Continuing Professional Development

The BDAV is acknowledged as an industry leader in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the building design profession. Indeed, the BDAV won 'Education Provider' in the Building Commission's 2007 CPD Awards in recognition of its contribution to education for the building industry, and achieved Highly Commended as CPD Provider in the Commission's 2008 CPD Awards.

The BDAV offers a very successful structured continuing professional development program which enables members to continually upskill their knowledge. More and more, clients are seeking to engage professionals who constantly keep up-to-date with changes to regulations and trends.

The BDAV presents an informative series of seminars, workshops and design briefings covering the latest industry reforms, innovations and tools which are vital to the success of a professional design practice. Guest speakers are chosen for their expertise and ability to impart knowledge that is of benefit to members. The philosophy of the BDAV is that continuing professional development is not a revenue-generating activity. As a result, costs for attendance at BDAV seminars and workshops are at nominal rates to cover actual expenses incurred by the BDAV to present these programs to the industry.

The BDAV's Continuing Professional Development Program commenced on 1 November 1996. The Program was introduced to ensure members maintain a professional approach to education and upskilling, given the impact of the constant changes in technology, regulations and liability occurring in the building industry.

The CPD Program is voluntary, and requires a Member to achieve a minimum of 15 CPD points per annum. Successful participation and completion of the CPD program is required for advancement of members through the membership structure of the BDAV.

CPD Points are only allocated for actual hours spent in active participation in seminars and courses. A Certificate of Attendance is issued by the BDAV to every participant at each BDAV CPD event.

The BDAV records details of CPD attendance for members and, once a year, issues a monthly statement to those members who have attended any BDAV CPD events within the preceding 12 months. This is of assistance to members when renewing their BPB registration, and in instances where some insurers offer discounted premiums to those practitioners who regularly attend CPD activities, as, by continually upskilling their knowledge, such practitioners are deemed a "lesser risk" than non-CPD-attendees.

Participating members are required to maintain their own Log Book (downloadable by members from the
'Member Only' section of this website), detailing all professional development activities in which they have participated. As mentioned, the BDAV issues an annual statement of CPD participation to each BDAV Member who has participated in CPD in the preceding 12 months. Members are required to compare that statement against their log book, to check for accuracy. Certificates of Achievement are awarded annually at the BDAV's AGM to those members who achieve the minimum number of CPD points within any year.

Whilst the BDAV conducts its own CPD program, approved courses by other organisations are eligible for accrual of points. Members wishing to obtain credit for participation in courses offered by external organisations are required to forward details of course agenda for approval by the BDAV's Executive Officer.

In 2004, the BDAV commenced videotaping its CPD seminars, to enable remote location members, or those members unable to personally attend such events, to purchase a DVD of the proceedings, and thereby keep up-to-date on professional topics. Since 2008, a questionnaire has also accompanied newly taped seminars which, upon satisfactory completion and returning to the BDAV, enables the Member to achieve CPD points for viewing any such DVD. DVDs may be purchased at the Webshop at this website.

DVDs of BDAV CPD Seminars

The following DVDs are currently available from the BDAV. These may be purchased at the Webshop at this website.