Timber-Focused CPD Training for Architects & Designers

CPD as a Strategic Opportunity

For today’s architects, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is more than a regulatory requirement, it’s an opportunity to build deeper expertise, enhance design outcomes, and stay at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry.

When approached thoughtfully, CPD offers far more than compliance. It provides the chance to refine your material knowledge, strengthen your technical confidence, and meet the increasing client expectations around sustainability, innovation, and high-performance design.

At Havwoods, we believe CPD should deliver meaningful value, not simply satisfy a requirement. Our CPD training sessions focus on the practical application of timber surface solutions across flooring, walls, ceilings, cabinetry, and joinery, equipping architects and designers with the specialist knowledge needed to create outstanding, future-ready spaces.

Whether you are designing luxury residences, boutique commercial environments, or premium hospitality projects, mastering timber applications through targeted CPD activities can help position your practice for long-term success.

Unlocking the Full Potential of CPD

For many architects, completing CPD training can occasionally feel like a formality rather than a meaningful opportunity for growth.

The challenge is not with the concept of ongoing professional development, which remains essential, but with the quality and relevance of some CPD offerings.

When sessions are:

• Too broad or theoretical, with limited application to real-world project demands
• Focused primarily on regulatory basics rather than material innovation or specification excellence
• Delivered in formats that emphasise compliance over deeper learning

It’s natural that some CPD activities can seem disconnected from the creative and technical demands of everyday practice.

Yet in today’s highly competitive architectural landscape, genuine material expertise is more important than ever. Your clients, whether they are in residential, commercial, hospitality and retail, or other such spaces, expect you to bring not only design excellence but also deep knowledge, confidence, and leadership in sustainable, high-performance solutions.

Approaching CPD training, strategically allows you to:

• Strengthen your expertise in material specification
• Expand your capacity to deliver innovative, technically sound design solutions
• Communicate your knowledge credibly to clients and collaborators
• Stay ahead of evolving sustainability benchmarks and design trends.

The right CPD training turns a professional obligation into a genuine advantage, enhancing both your project outcomes and your practice's reputation.

That’s the opportunity Havwoods is proud to offer.

Specialist CPD Training Focused on Timber Applications

We understand that meaningful CPD should offer more than theoretical knowledge. It should deliver practical expertise that directly enhances your design practice.

Our CPD training programs are carefully curated to provide architects and designers with specialist insights into the specification and application of timber across a range of premium interior and architectural timber surface solutions.

What You’ll Learn: Key Outcomes from Havwoods CPD 

Havwoods’ CPD training sessions are designed to deliver focused, high-value learning, giving architects and designers the insights needed to specify timber solutions with confidence, creativity, and technical precision.

Through our Havwoods CPD programs, you will gain:

1. Mastery of Timber Selection and Specification

• Understand how different timber species, grades, and finishes impact design outcomes.
• Learn how to match timber selections to project requirements for durability, sustainability, and aesthetic alignment.

2. Technical Understanding of Timber Performance

• Explore acoustic ratings, slip resistance standards, and fire compliance considerations.
• Gain practical knowledge on how timber behaves in different environments, including high-traffic commercial spaces and luxury residential applications.

3. Sustainable Timber Knowledge

• Navigate key sustainability certifications, including FSC® and PEFC.
• Understand the carbon benefits of timber and its role in supporting regenerative and circular design models.
• Learn how to specify timber solutions that meet both environmental and client expectations.

4. Installation Best Practices

• Discover best practice guidelines for timber flooring, wall cladding, ceilings, and joinery installation.
• Understand how to design and specify for long-term performance, including compatibility with underfloor heating and high-moisture areas.

5. Design Innovation with Timber

• Explore the creative possibilities of timber, from large-format panels to intricate joinery detailing.
• Learn how to integrate timber solutions to enhance spatial warmth, texture, and luxury across diverse architectural styles.

Each session is tailored to equip you with both the creative inspiration and the technical confidence to specify timber solutions that meet the highest expectations for aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. 

Delivered by experienced timber specialists, Havwoods' CPD presentations bridge the gap between material innovation and practical project execution, ensuring that your learning directly supports better outcomes for your clients, your projects, and your professional growth. 

Whether you are looking to expand your timber knowledge or refine your existing expertise, our CPD programs provide the tools to help you lead with authority in an increasingly competitive market. 

Flexible, Architect-Friendly Delivery 

We understand that time is one of an architect’s most valuable resources. That’s why our CPD training is designed to be as flexible, accessible, and efficient as possible, without compromising the depth or quality of the learning experience.

You can choose how and where you complete your CPD session:

• In-person at a Havwoods showroom: Immerse yourself in a curated environment surrounded by our latest timber collections, with opportunities for hands-on material exploration and discussion.
• At your own office: Ideal for busy practices, we bring the CPD presentation directly to you, offering an engaging, collaborative session tailored to your team's schedule.
• Live online sessions: Participate remotely from wherever you are, ensuring maximum convenience without losing the personal connection and expertise of a live presenter.

Each CPD presentation is structured to deliver valuable insights within approximately one hour, respecting your time while providing significant depth.

Upon completion, you will receive a formal CPD certificate, making it easy to meet your professional development requirements with minimal administrative burden.

Whether you prefer to engage in person or online, Havwoods makes it simple to integrate meaningful CPD into your practice, empowering you to build expertise at your convenience, without disrupting your project commitments.

Meeting Your CPD Requirements with Impact 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a vital part of maintaining your registration as an architect in Australia.

Each state and territory has its own specific guidelines, but the consistent expectation across the country is clear: architects must engage in ongoing learning to stay informed, compliant, and capable of delivering best-practice outcomes.

Havwoods' CPD training programs are fully aligned with these formal requirements. Our sessions qualify as structured CPD activities, meaning they contribute directly to the core competencies set by Australian registration boards, including technical knowledge, sustainable design, documentation standards, and project delivery excellence.

Quick Overview: CPD Requirements

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a crucial requirement for registered architects in Australia, ensuring they stay updated with industry advancements, regulatory changes, and best practices. However, CPD requirements vary across states and territories, as each jurisdiction has its own registration board and guidelines.

National Framework and Core CPD Requirements

While there is no single national CPD standard, the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) provide a framework that most state-based registration boards follow. In general, architects are required to complete a set number of CPD hours annually, with a focus on four key areas:  

1. Design: Enhancing architectural innovation and problem-solving.
2. Documentation: Keeping up with technical standards, materials, and specifications.
3. Project Delivery: Understanding contracts, procurement, and risk management.
4. Practice Management: Covering ethics, business operations, and legal compliance.

CPD activities can include attending seminars, completing online courses, participating in industry events, or engaging in research projects.

State-by-State CPD Requirements

Each state and territory in Australia has its own registration board with specific CPD policies:

• New South Wales (NSW): The NSW Architects Registration Board requires architects to complete 20 hours of CPD annually, with at least 10 hours being formal CPD activities.
• Victoria (VIC): The Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) also mandates 20 CPD hours per year, with at least half being structured learning.
• Queensland (QLD): The Board of Architects of Queensland (BOAQ) enforces a compulsory CPD system where architects must maintain a CPD log for audits.
• Western Australia (WA): The Architects Board of WA follows the 20-hour CPD model, similar to NSW and Victoria.
• South Australia (SA): The Architects Registration Board of SA recommends CPD but does not strictly mandate a set number of hours.
• Tasmania (TAS), Northern Territory (NT), and Australian Capital Territory (ACT): These regions align with the AACA framework but have more flexible CPD policies, often relying on self-reporting.

To ensure compliance, regularly check your state’s registration board website for updates and maintain records of your CPD activities.

Build Your Edge, Not Just Your Hours

In today’s dynamic design landscape, staying compliant is essential, but leading with expertise is transformative.

Approaching CPD as more than a requirement allows you to sharpen your materials knowledge, strengthen your technical capabilities, and deliver innovative, high-performance spaces that set you apart in a competitive market. 

CPD training from Havwoods empowers architects and designers to transform mandatory learning into meaningful professional growth.

Through specialist timber knowledge, sustainable design insights, and real-world application expertise, you can meet your CPD obligations while building lasting value into your projects, and your career.

Choosing the right CPD partner matters. Choose one that not only helps you meet the standards, but also helps you set them!

Advance Your Expertise with Havwoods CPD Training

Ready to transform your CPD hours into a true career advantage? Our flexible, high-value CPD sessions deliver the knowledge, confidence, and sustainable insights you need to take the lead in luxury architecture and design. 

We currently offer four insightful CPDs on the following topics:  

• Journey Towards Circularity 
• The Journey of Wood Flooring 
• Introduction to Regenerative Architecture 
• The Use of Wood Flooring in Sustainable Architecture 
• Wood andWellbeing.

Learn more and enquire about our CPD Sessions today.