CPD Requirements

Introduction

As mainstream knowledge and skills are always moving ahead, counsellors must actively seek to keep their practices current. To ensure our members keep up to date on current research and best practices, NZCCA advocates we engage in regular professional development. This way NZCCA can confidently promote members as professionals who are equipped to support those who are vulnerable and seeking support.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

  • Is the process of improving and increasing capabilities; it refers to the acquisition of skills and knowledge and the application of these to practice.
  • Is intentional and collaborative, ideally incorporating an evaluative stage.
  • Encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from formal education and coursework, to conferences, as well as more informal learning opportunities.

Requirements

Our minimum requirements for various membership types and applicants.

Academic, Full, Life and Provisional Members

40 hours of counselling-related CPD per year (1 April – 31 March).  

Of these 40 hours a minimum of 15 hours needs to be Formal Clinical CPD, with the balance made up of Non-Facilitated CPD and Reading (reading is limited to a maximum of 10 hours).  

Retiree Members

20 hours of CPD per year (1 April – 31 March).  This must include at least one Formal Clinical CPD activity. Reading is still limited to a maximum of 10 hours.  

Membership Applicants

Applicants will need to meet, or be on track to meet, the minimum CPD requirements for the application type they are applying for.  

Requirements Summary

CPD Types

1. Formal Clinical CPD – (minimum 15hrs)

Attendance at person-to-person courses, workshops, seminars, conferences and tertiary training.

Includes:

  • Training activities over 2 hours long – e.g. Compass Seminars, Bach. Counselling and Post Graduate studies, in-person workshops/conferences over 2 hours.
  • NZCCA Conference - only speakers’ presentations and workshops can be counted. 

For the 2023 NZCCA Conference (held in Christchurch) the following can be claimed:

  • 2.0 CPD hours for the pre-conference workshop.
  • 8.5 CPD hours for attending the conference.
  • 10.5 CPD hours if attending both.

Note: Doing formal counselling-related papers at a tertiary provider could cover the CPD requirements (minimum 40 hours) for the year.

Participation in online facilitated learning

Includes:

  • Takes place in an online learning environment e.g. Live Webinars/Zoom Workshops. 
  • The presence and contribution of an online facilitator is required, providing synchronous* or asynchronous* interaction between the facilitator and the participants. 
  • Involves interactive learning where participants carry out a number of learning activities rather than passively listening to a lecture or presentation. 
  • For example, online courses that include facilitated online discussions or forums, and may also include assessment components.

*Synchronous interaction takes place during the online training
*Asynchronous interaction takes place at another time, for example via an online forum, or email.

2. Non-Facilitated CPD

Gaining knowledge relating to counselling through presentations, teaching, research

Includes:

  • Short presentations (under 2 hours) e.g. at the workplace, regional meetings, community events. 

Participation in online non-facilitated learning

Includes:

  • Online non-facilitated learning takes place in an online learning environment without synchronous* or asynchronous* interaction with an online facilitator. 
  • For example, recorded webinars or webinars that are not substantially interactive in nature.
  • You can only claim for the length of the recording/webinar e.g. if video is 45 minutes long you can only claim 45 minutes, even if it took you longer to digest the information.

Participation in peer learning groups

Includes

  • Peer learning groups are groups of peers who meet to discuss and explore counselling topics or resources, without a formal facilitator.

Research

Includes:

  • Teaching material.
  • Writing training material.

You can only claim the research for teaching and writing material. You cannot claim the presentation time/workshop as CPD.

3. Reading (Maximum 10 hours)

Reading is limited to a maximum of 10 claimable hours as we value connection with other professionals.  You may enter more hours but only the first 10 hours will be counted towards your CPD total.  Reading must be clinical/professional counselling related.

CPD Log

All CPD is logged in the CPD area of your NZCCA website login.   Instructions on how to complete the log can be found on the Help? webpage (you must be logged in to the website to view this page).

You will need to include how your CPD informs your practice in the Reflections or Notes field for each CPD entry.

CPD Reduction/Special Consideration

If in your practice you see on average 5 or fewer clients a month for a significant amount of the year, you may put in an application for consideration for a lesser CPD requirement.  

To do this, email the Membership Committee via the office (info@nzcca.org.nz) with:

  • your average number of clients hours per month
  • reasons for the request
  • the number of CPD hours you have completed for the CPD period to date
  • your projected CPD hours (i.e. planned CPD to take you to the end of the review period)
  • any other information that could assist the committee in making a decision. 
  • Please ensure your online CPD log is up to date when making the application.

All special consideration requests must be received at least 3 months prior to the end of the relevant CPD period.

What is not considered CPD?

The following are not considered CPD and should not be included in your CPD log:

  • Personal counselling
  • Supervision (of any type)
  • Spiritual Direction
  • Meetings (except NZCCA Branch Meetings)
  • Church Conferences
  • Non-counselling related training, events
  • Presenting workshops or material

Contact

Please contact the NZCCA office if you have any questions info@nzcca.org.nz