reinstated, he will be required to show that he has:

a) Fulfilled all other conditions required for inclusion in the register under
the Engineers Act 2011 and the regulations thereof.
b) Must show that he has garnered an average 60 hours of CPD hours
annually for the period under default.

EBK/CPD/814/V1
APPENDIX 1: CPD RECORD SHEET

NAME: MEMBER NO.:

FROM (DD/MM/YY): TO (DD/MM/YY):

Formal Activity – 1PDH per 1 Hour

DATE DESCRIPTION/TITLE ORGANIZER/PROVIDER VALUE

(DD/MM/YY) OF COMPLETED PDHs PDHs CARRY
ACTIVITIES EARNED CLAIMED OVER TO
NEXT
PERIOD

PERIOD SUBTOTAL
PDUs/year that may be claimed,
15max

Participation – 1PDH per 1 Hour

DATE DESCRIPTION/TITLE ORGANIZER/PROVIDER VALUE

(DD/MM/YY) OF COMPLETED PDHs PDHs CARRY
ACTIVITIES EARNED CLAIMED OVER TO
NEXT
PERIOD

PERIOD SUBTOTAL
PDUs/year that may be claimed,
15max

Presentations – 1PDH per 1 Hour

DATE DESCRIPTION/TITLE ORGANIZER/PROVIDER VALUE

(DD/MM/YY) OF COMPLETED PDHs PDHs CARRY
ACTIVITIES EARNED CLAIMED OVER TO
NEXT
PERIOD

PERIOD SUBTOTAL
PDUs/year that may be claimed,
20max
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

Contributions to Knowledge – 10PDHs per year – limits apply

DATE DESCRIPTION/TITLE ORGANIZER/PROVIDER VALUE

(DD/MM/YY) OF COMPLETED PDHs PDHs CARRY
ACTIVITIES EARNED CLAIMED OVER TO
NEXT
PERIOD

PERIOD SUBTOTAL
PDUs/year that may be claimed,
10max

Informal Activity – 1PDU per 1 Hour

DATE DESCRIPTION/TITLE ORGANIZER/PROVIDER VALUE

(DD/MM/YY) OF COMPLETED PDHs PDHs CARRY
ACTIVITIES EARNED CLAIMED OVER TO
NEXT
PERIOD

PERIOD SUBTOTAL
PDUs/year that may be claimed,
10max

TOTAL FOR ALL ACTIVITIIES DURING ANNUAL

PERIOD
TOTAL HOURS CARRIED FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS
YEARS
TOTAL HOURS CLAIMED FOR THIS PERIOD

EBK/CPD/814/V1
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEELOPMENT (CPD) – GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL EBK/CPD/814/V1
ENGINEERS

APPENDIX 2: NOTES TO THE FILLING OF THE CPD RECORD

i. The CPD record form must be submitted by 31st March of every year.
Practising engineers will be required to submit details of CPD activities for
the previous calendar year.
ii. Activities should be recorded in a chronological order, starting with the most
recent.
iii. CPD hours garnered in one calendar year cannot be carried over to
subsequent years.
iv. Only activities approved by the Board for purposes of CPD shall be entered
in the record sheet.
v. The Board shall be at liberty to appropriately adjust the entries where in the
determination of the Board the activities have been wrongly entered. The
corrected record sheet shall be returned to the concerned engineer for
concurrence. The engineer may appeal against the corrections giving further
information. The Board shall such consider such an appeal and issue a final
record sheet.

EBK/CPD/814/V1