ICAS CPD requirements
Here we explain more about CPD (Continuing Professional Development), your requirements, what activity counts and how to record it.
ICAS promotes CPD as a mandatory part of good professional practice and a fundamental principle of professional ethics. For the public and employers, CPD provides the reassurance that as individuals, and as a profession, Chartered Accountants are committed to upholding standards.
The ICAS CPD model places the onus on each Member to decide what their professional development needs are and how to address them through a variety of CPD activities. Members are asked to focus on the outcome of CPD activities, as opposed to the time spent on them.
The ICAS CPD process
The ICAS Professional Development process consists of four steps:
Step 1 - Define current and future role(s)
Define in broad terms what is expected in your current role. Future career options and goals should also be taken into consideration.
Step 2 - Deciding on training and development needs
Decide on the skills and knowledge levels needed to meet the expectations identified in step 1 and which will enable effective performance. These should be compared against existing skills and knowledge levels to help identify training and development needs.
Step 3 - Developing or undertaking a personal development programme
Identify and plan to undertake CPD activities that are relevant to your role and which will help meet the training and development needs identified in Step 2. Wherever possible, you should aim to undertake a breadth of CPD activity.
Step 4 - Record when you have undertaken a particular CPD activity
Reflect on the learning outcome of an activity, decide if it has had an impact on your skill or knowledge levels and then provide a brief statement to this effect.
How to record your CPD activity
You can use the ICAS CPD record template to plan and record your CPD activity. (Alternatively create your own record or follow the format that’s maintained by your employer).
To request a copy of previous years' CPD records please email members@icas.com or call 0131 347 0100 with your full name, Member Number and the years you require.
Continuing Professional Development FAQs
The ICAS CPD model places the onus on each Member to decide what their professional development needs are and how to address them through a variety of CPD activities. Members are asked to focus on the outcome of CPD activities, as opposed to the time spent on them.
How Much CPD and what counts as CPD?
This development framework allows the individual member to be the best judge of how much CPD they need and which activities are most beneficial in meeting their learning and development needs. CPD should be proportionate and relevant to a member's role.
ICAS recognises that there may be periods where CPD activity fluctuates and some years will require more development than others. CPD activity can, for example, include work-based learning; undertaking new projects at work, on-line reading, researching a particular issue relating to a client or a role, and focused discussions with colleagues or other professional advisers.
Under the CPD scheme there is no requirement to achieve a certain number of hours or points - the important feature is that consideration is given to the requirements of the position and that learning addresses this.
Please see an FAQs document here.
Ethics
From 1 January 2021, ICAS has introduced mandatory Ethics CPD for all ICAS members. The first Ethics CPD declaration of compliance sign-off will be required in your 2022 Annual Return. You will not be required to purchase specific ethics materials or attend a compulsory ethics course, and there is no requirement to achieve a certain number of hours or points. You will be required to demonstrate within your CPD return how you have maintained your knowledge and awareness of ethics related matters during the year. This could simply involve some ethics-related reading which is freely available on-line.
In addition to ICAS’ own ethics resources, other websites provide useful sources of information. Examples of both are as follows:
Providing Evidence
The Annual Declaration :
Each November, ICAS will ask members to self-certify that they have met their CPD requirements for the year, when the annual return is distributed. This is to be submitted by 1 January. Fully retired members wishing to claim an exemption from the scheme may do so. Full details of exemptions available are on the CPD Exemptions page.
The Annual Sample:
Each year ICAS selects a sample of Members to submit their CPD records. Members selected for monitoring will be asked to show that they have complied with the CPD requirements and their CPD record should mirror the four steps described above. ICAS will be checking for a discernible and reasonable process of professional development in keeping with a member's role and career stage. Members can use the form available from this website to record their CPD but we will accept records in the format maintained for your employers.
CPD sanctions policy
Failure to submit the CPD record when requested shall result in a referral to the Authorisation Committee. The sanctions available to the Committee are:
- to propose a Regulatory Penalty,
- publication of non-compliance on the ICAS website and in the CA magazine,
- failure to pay a penalty and/or two consecutive years of non-compliance will be referred to the Investigation Committee as unsatisfactory professional conduct.
CPD support services
ICAS is committed to ensuring that its members have the CPD support and guidance they need. Using the dedicated CPD website and CA Magazine, ICAS will continue to issue guidance to help members to meet their CPD requirement.
Example CPD Records
Example CPD records are available to download below.
Voluntary
- Voluntary Basic Bookkeeper Club Example CPD PDF [207 KB]
- Voluntary Bookkeeper and Payroll Charity Example CPD PDF [209 KB]
- Voluntary Independent Examination for Small England and Wales Charity Example CPD PDF [208 KB]
- Voluntary Independent Examination for Small Scotland Charity Example CPD PDF [207 KB]
- Voluntary Receipt and Payment Accounts for Small England and Wales Charity Example CPD PDF [209 KB]
- Voluntary Receipt and Payment Accounts for Small Scotland Charity Example CPD PDF [208 KB]
- Voluntary SORP Accounts Charity Example CPD PDF [209 KB]
- Trustee England and Wales Charity Example CPD PDF [218 KB]
- Trustee Scotland Charity Example CPD PDF [216 KB]
- Voluntary Church Elder and Small Charity Trustee CPD Example PDF [205 KB]
Industry
- Financial Controller or Accountant Example CPD PDF [225 KB]
- Group Finance Director Example CPD PDF [223 KB]
Practice
- Audit Manager Example CPD PDF [214 KB]
- General Practitioner CPD Example PDF [261 KB]
- Corporate Finance Expert Example CPD PDF [172 KB]
- Tax Specialist Example CPD PDF [168 KB]
Career Break
- Short term career break example PDF [167 KB]
- Maternity leave (beginning) Example PDF [165 KB]
- Maternity leave (ending soon) Example PDF [168 KB]
- Long term career break example PDF [150 KB]
Non-Exec director
How to submit your CPD record if you have been selected as part of the annual sample
If you have been selected as part of the annual sample to submit your CPD record please:
Email your completed form
Once you have completed your CPD record, attach it to an email and send to members@icas.com. You may use the ICAS CPD Form available below. We will also accept your CPD records in the format maintained by your employer.
Download CPD form DOC [63 KB]