Education and training
Continuing professional development (CPD)
AIRAH is the leading provider of education, training, and professional
development to the Australian HVAC&R industry. It is our mission to
create an Australian HVAC&R industry that is highly skilled and
professional, safe, sustainable, and environmentally effective.
For AIRAH members
Throughout your working life, undertaking CPD is an important way to
expand your knowledge, maintain up-to-date technical skills, and progress
your HVAC&R building services career.
For APER applicants
To ensure engineers on the
AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER)
are of the highest standard of contemporary practice, we require evidence
of relevant CPD.
About CPD
AIRAH recognises the importance of members not only developing their
technical HVAC&R building services industry knowledge, but also
advancing their skills in other critical knowledge areas.
CPD activities are designed to extend or update your knowledge and skills.
It:
-
Ensures you continually build the knowledge and skills you need to
succeed in the competitive business environment
- Assists you in achieving your development and career goals
-
Aids in your ability to excel in your role, providing increased value to
your organisation and clients
- Provides transferable skills for increased employability
- Helps to build your reputation as a business leader
About APER
The AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) is the professional
accreditation for engineers operating in the HVAC&R building services
industry. It demonstrates to the public that an engineer is qualified,
competent, and ethical.
To ensure engineers holding this status are of the highest standard of
contemporary practice, we require evidence of relevant CPD. This is a
vital pillar of APER accreditation, and our CPD requirements were
established to meet the expectations of government, profession, industry,
and public.
CPD for AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) applicants is
mandatory. The APER program requires participants to
undertake CPD to become and maintain their APER status. Applicants must
provide a record of 150 hours of completed CPD over the last three years,
at a minimum of 50 hours each year. At least 75% (112.5 hours min) of CPD
hours must relate to technical matters relevant to the discipline of
engineering in which you are being assessed.
AIRAH will conduct audits of CPD hours of APER applicants and members. As
such, you must be able to show proof of your claimed CPD activities.
CPD for AIRAH members is recommended. We encourage all
members to participate in CPD, but there is no official obligation to
either participate in or formalise your relevant activities.
Key features
-
Continuous – CPD operates throughout the practitioner’s
working life.
-
Focused – CPD is necessary for the execution of
specialised technical duties related to maintaining the quality and
relevancy of expert services.
-
Broad-based – CPD develops knowledge, skills, and
personal qualities.
-
Structured – CPD offers systematic maintenance,
improvement, and broadening of a person’s skill base.
Activities
AIRAH recognises seven major types of CPD activities.
Importantly, there are conditions attached to each category for
maintaining
APER status,
and at least 75% (112.5 hours min) of CPD hours must relate to technical
matters relevant to the discipline of engineering in which you are being
assessed. You must also demonstrate that your CPD comes from a cross
section of the categories/activities listed below.
Formal post-graduate education
Formal post-graduate education (at a higher learning institution), aligned
to your current role and responsibilities or related to the HVAC&R
building services industry. This may include individual units of
post-graduate study that involve some form of assessment, such as
lectures, tutorials, lab work, and research.
APER - There is no limit to the hours claimable within a
three-year period, but you must demonstrate additional CPD activities in
other categories.
Professional development education
Formal training programs offered by RTOs and other education providers,
including AIRAH’s technical courses and programs. Online courses and
private study can be used to claim CPD if they are aligned to your current
role and responsibilities or are related to the mechanical engineer –
HVAC&R building services discipline.
APER - There is no limit to the hours claimable within a
three-year period, but you must demonstrate additional CPD activities in
other categories.
Conferences and technical meetings
Attendance or participation at conferences, site visits, and technical
meetings. These must be linked to your work, profession, current role, and
responsibilities, or they must be related to the mechanical engineer –
HVAC&R building services discipline.
APER - Limited to 60 hours of CPD claimable within a
three-year period.
Leadership positions and profesisonal participation activities
Active participation on an AIRAH or allied organisation committee (Board,
Associate Director, National Reference Group, Special Technical Group,
division, or conference). You must be able to demonstrate how the
leadership position or your involvement in professional activities
enhances your knowledge and support of the industry. Activities such as
mentoring are also included.
APER - Limited to 150 hours of CPD claimable within a
three-year period.
Speaking (presentations)
Presentation at an AIRAH or allied organisation conference, forum, or
event. These engagements should fall outside your normal employment but be
aligned to your current role and responsibilities; or be related to the
mechanical engineer – HVAC&R building services discipline. Please note
that repeat presentations of the same content should not be included.
APER - Limited to 75 hours of CPD claimable within a
three-year period.
Writing (published works)
Technical material published by AIRAH or an allied organisation in a print
or electronic medium, including contributions to technical manuals,
publications, technical blogs, and conferences. If the published paper or
works is co-authored, you can claim a pro-rata split of the time spent on
writing the paper.
APER - Limited to 150 hours of CPD claimable within a
three-year period.
Informal learning activities
Activities claimed must contribute to expanding your existing knowledge
and skills. They can include extending your knowledge of legislation,
regulations, codes, standards, and specifications through work or private
study. Sources may include reading technical or industry publications;
digital information sources; online technical forums; technical manuals;
and learning to use industry-specific computer software. You will need to
cite sources (title of publication, date published, author, etc.) and
provide sufficient evidence to support how these activities enhanced your
knowledge.
APER - Limited to 90 hours of CPD claimable within a
three-year period.
If you believe you are undertaking other types of CPD not covered by the
above categories, please make a written submission to the AIRAH office for
consideration via email.
Recording CPD activities
AIRAH has an online CPD diary that allows members to record all their
learning and development activities.
AIRAH activities requiring registration and that qualify for CPD are
automatically recorded in your diary. Activities that are less formal in
nature (such as STG and committee participation) must be manually added.
The diary also allows members to record learning and development
activities undertaken outside of AIRAH. It provides the opportunity to
maintain a complete record of all learning and development activity
throughout your career. You should provide the type of learning, learning
provider, number of hours, and date of activity.
APER applicants can download and complete a CPD Record Template from
the APER Resources page to help
collate their eligible CPD activities. This must be submitted as part of
your APER application.
Career break extension
Engineers registered on the APER, as well as applicants to the program, may apply to have a career break extension recognised.
A member is recognised as having a career break if they have a period of leave from the workforce of at least six months, but less than five years, for a reasonable cause such as:
- Serious illness
- Family care
- Parental leave
- Travel
- Elite sport/cultural involvement
- Unemployment (involuntary)
Please note that permanent part-time work, volunteering, study, and retirement are not included under reasonable cause.
You must apply for the career break extension in advance.
To file an application for the APER career break extension, please email
[email protected]