Top tips and resources for getting your 60 CPD points before the deadline 

Each year we promise ourselves it will be different; we’ll spread our CPD activity over the year, we’ll log it as we go, and we’ll be sorted well in advance of the deadline. And yet for most of us, there is still a desperate scramble to meet the 60 points threshold for the 31st of March. 
But don’t panic! We’ve pulled together some public affairs resources – all free to CIPR members - that can help you on your way to another completed CPD cycle. 

Check back over your calendar 
It’s worth checking your CIPR account events tab and your calendar to check you logged all the events you’ve attended this year. Don’t miss out on points you’re entitled to by forgetting to log them – as one supermarket says, every little helps. 

Catch-up with recordings of our previous events – worth 5 points 
The Public Affairs Group ran a number of events over the last year, a couple of which you can watch back online and still claim the points for. 
Influencing Metro Mayors
Campaign groups and Westminster: what next for public affairs 

Write for the CIPR public affairs blog – worth 5 points 
We’re always looking for interesting reflections on public affairs practice, the political landscape and emerging challenges and opportunities for practitioners for our blog. 
Previous authors have written on a wide range of topics including practitioner wellbeing, the role of AI, governance and running successful parliamentary events. 
If you have an idea for a blog you’d like to write, please be in touch with [email protected] with your pitch. 
You can also claim 1 point for each blog you read. 

Make sure you get your ethics points – worth 5 points 
CIPR requires all members to ensure at least 5 of their 60 CPD points each year are for ethics-related activities. Some key resources that can get you those points are:
Skills guides
Lobbying: professional ethics
AI and data ethics: consequences for PR
Briefing: professional ethics

Case studies 
Ethics in PR volume I
Ethics in PR volume II
Recordings of previous events
Ethics and empathy: communicating suicide  
Ethics in Action: thriving through conflict and crises 

Back to basics – worth 5 points 
If you’re early career, there are two resources that will help you understand more about what public affairs is:
 Introduction to public affairs (recorded webinar)
Practical public affairs (recorded webinar)

Using your training budget – worth between 1 and 20 points 
Whilst we wanted to focus on free resources accessible to all members, for those lucky devils with training budget left that they need to spend before the end of the financial year, some courses you can do before the end of March deadline:

On-demand public affairs essentials (£45.50 + VAT per module or £250 + VAT for the whole course) 

There are other on demand courses across a range of topics (starting at £20 + VAT per module)  
19th March – Introduction to speechwriting (£385 + VAT)
24th March – Practical public affairs (£385 + VAT) 
25th March – Stakeholder Engagement (£385 + VAT)

And finally, if you have used any resources or attended any since April 2025 that you think should be eligible to claim CPD points on, you can apply to have them recognised by the CIPR here. 
Good luck with completing this year’s CPD cycle!