CIPR CPD: Compulsory EDI CPD 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What’s changing and when? 

From 1 April 2026, CIPR members will have to log a minimum of five CPD points in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) as part of their annual CPD cycle. 

 
Why is EDI being made compulsory when other topics aren't? 

EDI is not a standalone or specialist topic - it underpins professional public relations and communications practice. Every aspect of your work, from strategy and campaigns to stakeholder engagement and crisis response, relies on understanding the audiences you communicate with. 

The profession still has persistent gaps in age representation, gender balance at senior levels, and socio-economic diversity. For a profession that exists to understand and reach diverse audiences, minding the gaps means proactively addressing them.  

The CIPR became the first professional body to achieve the National Equality Standard in 2023. Making EDI CPD mandatory was identified as a priority in our EDI Strategy as a natural next step. It has since been recommended by the EDI Committee and approved by our Council and Board. 

Developing your knowledge in this area strengthens your ability to communicate ethically, effectively and with impact. 

 
What counts as an EDI activity? 

An EDI activity is any learning that helps you build your understanding, awareness or application of equity, diversity and inclusion within professional practice.

This may include (but is not limited to) learning across the following themes: 

  • Understanding equity, diversity and inclusion 
  • Inclusive communications & understanding bias, behaviour and culture 
  • Building inclusive organisations and practices 
  • EDI perspectives and lived experience 
When selecting activities from the CPD database, look for those clearly labelled with an EDI component. 

 

 
Can I log bespoke or external EDI activities? 

Yes. If you can’t find a relevant activity on the CPD database, you can log your own EDI-related Custom Activity. Please include the letters ‘EDI’ in the title of your submission to ensure it is counted for EDI points. 

As with all custom activities: 

  • You’ll need to provide a clear description of the activity 
  • Explain how it relates to EDI learning outcomes 
  • Upload supporting evidence 
  • Our team will review and approve submissions in line with CPD requirements. 
 

How do I identify my activity as EDI-related when logging it? 

When submitting a Custom Activity, you should: 
  • Highlight specific EDI learning outcomes, e.g. improved understanding of inclusive communication or cultural awareness. 
  • Reference EDI explicitly in the title 
  • This will help ensure your activity is counted towards compulsory EDI points. 

 

How do I find EDI activities in MyCPD? 

You can use the CPD database search facility to find activities with an EDI component.  

Some search tips: 

  • Select “CIPR Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)” from the Subject Areas drop down list.  
  • Filter by Activity Type (e.g. CIPR Webinar, Podcast, On-demand learning). 
  • If entering your own search terms, avoid abbreviations where possible to improve search results. 

You can explore recently added EDI activities from your MyCPD dashboard. These will appear in the section for ‘New Equity, diversity & inclusion activities’. 

We have also curated a list of more than 50 free EDI activities which are already listed on the CPD database ready for you to record. 

 
Can I re-record EDI activities from a previous CPD cycle? 

 No. As with all CPD requirements, activities must be completed within the current CPD cycle (e.g. 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027).

Activities completed in a previous cycle cannot be logged again. However, you are encouraged to build on your existing knowledge by exploring new or more advanced EDI topics each year. 


 
How can I check if I’ve met the EDI requirement? 

As with the Ethics requirement, your MyCPD dashboard will show how many EDI CPD points are still outstanding. 

If you reach the required 60 CPD points but have not logged 5 points in EDI, we will contact you to let you know that the EDI requirement is still to be completed. 

 
I’ve already completed EDI training and logged CPD in this area in previous cycles. Do I still need to meet this requirement? 

Yes. This is an annual requirement. CPD is about ongoing professional development, and EDI is a continually evolving area of practice. Expectations, understanding and best practice develop over time, so it’s important to stay up to date with current issues and perspectives. 

 
What happens if I don’t complete the EDI requirement each year? 

Your CPD cycle will not be marked as ‘Complete’ unless you have met all compulsory requirements, including both: 

  • 5 Ethics points 
  • 5 EDI points

We encourage members to plan to meet these requirements early in the CPD cycle to avoid any last-minute pressure. 

 

Is Ethics still a compulsory requirement? 

Yes. To complete your annual CPD cycle, you must log 5 CPD points in both Ethics and EDI. 

 

Can one activity count towards both Ethics and EDI? 

This wouldn’t usually be the case since the topics are distinct. The primary topic of the activity should be included in the title for example Ethics or EDI. Some CIPR courses may cover both and in those cases the activity will be set up to provide both EDI and Ethics points if applicable.

If in doubt, we recommend logging separate activities to ensure you meet both mandatory requirements.