Members may undertake self-directed learning (SDL), either as part of their professional role or specifically to support their REC role. This may count towards their annual learning requirement. The learning should be registered on the appropriate SDL form or email template which is provided by Member Support Administrators (MSAs) in England and Wales and REC Staff in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Recording learning
REC member learning will be recorded in credits, rather than hours and minutes. This system is better suited to online learning and is used by the Royal Colleges. There is still a broad association of time for each credit but based on evidence that learning and reflection extend beyond the minutes spent initially reading/listening/viewing.
The principle agreed by UKREDG, in December 2020, is that members will need to complete 8 credit of learning each year.
For example:
| Self-directed learning (SDL) | Credits |
| one Royal College CPD point | 2 |
| podcast/video/reading under 30 mins | 1 |
| podcast/video/reading over 30 mins | 2 |
| two-hour online workshop | 4 |
| one-hour online workshop | 2 |
| up to one hour pre-reading agreed for a workshop | 2 |
Each online workshop and resource uploaded to the HRA’s Learning Management System will have a credits allocation provided.