Exceptions and Reasonable Adjustments
Please review our guidance below for details on exceptions and reasonable adjustments designed to assist you in applying for and maintaining your Chartered Geographer status.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements
To maintain your Chartered Geographer accreditation, you are required to undertake at least 35 hours of CPD each year. This should be split between CPD internal to your organisation, and CPD external to your organisation.
If you work part-time, this requirement is adjusted pro-rata. For example, if you work 50% of full time equivalent (FTE) in your organisation, your requirement would be 17.5 hours per year, 80% of FTE would be 28 hours per year.
Gaps in CPD records presented in CGeog applications
Applicants need to demonstrate an 鈥榦ngoing commitment to Continuing Professional Development鈥�. As part of your application, we require the submission of evidence documenting three years of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
If you have been absent from work in the three years preceding an application, please provide reason for this.
If you work part time then the pro-rata policy to CPD applies. You must provide CPD preceding the three years prior to your application as evidence. Each year should meet your pro-rata annual CPD requirements.
Exceptions to CPD requirements
When you are absent from the workplace due to parental leave, sick leave, caring responsibilities, a career break or other factors, you are not required to submit CPD records for that period of leave. However, if you do engage in any activities, such as 'keep in touch time', we encourage you to record this.
Other periods away from employment are also exempt from CPD requirements, for example if unemployed. If you have any questions, please contact cgeog@rgs.org
Lapsed Chartered Geographers
If you are a lapsed Chartered Geographer, you may apply to be reinstated.
You will be required to submit a CPD record for the previous two years (assuming exceptions do not apply) and a statement of your professional activities since lapsing.
This will be reviewed by the Professional and Policy Manager, who will seek advice from Assessors if necessary. If that review is positive, CGeog status will be reinstated following the payment of the appropriate Fellowship and CGeog fees.
Please contact the Professional Officer at cgeog@rgs.org if you are lapsed CGeog and wish to be reinstated.
Reasonable Adjustments
We aim to make our application process inclusive and accessible, with the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments as part of the application form. Please contact us at cgeog@rgs.org if you have questions on how we can make reasonable adjustments to support your application.
We treat each case individually and will contact you to discuss any requests, in confidence.
Retired Chartered Geographers
If you are retired and are no longer professionally active but wish to retain CGeog status, you may now apply for CGeog (retired). Please contact the Professional Officer at cgeog@rgs.org for further details.