Operating ethically is critical for financial professionals but applying the ICAEW Code of Ethics in practice can often be challenging. That is why ethics is fundamental for all ICAEW members’ continuing professional development (CPD) and one of the key requirements under ICAEW's CPD Regulations.

All members, regardless of their industry, role or level of responsibility must complete at least one hour of ethics-focused professional development each CPD year (1 November – 31 October). 

To help members meet these CPD requirements, ICAEW provides a range of resources that all member can access, from webinars and podcasts to e-learning modules.

Ethics CPD Course

ICAEW launched its comprehensive Ethics CPD Course in 2023 and is updated every year.

The e-learning course currently provides 17 hours of verifiable CPD activities divided into five modules. The opening modules cover the fundamental principles that underpin the ICAEW Code of Ethics before delving into ethical decision-making and the support you need to help you make good decisions. 

The third module looks at ethics in specialisms, including in combatting economic crime, corporate reporting and tax. The fourth module provides case studies, using ICAEW’s training films to support learning, and the final module is updated each year to cover the latest developments.

The 2026 update is already live and covers new expectations for role and mindset, implementation guidance and ongoing support resources and more.

When you complete a module a certificate is generated providing the verifiable evidence you need and, if you’re using your digital CPD record on icaew.com, certificates are automatically added to your record.

The Ethics CPD Course is delivered using a blend of e-learning assets allowing you to study remotely and work at your own pace. It also covers a range of specialist areas, including tax, audit and insolvency, as well as tackling topical issues such as AI and ethics and creating an ethical culture.

Code of Ethics changes

In 2025, ICAEW published a new Code of Ethics with updates relating to professional behaviour, role and mindset and technology. To support members with the changes ICAEW created a range of resources, including:

• A webinar outlining the 2025 update
• Guidance covering:
  - role and mindset
  - impact of technology
  - objectivity of an engagement quality reviewer
  - professional and personal conduct
  - NOCLAR
  - unpaid work
  - engagement team and group audit
  - fees charged to audit clients
  - PIEs and listed entities
• A podcast discussing the revisions

More ethics resources

Alongside the Code of Ethics, ICAEW produces guidance and support exploring the key ethical issues facing accountants. Members can watch videos covering issues including sustainability and ethics, ethics as a competency and ethical decision making and the challenges of AI.

Those interested in delving deeper into the ethical issues brought with the use of AI, can download an in-depth report which shares the outcomes of a series of ICAEW-hosted roundtables on the subject. More than 40 participants from industry and practice shared their thoughts and the report includes use cases, risks and mitigations.

Each year, ICAEW celebrates Global Ethics Day, which in 2025 was themed "ethics re-envisioned". You can access a podcast exploring the issues of whether organisations should compensate whistleblowers, as well as articles looking at the four questions to access company culture, three common ethical failures and how to avoid them and much more.

Meanwhile, ICAEW members can also access more than 40 helpsheets focused on ethical challenges produced by the Institute's Technical Advisory Service. Recent helpsheets cover: 

• what an other entity of public interest (OEPI) is;
• trustee of trust with shares in an audit client;
• persons closely associated; and
• what is the definition of partner.

To keep up-to-date with the latest articles and content on ethics, bookmark icaew.com/ethics.