CPD Requirements – Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

All ICAEW members must complete 40 hours of CPD annually, with at least 30 hours verifiable.

CPD Year

1 November to 31 October

Requirements

• Identify your development needs based on your current role
• Complete relevant learning activities
• Maintain a detailed CPD record (including learning objectives, reflections, and outcomes)
• Ensure at least 30 hours are supported by independent verification

Examples of Verifiable CPD

• Certificates of course completion
• Emails confirming attendance at a webinar
• On-the-job training documentation from a manager or mentor
• Correspondence with a technical expert

ICAEW provides a digital CPD record, but members may record their CPD in any format.

LearnFormula is not affiliated with ICAEW. Final acceptance of CPD hours is entirely at the discretion of ICAEW. Members are responsible for ensuring their CPD activities meet ICAEW’s requirements and are properly documented.

Members of the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) must complete 40 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) annually, of which 20 hours must be verifiable. The CPD year runs from January 1 to December 31.

Planning CPD:

Members are expected to review their personal, professional, and business development needs each year, identify knowledge gaps, and select CPD activities that support their ongoing competence and career aspirations. CPD may be undertaken from any valid provider—it does not need to be obtained directly from the IFA.

Acceptable CPD Activities:

• IFA Direct units
• Training courses, conferences, seminars, workshops, or IFA networking events
• Online learning or training
• Studying for professional exams with testing
• On-the-job training, secondments, or shadowing
• Mentoring, coaching, or performance feedback
• Participation in boards, committees, or professional networks
• Writing technical, professional, or academic publications
• Researching subject matter and engaging in professional discussions

Verifiable CPD:

At least 20 hours per year must be verifiable. Verifiable CPD must:

• Be related to the member’s professional role or career development
• Be supported by evidence (e.g., certificates, exam results, course outlines, employer confirmations, appraisals, or formal assessments)
• Relate to a defined learning outcome

Recordkeeping and Monitoring:

• CPD records must be maintained for six years after the year of completion.
• The IFA provides an online CPD recording facility, or members may maintain their own log.
• Evidence of attendance or completion must be retained.
• Each year, the IFA randomly audits a sample of members. Those who fail to complete their annual CPD declaration are automatically selected for review.
• Members must co-operate with monitoring and enforcement or face potential disciplinary action.

Exemptions and Reductions:

Members may be exempt if they provide no accountancy services, hold no fiduciary roles (e.g., trustee, director), and do not intend to resume such services. Retired members meeting these criteria are exempt unless undertaking voluntary roles relying on their expertise, in which case pro-rata CPD applies.

Members may request a reduction if on a career break or if newly joined within the past 12 months.

LearnFormula is not affiliated with the Institute of Financial Accountants. For full information, please visit: https://www.ifa.org.uk/members/cpd-requirements

CPD Requirements – Certified Chartered Accountants

Annual Requirement

Members must complete 40 CPD units annually, consisting of:

• 21 verifiable CPD units
• 19 non-verifiable CPD units

1 CPD unit = 1 hour of learning or development.

Verifiable CPD Criteria

• Must be relevant to your current or future role
• Must be applicable in the workplace
• Must be supported by documented evidence

Non-Verifiable CPD

Includes general reading, podcasts, or informal learning activities. No documentation is required.

Other Requirements

• Members may carry forward up to 21 excess verifiable units (except in their first CPD year)
• Records must be kept for at least 3 years (or longer depending on jurisdictional requirements)
• All members must submit an annual CPD declaration

LearnFormula is in no way formally affiliated with the body governing Certified Chartered Accountants. Members are responsible for selecting appropriate CPD activities and maintaining their records.

AAT's CPD policy is not based on a set number of hours or credits. Instead, it's measured by the outcomes and benefits that members derive from doing CPD: it's about the quality, not the quantity. Members must undertake CPD to ensure that they remain competent for the work that they do and to meet their career aspirations, whether their work is of an accounting/financial nature or not. Those members holding a license in accordance with the Licensing Regulations must undertake appropriate CPD in order to maintain their license.