CPD with the IASW
This page covers three key areas in relation to CPD:
- CORU’s CPD Requirements of Registration
- The Audit Cycle
- IASW Supports to Your CPD
1. CORU’s CPD Requirements of Registration
CORU define CPD as “the means by which health and social care professionals maintain and improve their knowledge, skills and competence, and develop the professional qualities required throughout their professional life.”
The Social Workers Registration Board Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics (2019) clearly outlines the requirements of registrants with regard to CPD. The responsibilities of registrants in relation to keeping professional knowledge and skills up to date are as follows:
10.1 You must:
- ensure that your knowledge, skills and performance are of a high standard, up to date and relevant to your practice
- participate in continuing professional development (CPD) on an ongoing basis.
10.2 You should:
- consider the support and guidance provided by your Registration Board regarding CPD
- keep a record of the activities you have completed.
You can also visit CPD FAQ Here
CORU also launched a video resource to support student learning about CPD as an integral component of their professional practice. The video also serves as a useful refresher to more experienced practitioners.
2. The Audit Cycle
At the end of each CPD audit cycle, a random sample of social workers are selected for audit by the SWRB. Those who deferred in the previous period are also selected.
The current audit period for social workers runs from 1st June 2025 ending on the 31st May 2027. If called for audit, you must submit separate CPD records for each 12 month period, demonstrating how you have achieved 30 credits in each of these 12 month periods of the 24 month audit cycle.
CORU’s CPD Record Template is the only document registrants selected for audit need submit.
Registrants are no longer required to submit a record of supporting documentation/evidence of CPD activities nor are they required to complete reflective practice reports. Registrants should however maintain supporting documentation as evidence of engagement in CPD. It is expected that the impact of learning on your professional practice is captured in the reflective aspects of your CPD record.
The SWRB have published a number of documents offering guidance to registrants on the CPD requirements of registration which have been uploaded to this page for your convenience.
PLEASE NOTE: The CPD record template referred to in the video is no longer required to be submitted as part of the CPD Audit. This template remains available on the CORU website as a recording tool for registrants to assist in populating the relevant fields on the CPD Audit section of the registrant portal if called for audit.
For further information and questions you may have, please refer to the CORU CPD Audit FAQs page.
3. IASW Supports to Your CPD
- The IASW provides an array of CPD opportunities in the form of webinars, conferences, courses and events to support your professional development and to help you meet the requirements of registration at all stages in your career
- Presentations and resources from many of our past events can be found in the IASW Past Events section. Recordings of some of our online events in 2021 are also available.
- IASW members receive at least a 50% discount on most CPD opportunities
- Information and advice on CPD and the CPD requirements of registration
- Webinars and seminars on the CPD requirements of registration
- Liaise with CORU on behalf of our members
- Essential documents and resources available from our CPD member only section on www.iasw.ie
- The IASW CPD policy is currently under review.