CPD Approval Scheme
The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) supports organisations to produce high-quality engineering Continuous Professional Development (CPD) content.
What is the SOE CPD Approval Scheme?
SOE supports organisations to produce high-quality engineering CPD, through our CPD Approval Scheme. The scheme can be applied to in-house employee training & events, or that which is sold commercially. We also partner with leading trade events to quality mark their CPD. The scheme ensures your CPD remains reputable and competitive, as it carries the full weight of a Professional Engineering Institution, and indicates it meets the same standards we apply to the membership. SOE will assess CPD events, training or activities which are relevant to any field of engineering. This could include seminars, lectures, exhibitions, conferences or any event where formal or informal learning may take place.
Types of CPD we review
Suitable for apps, quiz-based technical content, online report-based work, and any discrete activity which has learning outcomes but is not in a physical setting.
SOE CPD Approved Activities will be qualified by our Professional Standards team and shows that your organisation is versatile in its approach to learning opportunities.
CPD Approved Event recognition is suitable for standalone items of CPD, which have in person or online attendance. We will assign our mark to quality, engineering content which offers attendees a range of self-guided learning opportunities.
We work with employers, events organisers and others institutions to ensure that content supports operations engineers to fulfil their annual CPD needs.
If your organisation runs skills training with schemes of work focusing on teaching specific skills, then consider applying for the SOE CPD Approved Training mark. This shows to staff, other organisations and potential customers that your training meets SOE’s exacting standards for CPD.
SOE’s team can help you to map your training framework against Engineering Council or Society for the Environment competency standards, and work with you to ensure streamlined routes to registration.
How it works
When you apply to have your CPD assessed for approval, the SOE team will require you to supply us with details, including format, length, aims and measurable learning outcomes. This will be marked against SOE’s CPD guidelines, and, where relevant, Engineering Council UK Spec. We will also assess that the content is relevant for professional engineers (though the content does not necessarily need to be engineering). We will also require evidence that the delivering tutor or tutors employed to deliver are suitably experienced or qualified. If the approval relates to a multi-speaker event, we will require at least 60% of the content verified in this way.
To discuss getting your CPD approved by SOE, contact cpdsupport@soe.org.uk.
Successful applicants to the scheme can use the relevant ‘SOE CPD Approved’ logo(s) on their course, marketing and employee material. This cost effective solution gives your CPD the edge compared to others, as it carries the full weight of a Professional Engineering Institution, and indicates it meets the same standards we apply to the membership.
All quality marked CPD is placed on SOE’s Approved CPD and Training Register, which is our recommended directory of best practice.
CPD Resources
Members can visit the SOE CPD Hub to access our resources, and complete, record and reflect on your CPD activities.
Explore the directory of SOE Approved CPD programs.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is ongoing learning that contributes to improving and maintaining skills.