What is verifiable CPD?

Under the revised CPD Regulations, effective from 1 November 2023, members and other individuals regulated by ICAEW have to undertake a prescribed minimum number of hours of continuing professional development (CPD).

The minimum number of hours for each individual will depend upon which CPD category best fits your role. Each CPD category sets out the minimum number of hours and the  proportion of those hours that must be verifiable.

Relevant CPD

The CPD that you do must be relevant to your role. This means that the CPD activity should meet a specific learning outcome that you have identified as necessary to remain up to date and competent in your professional role.

CPD is not restricted to activities focused on technical accounting or finance knowledge. Engaging in content that looks to the future of the profession, such as thought leadership, would be considered CPD, as would the development of soft skills, such as communication, leadership and change management.

Potential CPD activities

CPD could take many forms, and the type of CPD you choose to do will be influenced by your development needs, and how you decide that those learning needs are best met. If you work in business, you may find that the way you undertake CPD is different to the way an individual working in practice may do CPD. The key is that the CPD must be relevant to your role and address any development needs that you identify.

How to verify CPD activities

For a CPD activity to be verifiable there must be evidence of its completion that is:

• objective - fact based rather than based on personal perspectives;
• corroborated - can be confirmed to be accurate; and
• retained - documented and stored in an observable format.

To support you with changes to CPD requirements, we have developed a new online CPD record. It allows you to quickly record and track your progress against CPD requirements.

Examples of verifiable CPD

Verifiable CPD is not limited to structured courses. Independent evidence can be provided for a wide-range of actions from your day-to-day work, from attending peer discussion groups and consulting experts, to on-the-job research of technical areas and writing academic articles.

The list below provides example CPD activities and how they can be evidenced. Please note that only one form of evidence is required for each verifiable CPD activity in your record.

CPD resources included in your ICAEW membership

As part of your ICAEW membership you have access to a range of resources that can support you in meeting your CPD obligations, many of which will be verifiable.

Faculties and communities

ICAEW's faculties and communities produce a variety of content for their audiences, including webinars, events, articles and guidance. As of January 2023 all ICAEW members have access to this wealth of content covering a range of sectors and professional specialisms, including:

• Audit and assurance
• Charity
• Corporate finance
• Corporate governance
• Corporate reporting
• Forensic accounting and expert witness
• Portfolio careers
• Practitioner business advisors
• Public sector
• Sustainability
• Restructuring and insolvency
• Tax

ICAEW has more than 30 communities with many focusing on specific industries. See a full list.

Technical advice

The helpsheets created by ICAEW's Technical Advisory Services team reflect the practical guidance provided to members every day on the helplines and highlight important issues for members.

ICAEW members have free access to practical technical and ethical guidance, as well as frequently asked questions, to support you day to day.

• See a full list of TAS helpsheets.

All staff of a firm which is part of ICAEW's Practice Assurance scheme or is regulated, supervised or authorised by ICAEW (for audit, DPB, probate, insolvency, anti-money laundering or the licensed practitioner scheme) also have free access to Bloomsury's Accounting and Tax Service.

This online library comprises more than 60 titles from some of the countries leading tax and accounting subject matter experts.

• Find out more and register for access.

Current affairs

ICAEW insights has been created to keep ICAEW members up to date with the latest developments in finance, accountancy, tax and the world of business.

Alongside daily articles, the insights section includes weekly charts, regular podcasts and videos, all freely available.

You can receive the latest insights direct to your inbox by subscribing to either our Daily, Weekly or Monthly emails.

• Access the latest insights.

Online training

ICAEW has created a number of free online training resources which provide verifiable CPD activities.

• Trustee training modules - an overview of charity trustees' legal and financial responsibilities and their strategic and operational considerations.
• Finance in a digital world - an elearning programme produced by Deloitte that looks at how technology is driving financial transformation.

Recording CPD

To demonstrate the CPD you have undertaken, you should keep a record of your CPD activity, along with the supporting evidence for the verifiable CPD. 

ICAEW has published an example of what a CPD record could look like and the key elements that it should include, such as your reflection statement, CPD activities and evidence.

ICAEW has developed an online CPD record which you may choose to use. We are also creating a tool that will enable members to verify CPD activity on icaew.com and log it in this online record.