Episode 150 - *Bonus* RIBA New CPD Requirements

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is implementing significant updates to its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements effective January 2025. Practicing chartered members must now complete and record a minimum of 35 annual CPD hours specifically through the RIBA online platform, as the institute will no longer accept alternative recording formats. A critical addition to these requirements is the mandatory Health and Safety test, which members must pass every five years to demonstrate competence under CDM 2015 and the Building Safety Act. Failure to comply with these recording and testing obligations over two consecutive cycles triggers automatic membership suspension. While the system introduces stricter enforcement, it maintains flexibility through deferrals for personal circumstances—such as parental or sick leave—and potential exemptions for specialized practitioners for whom certain core curriculum topics may be irrelevant. These changes align RIBA standards more closely with recent ARB regulatory shifts and the Building Safety Act's focus on professional competence.