Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Information

ECPR is now fully accredited by The CPD Certification Service, as a CPD Provider, offering events that are CPD certified. This important step reaffirms our commitment to recognising and supporting professional development across the ECPR community.

CPD explained

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development and is the term used to describe the learning activities professionals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities. CPD is a holistic approach towards the enhancement of personal skills and proficiency throughout a professional’s career.

CPD is for everyone

CPD is carried out by millions of individuals across a whole range of industries and professions. Regulated industries tend to expect professional bodies & associations to ensure a mandatory CPD policy is implemented across the various roles and job functions working within that sector. This can be seen clearly within the traditional sectors of healthcare, medical, law, financial services, construction, engineering, veterinary and accountancy, for instance, but is equally pervasive in other professions such as education, IT, communications, marketing, human resources and business.

Certified events

ECPR's General Conference 2026 is a fully certified CPD event. This means that if you attend the event with an active role, such as Paper Presenter, Panel Chair, Panel Discussant or Section Chair, your work is professionally recognised and you will be eligible for CPD hours on completion of the event. CPD hours are calculated based on the time spent in 'active learning'. Panel sessions, Roundtables and Keynote sessions are all classed as 'active learning'. Refreshment breaks, welcome receptions and social dinners do not count towards CPD hours.

In 2027, ECPR will have a range of CPD certified events available. 

How to get your CPD certificate

Once you have attended the event, you will receive an email from the CPD Certification Service within 35 days of attending the event. The email will include a unique link to a MyCPD portal where you can access and download your certificate. All CPD hours can be logged in your MyCPD portal, combining all hours from different CPD providers.