CPD FAQs
| 
| 
Why is CPD important?
How many hours of CPD do I need to do each year?
What learning activities can I undertake?
What is the difference between verifiable and unverifiable CPD units?
What evidence do I need to keep - certificates, time sheets etc?
How long do I need to keep evidence?
I am retired, but as a favour to my local church, I keep your accounts for them, will I have to undertake CPD?
What about people with illness/disability/maternity leave who may discontinue CPD for a given time?
Will AIA be issuing a document where members can record your CPD attendance or will there be facilities online so it is in one format?
The words relevant and verifiable are used a lot - who determines what constitutes these - how are they qualified to do so?
I am already a member of another professional body whose CPD requirements I meet, can I submit the same information to AIA?
A: It is your responsibility to develop and maintain the professional competence necessary to provide high quality services to your clients, employers and other stakeholders.
The knowledge needed to function effectively as a professional accountant in public practice, industry, commerce, education and the public sector continues to expand and change at a rapid rate. As a professional accountant you face increased knowledge and skill expectations. You, as well as AIA, also face unprecedented scrutiny about the quality of internal control, governance, financial statements and independent audits. These pressures apply to professional accountants in all sectors.
In addition, the need to be competitive in a worldwide economy has prompted a more intense focus on the role and responsibilities of professional accountants in entities of all types. Continued development of professional competence and lifelong learning are critical if the professional accountant is to meet these expectations.
As a professional association, AIA has a responsibility to ensure that you continue to develop and maintain the competence demanded by your professional role and the users of your services.
Q: How many hours of CPD do we need to do each year?
A: You are required to complete at least 120 units of relevant CPD activity in each rolling three-year period, of which 60 units should be verifiable. You must complete a minimum of 20 units of verifiable CPD each year. Each unit is the equivalent of one hour.
Q: What learning activities can I undertake?
A: The following list provides examples of different learning activities you may undertake as part of your CPD. Any of these could be carried out by electronic means and online learning.
- Participation in courses, conferences and seminars.
- Self-learning modules or organised on-the-job training for new software systems, procedures or techniques applicable to a professional role.
- Published professional or academic writing.
- Participation and work on technical committees.
- Teaching a course or CPD session in an area related to professional responsibilities.
- Formal study related to professional responsibilities.
- Participation as a speaker in conferences, briefing sessions or discussion groups.
- Writing technical articles, papers and books.
- Research, including reading professional literature or journals, for application in a professional role.
- Professional re-examination or formal testing.
You should strive to achieve a balance of activities, one single, repetitive activity should not constitute your total CPD activity.
Q: What is the difference between verifiable and unverifiable CPD units?
A: Verifiable CPD units are equivalent to what was formerly known as structured hours. They are units (hours) of CPD activity that you can verify or provide evidence for, such as attendance at a conference or seminar or online courses. Unverifiable CPD units are what was previously known as unstructured hours, activities that you cannot verify that you have completed, such as reading International Accountant or self-study.
Q: What evidence do I need to keep - certificates, time sheets etc?
A: The following will be accepted as evidence in support of your CPD Record:
- Course outlines and teaching materials.
- Attendance record, registration forms, or confirmation of registration forms.
- Independent assessments that a learning activity has occurred.
- Confirmation by an instructor, mentor or tutor of participation.
- Confirmation by an employer of participation in an in-house programme.
Q: How long do I need to keep evidence?
A: You need to maintain evidence relevant to the current rolling three year period, so you should therefore keep evidence for at least three years.
Q: I am retired, but as a favour to my local church, I keep your accounts for them, will I have to undertake CPD?
A: If you are fully retired and undertake no accountancy work, you can be exempted from the requirements. If you are to all intents and purposes retired, but undertake some accountancy work, for example as a favour to friends, you can be exempted from the requirements if the income from the accountancy work you undertake does not exceed an annual income of £5,000.
If you fall into either of these categories, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to request a CPD Exemption Declaration. This should be signed and returned to AIA. Once you have returned the Declaration, you need do nothing further, unless your circumstances change and your annual income no longer falls below the £5,000 threshold.
Q: What about people with illness/disability/maternity leave who may discontinue CPD for a given time?
A: AIA will take into account special circumstances affecting your ability to complete CPD, which includes long term and serious illness, unemployment, maternity and paternity leave. In these circumstances, you should contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for guidance.
Q: Will AIA be issuing a document where members can record your CPD attendance or will there be facilities online so it is in one format?
A: You can complete your CPD Record online, simply by logging into your account, as and when you complete CPD activities. Please click here for guidelines on completing your online record.
Q: The words relevant and verifiable are used a lot - who determines what constitutes these - how are they qualified to do so?
A: The term “verifiable” has replaced the term “structured” in the terminology used when the standard setting bodies, such as IFAC, talk about CPD. Basically it means that you can prove you have undertaken a CPD activity, such as attended a seminar rather than technical reading, for example, where you have no proof that you have undertaken an activity.
“Relevant” is used a lot as it is important that you undertake CPD that is appropriate to your role and future development. At the end of the day, it is your responsibility to look after your career development and to use your judgment to make decisions on the relevance of your CPD activities.
Q: I am already a member of another professional body whose CPD requirements I meet, can I submit the same information to AIA?
A: If you are a member of a professional body who has also adopted the IFAC guidelines, then the CPD you undertake for this body will also count towards AIA's requirements and vice versa. You would still however have to complete the AIA CPD Record.
