CPD POLICY The Flooring Industry Training Association has applied for official recognition by the South African Qualifications authority (SAQA) as the professional body for the flooring industry in South Africa. FITA is a non-statutory body, recognising installers in the flooring industry. 1 BACKGROUND Flooring installers are familiar with attending training sessions that are hosted by the manufacturers of flooring products. FITA has used this familiarity to introduce CPD activities to our members. The training sessions are largely practical in nature and hosted at the manufacturers facilities. FITA will facilitate the arrangement of these events and will publish details of them in advance so that FITA registered individuals can plan when they would like to attend training. FITA has kept the CPD policy very simple so that it is easy to understand and to achieve. As our formal training levels are increased from NQF level1 to NQF level 4 so will CPD requirements will articulate in that complexity. Training workshops are advertised by email and Facebook to our memberships. It is normally the contractor or employer who registers their staff to attend. FITA uses an online tracking system to manage RSVP s and attendance to training events, earning member the required CPD points. 2 PURPOSE The goals of CPD are to facilitate a culture of lifelong learning amongst members of FITA, create learning opportunities and to sustain and grow professionalism and the body of knowledge in the industry. The scope of this guideline document includes the effective management of the assessment and quality assurance procedure and includes the following activities: Criteria for CPD Evaluation of evidence Registration and designation renewal of an installer 3 THE REGISTRATION CYCLE AND CPD The CPD system functions in cycles of three years. During each cycle of three years every installer must accumulate CPD Points to qualify for designation renewal of his/her registration.
A registered installer may not accumulate less than the required CPD Points per registration cycle but may accumulate additional CPD points if they so wish, however the additional points cannot be transferred to the next cycle. 4 CRITERIA FOR ACQUIRING CPD POINTS The total number of CPD Points consists of structured and unstructured activities to make up the total of CPD points required for designation renewal. Installers are required to undertake structured professional development activities and can complement these with unstructured activities STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE: Attending or presenting courses, seminars, workshops, lectures or training days which are related to floor installation; Attending meetings of FITA committees; Researching, reviewing or writing of technical publications; Compiling technical papers; Attending FITA development sessions; Serving as FITA committee Members; Registered Assessors and Moderators; Conducting research on behalf of FITA; Technical Assistance or mentoring; Representing FITA as members of other related Professional Bodies/International Bodies; UNSTRUCTURED CPD ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE: Reading of technical and industry related literature; and Attending training and skills development that enhances soft skills such as Microsoft Office end-user computer applications 5 RECORDING OF CPD ACTIVITIES Unless exempted in terms of these rules, all registered installers must record their CPD activities in the following manner: All registered installers should have completed a CPD Activity Log Sheet to be provided to FITA to be able to be renew against a designation (this could also be completed by the recognised training provider) and this should indicate which CPD activities has been attended. Registered installers should record individual CPD activities on a continuous basis as they occur. The upkeep of logging of individual CPD activities is the responsibility of the installer.
Only FITA endorsed training providers will be allowed to verify installers CPD activities, and written verification from such training provider will be recognised as sufficient evidence. 6 AUDITING OF RECORDED CPD ACTIVITIES FITA may conduct random audits as it deems necessary and practicable, of the CPD records of all registered installers. Random audits will be conducted by FITA but FITA can in the event of irregularities request a registered installer to send, within four weeks of receiving notification to this effect, documentary evidence of his or her CPD activities. FITA must advise a registered installer, within 30 days after completion of an audit, of the outcome of such audit. Although FITA recognised training providers will also keep evidence as proof of CPD activities of their specific enrolled installers, every registered installer must retain documentary evidence of all CPD activities undertaken during each 3 year cycle, and be able to present such evidence when requested by FITA to do so. Such evidence must be retained for at least 5 years. If during an audit a registered installer is assessed as having failed to meet the requirements, the record and verification documentation of such installer must be referred to the board for a decision regarding remedial steps 7 DESIGNATION RENEWAL OF INSTALLERS FITA will send a notification regarding the required designation renewal to the registered installer at least four months prior to his/her expiry date of registration. In the event of not being able to communicate to the installer via email or SMS, FITA can also inform the installer via its employer that the installers designation registration is about to lapse. A registered installer must at least three months prior to the prescribed expiry date of his/her registration, approach FITA with his/her CPD evidence or whatever will be necessary to be able to be renew as an installer. FITA will do a screening of the CPD activities of the registered installer and advise the installer of the additional activities needed for designation renewal. (The registered installer is welcome to contact FITA at any time if he/she does not agree with the assessment on his/her CPD activities and/or recommendation on acquiring additional evidence).
Upon receiving all the necessary proof, FITA will renew the installer s designation and issue a new membership card. If FITA is convinced that the installer has failed to comply with the criteria for designation renewal, the applicant must be advised of the decision as well as of the implications flowing there from within 30 days from the date on which the decision was made. 8 APPROVAL OF TRAINING PROVIDERS FOR CPD ACTIVITIES Only FITA recognised training providers can apply to offer CPD Activities, unless otherwise specified by FITA Board. Recognised Training Providers should submit potential CPD activities to FITA for approval. FITA will require an administration fee for the registration of CPD activities. In approving CPD activities, training providers must ensure that the following aspects are covered: a) The activity should serve to maintain or enhance the knowledge, skills and competence of all those who participate in it. b) The activity should meet an educational and developmental need and provide an effective learning experience for the participants. c) The depth and breadth of the subject matter covered must be appropriate with sufficient time for discussion. d) The subject covered should provide a balanced view and should not be unduly promotional. e) The presenters should have proven practical or academic experience and be good communicators. f) Evaluation forms for obtaining feedback from participants on the activity must be provided for rating of the relevance, quality and effectiveness of the activity. 9 NON-COMPLIANCE In the event of a registered installer not complying with the requirements of the CPD system, FITA may impose any one or more of the following conditions: Require the registered installer to follow an approved remedial programme of continuing professional development within a period prescribed by the FITA.
Removing the registered installers name from the relevant register. 10 DISCLAIMER FITA reserves the right to change this policy and its criteria at any time at its own discretion