CPD

INTRODUCTION

Continuous Professional Development is required, per statutory regulation, for all professionals such as counsellors, psychologists, medical practitioners and nurses, social workers, religious workers and teachers. CPD training is compulsory and the obligation as set out in the NQF policy (Act 67 of 2008) determines that a professional body shall “set criteria for, promote and monitor continuous professional development for its members to meet relevant professional designation requirements.” Accordingly the ASCHP offers CPD training to help its members stay up to date with professional requirements, latest research and amendments to the applicable acts. The number of CPD points that a member has to complete per annum depends on the category of registration.

Please note– The following CPD rules apply:

1. Members are expected to complete the prescribed number of CPD’s per the requirement of their respective categories. One CPD point equals one hour of study.
2. CPD’s are not training programmes but professional development. Members who are enrolled for accredited training programmes, may apply for external CPD recognition points based on the relevant program.
3. Members are welcome to complete accredited CPD points at other institutions and then apply for recognition of external CPD’s to be registered at the ASCHP against your name.
4. Six in-house CPD points are compulsory to complete that you can purchase through Liedani CC, (our CPD provider). Ethics and Wellness CPD’s are compulsory because it covers material relevant to own scope of practice.
5. CPD’s should be relevant to counselling and coaching content, practice and theory.
6. CPD’s completed at either recognized professional bodies are acceptable to register against your name. However informal training can be presented but an additional fee will be charged.
7. It is the responsibility of each member to ensure that his/her CPD points are registered at the ASCHP in order to comply with membership requirements.
8. Members who fail to comply with CPD requirements risk suspension of membership. An audit is done when application for membership renewal is done.

Certification

The CPD training is administered by the Liedani CC (CPD Services Provider) and certified by the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (SAQA registration ID 984) with listed designations on the NQF.

Terms and Conditions

Only CPD programmes offered by or approved by the CCSA/NHA & ASCHP will be accepted. Upon completion it remains the responsibility of the member to ensure that a copy of the CPD certificate is either e-mailed or faxed to the CCSA/NHA & ASCHP in order to register it against your name and CCSA/NHA & ASCHP registration number. Failing to complete or submit the required CPD points per annum may lead to suspension of membership until compliance is met.

Candidates who are enrolled for any relevant qualifications (other than a degree course) may apply by using a form C102 CPD (external CPD application form available from the office). A fee per CPD point is payable to place it on record. This exemption from CPD’s apply for the normal period of training for a recognized degree course upon submitting proof of such registration.

Candidates who complete acceptable CPD training elsewhere may apply for the recognition of such external/informal CPD’s (form C102 available from the office). These CPD’s may include training offered by statutory professional bodies such as the Social Services Professional Board or other professional bodies. The cost for these external CPD points will be indicated on the invoice which is prepared by the admin office.

The association believes that counsellors will commit themselves to meeting the requirement for continuing development in the assurance that both they and their clients will enjoy the benefits of on-going learning, as well as continuous personal and professional development. The strategy for CPD training is consistent with the philosophy of lifelong learning.

CPD OPTIONS FOR TRAINING

1. Distance training option: Candidates enroll via e-mail and receive their training material with an assignment that needs to be completed. The assignment is emailed or mailed in hard copy to the CPD Provider office to be marked. A CPD certificate will be issued upon successful completion.
2. Class attendance option: This option is open to any qualified member who wants to conduct a workshop or discussion group for the CPD’s. A wide variety of CPD themes are available from our CPD bank for which members can enroll for. Candidates may then be invited to attend the classes offered in their region and will be assessed in class by the group (group assessment). No assignments are required in the case of class attendance. NB. A group must, for this purpose, consist of at least five members. Additional costs may apply for cost of the venue and refreshments.

Candidates will obtain their CPD training material from the Liedani CC CPD Services office as usual and attend the scheduled class on the dates determined by the group leader who organizes the sessions. The requirement for applying to present such a workshop or discussion group is open to any person with a relevant qualification. Please apply by filling in the form: Application to facilitate a group discussion. All the rules and regulations are specified on the form to be obtained from the Liedani cc CPD Services office.

Additional material

Please see also the following documents:

ASCHP CPD information

Terms

• CPD’s – Continuous Professional Development measured as CPD points for the purpose of professional development per NQF legislation with reference to tools and techniques, scope of practice, ethical and legal aspects of counselling.
• CPD certification – The certificate issued by the certifying body (such as the ASCHP) to indicate the title and number of CPD’s completed.
• CPD points – the number of points awarded to a member calculated as 1 point per hour of class attendance. The minimum number of points per annum that must be completed in a certain category is determined by the PB.
• Assessment: The formal evaluation of a members’ competence upon completion of the CPD attendance with reference to certain criteria as set out in the Assessment Form. This Assessment Form can be obtained from the office or downloaded and needs to be submitted for every application of CPD’s to be issued to a member by the ASCHP.
• CPD provider – a qualified person that intends to offer his/her own CPD training programme. The CPD provider who presents his/her own CPD’s will also qualify to receive double the amount of CPD points for each training hour.
• ASCHP – the name of the professional body that is recognized with the South African Qualifications Authority, ID 984 with designations listed on the NQF (National Qualifications Framework). This could also render our CPD’s acceptable options for other professionals such as social workers and psychologists.
• Professional bodies – The ASCHP is affiliated to the CCSA (Council for Counsellors in SA) and the NHA (Natural Healers Association). Although the ASCHP certifies the CPD training, the same CPD modules are available to members of both these associations.
• CPD facilitator – is a member of the professional body who offers ASCHP CPD training to members of the association.
• Registered CPD’s – are CPD programmes developed by a CPD provider and approved by the ASCHP to be presented to its members.

The Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (the ASCHP) is proud to serve as professional body (PB) for counsellors in SA who work on primary health care level. This professional body is recognised by the South African Qualifications Framework – a statutory body for the implementation of the NQF (SAQA ID 984). The ASCHP provides a much necessary regulatory framework for counsellors in SA Africa with reference to professional guidelines and ethical code.

This means that member registrations and CPD records are open to regular SAQA audits which requires that it must be precise, correct and up to date. Membership info is loaded onto the NLRD for statistical purposes. The benefit of a PB is, in the words of Joe Samuels (SAQA CEO) that:

“The recognition of a PB will contribute to strengthening social responsiveness and accountability within the professions and promoting pride in association for all profession.”

There is a vast need for counsellors to assist and support people in need. We define counselling as that of entering into a helping relationship with people in need.

CPD training

NQF policy requires that all health professionals must comply with continuous professional development.

Professional bodies determine the amount of CPD’s required for their professional members. The annual number of CPD points is determined by your category of registration.

The value is that it keeps you as practitioner up to date with the counselling tools and techniques, and informs members of the latest research and legislation. All members are required to complete a certain number of CPD points per annum in order to maintain membership status.

• Supportive counsellors are obliged to complete 6 CPD’s per annum.
• Holistic Counsellors are obliged to complete 9 CPD’s per annum.
• Wellness Counsellors are obliged to complete 15 CPD’s per annum.
• Specialist Wellness Counsellors are obliged to complete 18 CPD’s per annum.

One CPD point is equal to 1 hour of CPD training, either in class attendance or by completing a prescribed assignment based on the learning material.

As SAQA registered PB only CPD’s offered or approved by a professional body or statutory body will be accepted for CPD purposes.

Our training modules are normally offered in blocks of 3 CPD’s per training session however 1-point and 2-point modules are also available.