Understanding CPD Discrepancies: Formal vs Informal Hours

Overview

When tracking CPD with formal and informal split targets, you may notice discrepancies between how points are displayed and calculated. This guide explains how formal and informal CPD hours work, why discrepancies can occur, and how to interpret the data correctly.

Understanding these nuances helps ensure accurate CPD tracking and reporting for compliance purposes.

Functionality Breakdown

How Formal/Informal Split Works

When a CPD scheme has formal/informal split enabled:

Total Target: The overall CPD requirement (e.g., 40 hours)
Formal Target: Minimum required from formal learning (e.g., 20 hours)
Informal Target: Minimum required from informal learning (e.g., 20 hours)

The total doesn't have to equal formal + informal. For example:

Total: 40 hours
Formal minimum: 15 hours
Informal minimum: 15 hours
Remaining 10 hours can come from either type

Point Allocation Rules

Scenario	Formal Points	Informal Points	Total Progress

Scenario	Formal Points	Informal Points	Total Progress
Formal content completed	Count towards formal target	N/A	Count towards total
Informal content completed	N/A	Count towards informal target (up to limit)	Count towards total (up to total limit)
Informal exceeds informal target	N/A	Capped at informal target	Excess doesn't count
Both targets met	Full formal target	Full informal target	100%

Common Discrepancies

Discrepancy 1: Informal Points Exceed Informal Target

Scenario:

Informal target: 20 hours
Informal earned: 30 hours
Display shows: 20/20 informal (100%)

Explanation:
Excess informal points beyond the informal target don't contribute to overall progress. The 10 extra hours are "wasted" from a target perspective.

Solution:
Balance formal and informal learning. Excess informal points won't help if you still need formal hours.

Discrepancy 2: Total Doesn't Equal Formal + Informal

Scenario:

Formal earned: 15 hours
Informal earned: 18 hours
Total showing: 33 hours (not 15 + 18)

Explanation:
If the informal target is 15 hours, only 15 of the 18 informal hours count towards the total. The calculation is:

15 (formal) + 15 (informal cap) = 30 hours total

Solution:
This is expected behaviour. Review the scheme's formal/informal targets to understand the caps.

Discrepancy 3: Progress Percentage Seems Wrong

Scenario:

Target: 40 hours
Earned: 35 hours
Progress showing: 75% (not 87.5%)

Explanation:
Progress may be calculated against formal and informal separately. If formal is at 50% and informal at 100%, the combined progress reflects this.

Solution:
Check both formal and informal progress separately to understand the overall calculation.

How Progress is Calculated

Simple Calculation (No Split)

Progress = (Points Earned ÷ Target) × 100

Split Target Calculation

Formal Progress = min(Formal Earned, Formal Target) ÷ Formal Target
Informal Progress = min(Informal Earned, Informal Target) ÷ Informal Target
Total Points = min(Formal Earned, Formal Target) + min(Informal Earned, Informal Target)
Overall Progress = Total Points ÷ Total Target

Best Practices

For Administrators

Set realistic splits: Ensure formal and informal targets are achievable
Communicate clearly: Explain the split to learners so they understand the requirements
Monitor balance: Check if learners are over-earning informal and under-earning formal

For Learners

Balance your learning: Don't focus solely on one type
Check both targets: Monitor formal and informal progress separately
Plan ahead: If you're behind on formal, prioritise accredited content

FAQs

Why don't my informal hours count towards the total?

If you've exceeded the informal target, additional informal hours don't contribute to overall progress. Focus on formal learning to increase your total.

Can I convert informal to formal hours?

No. The classification is set when content is created. Contact your admin if content is misclassified.

Why is my overall progress different from what I calculated?

The system applies caps based on formal/informal targets. Excess points in one category don't transfer to the other.

How do I know what counts as formal vs informal?

Check the content's CPD type (shown on the content details). Formal typically includes certifications and accredited courses; informal includes articles, videos, and peer learning.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution

Issue	Solution
Progress seems stuck	You may be at the informal cap. Check formal progress and complete formal content.
Hours not adding up	Review the formal/informal split on your scheme. Excess informal hours are capped.
Formal progress not increasing	Ensure you're completing content marked as "formal". Check content CPD type.
Total exceeds 100% but shows 100%	Progress is capped at 100%. Extra points don't increase the percentage.
Discrepancy between activity list and total	Some activities may have been completed outside your current CPD cycle dates.