PD able offers two free default professional development systems: PD Basic and PD Advanced. This guide explains the difference and helps you choose the right one.
When you sign up to PD able, we don’t leave you staring at a blank screen. You’re assigned a free, ready‑to‑use Professional Development (PD) system so you can start recording straight away.
You can choose between two default systems:
- PD Basic – simple, clean, and focused on recording
- PD Advanced – structured, goal‑driven, with points and targets
Both are completely free to use, both are powerful, and both are designed to suit people from any profession. The difference really comes down to how much structure you want around your PD.
At a glance
| Feature |
PD BASIC |
PD ADVANCED |
| Free to use |
✅ |
✅ |
| 30+ activity types |
✅ |
✅ |
| 4 competency areas |
✅ |
✅ |
| Planning & goals |
✅ |
✅ |
| Downloadable transcript |
✅ |
✅ |
| Points & targets |
❌ |
✅ |
| Progress dashboard |
❌ |
✅ |
| Recommended Activities |
❌ |
❌ |
| Resources |
❌ |
❌ |
| Notices |
❌ |
❌ |
PD Basic – simple, clear, and effective
PD Basic is ideal if you want a no‑fuss way to record your professional development without worrying about points, targets, or scoring systems.
It focuses on doing the fundamentals really well.
What you can do with PD Basic
- Record 30+ different activity types (courses, webinars, conferences, reading, mentoring, and more)
- Log activities against 4 broad competency areas
- Write a professional development plan
- Set and review goals
- Download a professional transcript at any time
- Use the system entirely free
What PD Basic deliberately leaves out
PD Basic does not include:
- Points
- Minimum hour targets
- Progress scoring
That’s intentional. From user feedback, many professionals simply want a clean record of what they’ve done, not a system that tells them whether they’re “ahead” or “behind”. If that sounds like you, PD Basic is a perfect fit.
PD Advanced – structure, targets, and momentum
PD Advanced includes everything in PD Basic, but adds a points‑based framework that helps you stay on track and measure progress.
It’s ideal if you:
- Need to meet annual PD requirements
- Like having targets to aim for
- Want visual feedback on your progress
What makes PD Advanced different
In PD Advanced, every activity you record is:
- Assigned a points value based on the activity type
- Counted toward annual targets
- Reflected visually on your dashboard
The points system is a blended measure of time, effort, and learning quality, designed to feel practical rather than academic.
The targets provided are guides only — they’re there to help you understand common levels of PD activity and give you a useful benchmark.
A taste of a custom PD system
PD Advanced is also the closest you can get to a custom‑built PD system without building one yourself.
In fact, when organisations create a points‑based system using the PD able wizard, it’s based largely on PD Advanced.
With a custom system, you can:
- Change competencies
- Adjust points and targets
- Set minimums and limits
- Define scoring rules
- Rebrand the system as your own
PD Advanced gives you a clear preview of what’s possible.
Shared structure: How both systems work
Both systems follow the same underlying structure.
Annual Cycle
- Runs on a calendar year: 1 January – 31 December
- Planning and goals sit within this yearly window
- Keeps reporting clear and consistent
Core building blocks
Areas of competency
PD is recorded against four broad competency areas designed to suit all professions. These stay intentionally generic in the default systems. Custom systems usually replace these with profession‑specific competencies.
Activities
An activity is a single learning event — for example:
- Attending a workshop
- Completing an online module
- Reading a journal article
PD able provides 30+ activity type templates to make recording quick and consistent.
Learning methods
Activities are also tagged with learning methods such as:
This helps build insight into how learning is happening, not just what’s being completed.
Areas of competency (used in both systems)
Profession Maintenance
Keeping up with trends, technology, and best practice in your profession. This covers time spent strengthening your expertise and staying current in your field.
Administration & Commerce
Building capability to operate effectively in real‑world environments — managing people, resources, finances, compliance, and organisational responsibilities.
Formal Education
Working toward recognised qualifications or significant new skills. This typically involves structured study and sustained commitment outside day‑to‑day professional work.
Extracurricular
Out‑of‑profession activities that indirectly strengthen professional capability. Leadership, planning, perseverance, and problem‑solving developed outside work often transfer directly into professional life.
Which one should you choose?
Choose PD Basic if you want:
- Simple recording
- Clean transcripts
- No scoring or pressure
Choose PD Advanced if you want:
- Targets to work toward
- Visual progress tracking
- A system aligned with compliance or professional requirements
The good news? You can switch at any time, and both systems are free.
Final thoughts
Both systems are designed to help you start immediately, build good PD habits, and understand what a well‑designed professional development system feels like.
Whether you want simplicity or structure, PD able has you covered, and when you’re ready, the same foundation can scale into a fully customised system built exactly for your needs.
FAQ's - PD Basic & PD Advanced
What’s the difference between PD Basic and PD Advanced?
Both systems let you record professional development activities, create plans, set goals, and generate PD transcripts.
The key difference is that PD Advanced adds targets and points. This allows you to track progress over time, see how activities contribute to competencies, and work towards clear goals rather than just keeping a record.
How much does PD Basic cost?
PD Basic is completely free.
When you sign up to PD able, you’re automatically placed into PD BASIC so you can get started straight away. No credit card is required, and there’s no time limit.
Do I have to pay to use PD Advanced?
No — PD Advanced is also free.
You can join it at any time from your dashboard and start using it immediately.
Can I switch back to PD Basic if I don’t like PD Advanced?
Yes. You’re free to switch between PD systems at any time.
You can also explore and join other PD systems listed in PD able, as long as you meet their requirements. If a system has prerequisites or pricing, this will always be clearly shown before you join.
Why are some features not available in PD Basic or PD Advanced?
There are a few features you may notice but won’t see in use within PD Basic or PD Advanced:
- Recommended Activities
- Resources
- Notices
These features are typically managed by an administrator. Because PD Basic and PD Advanced are free, default systems, they’re designed to be generic and suitable for everyone, so these areas are left empty.
In a custom PD system, these features are commonly used to:
- recommend specific activities
- share resources like templates and guides
- publish notices or updates for a team or organisation
This gives you a preview of what’s possible when PD able is used as a managed or custom-built system.
Which system should I start with?
If you’re new to PD able or want something simple, start with PD Basic.
If you want more structure, visibility, and motivation through progress tracking, PD Advanced is the next step — and you can switch at any time.