The Society of Sports Therapists

CPD & Your Registration

Engagement in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a mandatory requirement for all Members of The Society of Sports Therapists, in order to maintain the right for membership.

In addition, it is an integral part of The Standards of Conduct and Performance. Therefore, as a member of The Society of Sports Therapists, you have a professional responsibility to engage in CPD.

CPD has been an integral part of the philosophy of The Society of Sports Therapists since its inception in 1990. Members are required to provide “proof” of CPD. However, engagement in CPD is much more than just providing “proof” of CPD activities.

Your CPD Portfolio

Each Sports Therapist is responsible for maintaining a professional portfolio detailing their CPD activities. If engaged in effectively, the portfolio can enable practitioners to become autonomous self-directed learners, who take a proactive approach towards the development and management of their knowledge base. All Members of The Society of Sports Therapists have a duty to ensure that, wherever possible, their professional practice is evidence based and consistent with current research findings.

Effective CPD

Effective CPD requires an individual responsibility for managing and undertaking CPD activities. The effective professional should know best, how and why, to develop and translate CPD into realistic and achievable annual objectives with a proposed plan of achievement and implementation.

Reflection

Central to CPD is the concept of reflection. Reflective practice is an essential competence for all professionals. It allows practitioners to question and analyse their experiences and actions as a means of developing their knowledge, skills and behaviour, to enhance their clinical practice.
Reflection forms part of the ‘Standards of Conduct and Performance’ of The Society of Sports Therapists.

Members must: “….reflect on and review practice and understand the value of reflection on clinical practice as well as the need to record the outcome of such reflection”