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Has CPD gone crazy
When CPD first appeared, many of us worked against making it compulsory on the grounds that you should be able to rely on commercial pressures - if individuals did not keep up to date then they would jeopardise promotion or seeking new employment and firms would not be able to offer new services. Of course, at that time, the professions were very much simpler. Speaking as a quantity surveyor, our main need was to keep up to date with methods of measurement and production of bills of quantities and forms of contract. I am sure that other professionals had a similar outlook.
As time went on, I joined other organisations, all of whom had their own CPD requirements, with somewhat diverse requirements, particularly in the way of dealing with 'private study/reading'. I dealt with this by recording everything on a simple spreadsheet - if I ever needed to provide my records, I could give the entire list and rely on the institute to delete anything inapplicable. I was always confident that I did such a large number of hours that I would comply with all requirements.
During the last couple of years, I have noticed a creeping of very restrictive requirements, for membership of various panels. Instead of CPD relating to your profession, you now are restricted (in time/points) to that which is applicable to the purpose of the panel. As these panels are for specialisms which are dependent upon a primary profession, I believe that it is totally wrong only to require CPD for the specialism, not for the primary profession.
To return to my original objection - it is inherent in practicing as an arbitrator/adjudicator/etc that you keep up to date with developments and law. However, the reason for your appointment as arbitrator/adjudicator/etc is your training and experience in your primary profession. Not only is time spent on CPD for your original profession not counted but, because you have to spend a fairly large amount of time on specific CPD, it may be difficult to find the necessary time.
Peter Horne
Editor's comment - I must admit that I agree entirely with Peter's conclusions. We may all be in danger of becoming professional dispute resolvers rather than professionals who resolve disputes. I would welcome comments on this from any of our readers.