Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Achology tracks most of your CPD automatically. Every VALTS you attend logs to your member journey account. PALS and CIPS credits record to the host or coach. The CPD Handbook also provides manual tracking logs so you can keep your own records alongside the system.
The short answer
- VALTS attendance records automatically to your member CPD journey account
- PALS credits go to the host or coach of each session — also tracked in the system
- CIPS credits record to the hosting coach for each one-to-one session
- The CPD Handbook includes manual log pages for VALTS and PALS as a personal backup
- The system reminds you to check that all sessions update correctly
- Course completions and Code of Ethics training also track against your member level
- You can see your current level and remaining requirements inside the platform
The full answer
One of the most common concerns for people building a professional development record is paperwork. Achology removes most of that burden through automatic tracking.
What tracks automatically. Every VALTS event you attend records to your member CPD journey account without any action from you. You show up, you participate, the system logs it. PALS credits work the same way — the hosting coach or facilitator receives the credit automatically. CIPS credits record to the coach who delivers each session.
This means your development record builds through participation. You don’t fill in spreadsheets, submit proof of attendance, or chase administrators for confirmation. The platform handles it.
What you should verify. The CPD Handbook includes a clear instruction: make sure all your sessions get updated in the system. Automatic tracking handles the majority, but technology occasionally misses a session. Get into the habit of checking your account after each event. If a VALTS or PALS session didn’t record, flag it with the community team promptly rather than discovering the gap months later.
Your personal tracking logs. The CPD Handbook provides structured log pages for both VALTS and PALS. Each page includes space for the date, session title, and host name. These logs serve as your personal backup — a parallel record you control independently of the system.
Using them is optional but smart. If you ever need to present your CPD record to an employer, professional body, or insurer, having your own dated log alongside the platform record strengthens your evidence. It also helps you spot patterns in your development — which event types you attend most, which you avoid, and where gaps exist.
How this connects to your member level. Each level in the CPD journey (Member → Certified Achologist → Adept → Senior I → Senior II → Master) requires specific numbers of VALTS attended, VALTS hosted, PALS delivered, CIPS completed, courses finished, and ethics training done. Your member journey account shows your current totals against each requirement.
This gives you a clear dashboard. You can see exactly how many VALTS you still need to host, how many CIPS you’ve delivered, and what courses remain before your next progression. No guesswork. No ambiguity.
Presenting your CPD to external bodies. If your employer, professional body, or insurer asks for CPD evidence, you can draw on three sources: your member journey account (showing system-tracked hours), your personal logs (showing your own dated records), and your course completion certificates. Together, these demonstrate structured, ongoing professional development through a combination of study, practice, facilitation, and ethics training.
Some professional bodies accept self-directed CPD if you can document what you did, when, and what you learned. Achology’s tracking system gives you that documentation by default. Whether a specific body accepts it depends on their individual requirements — always check directly with them.
A practical habit. After every event, take thirty seconds to confirm the session logged correctly and jot a one-line note in your personal log about what you practised or learned. Over months, this builds a rich, verifiable record of genuine development. It also helps you reflect on your growth rather than simply accumulating hours.
Next step
Open your member journey account inside the community platform and check your current CPD totals. Compare them against the requirements for your next level. Identify the specific gap — courses, VALTS, PALS, CIPS, or ethics training — and commit to closing it this month.
Relevant URLs
https://achology.com/achology/achology-membership/
https://achology.com/achology/academy/
https://achology.com/achology/academy/certification/
