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What counts as CPD and what is verifiable?

Helpsheets and support

Published: 24 Apr 2023 Updated: 21 Jul 2026 Update History

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Guidance outlining the types of professional development activity that could qualify as verifiable for the purpose of ICAEW's CPD Regulations.

CPD category

Minimum number
of hours

Minimum number of verifiable hours

Practice
Category 1 40

30
Category 2 30 20
Category 3

20

10

Working outside practice

Category 1

40

15
Category 2

30

10
Category 3

20

5

Executives/trustees of charities working pro bono.

 ICAEW's CPD video for charity trustees  or training with similar learning outcomes.
What counts as CPD? In this video we explain what counts as CPD and what we mean by verfiable CPD.
Introducing AddCPD Reading articles and watching videos on icaew.com can count towards your verifiable CPD hours thanks to the new AddCPD tool.
More support

Guidance on what constitutes verifiable CPD and potential evidence that would be acceptable under ICAEW's CPD Regulations, as well as the downloadable form for verifying on-the-job learning

Verifiable CPD examplesOn-the-job learning form

CPD activity

 Verifiable Example evidence type

Attendance on external courses.

 Yes
• Certificate of attendance. 
• Booking confirmation from course supplier.
Attendance on internal courses. Yes – if your organisation provides evidence of your attendance.
• Attendance record.
• Certificate of attendance from internal system/training coordinator.
Formal study and/or passing exams leading to a designation, degree, certificate or diploma.

Yes
• Enrolment record.
• Attendance schedule.
• Certificate of completion.
• Exam certificate.
Attending or participating in:
• webinars,
• lectures,
• symposiums,
• conferences,
• seminars,
• workshops,
• presentations with defined learning outcomes, or
• peer learning discussion groups.

Yes

 Proof of participation or attendance (for example a registration email for a webinar or a certificate/email confirming completion).
Preparing to lecture/teach new content.

Yes
• Session materials.
• Record of event.

AND

• Support for time spent (in this instance we would accept timesheets in addition to the evidence above) 
Carrying out technical research. Yes – where the results of that research can be produced in presentations, reports, file notes or similar documents.
• Presentation/report/file note/other document summarising the research.
• Other document summarising the research.
• List of source references used.

AND

• Summary of time spent on research activity, signed by line manager.
• You can use the AddCPD tool at the bottom right of the webpage to verify reading of articles and PDFs on icaew.com and add to your online CPD Record. Click on the logo to record your activities on your online CPD record and they will appear as verified.

Technical reading.

 Only verifiable if the reading can be evidenced. Otherwise, would count as non-verifiable CPD if it is relevant to the learning needs of your role.  • Reading technical articles and PDFs on icaew.com can be verified using the AddCPD tool at the bottom right of the webpage. Click on the logo to record your activities on your online CPD record and they will appear as verified.

Listening to podcasts.

 Only verifiable if the listening can be evidenced. Otherwise, would count as non-verifiable CPD if it is relevant to the learning needs of your role. 

• Listening to podcasts on icaew.com can be verified using the AddCPD tool at the bottom right of the webpage. Click on the logo to record your activities on your online CPD record and they will appear as verified.
Writing technical or academic articles, papers or books. Yes – where it is published.
• Copy of article.
• Source references.
• Publication dates.

AND

• Details of time spent in preparation.
On the job training that helped develop or maintain professional competence. Yes – if records provided by another person, eg employer, performance manager, mentor or tutor. • Certificate or other documented records, confirmed by an employer, performance manager, mentor or tutor, for time spent. 
• ICAEW has created a downloadable form to record on-the-job learning and enable verification by a senior colleague. Find out more.
Participation in meetings/discussion groups on technical topics, for example, ICAEW District Society meetings.

Yes

 Evidence of meeting from an independence source showing attendance and time spent - for example minutes, attendee list AND meeting invite from original meeting organiser.
Consulting experts to resolve technical or ethical issues. Yes – if consultation is evidenced.
• Record of expert(s) consulted.
• List of resources accessed. 
• Copies of correspondence with expert.

AND

• Details of time spent.
Participation in professional board that developed and maintained competence.

Yes

 Records confirmed by the professional board for time spent participating.

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What is accountancy and finance work?

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Who needs to comply with ICAEW’s CPD Regulations?

CPD resources

ICAEW membership includes webinars, podcasts and technical guidance, as well as content from many of our faculties and communities.

Find out more about how ICAEW's CPD Regulations are changing after 1 November 2023
Changelog Anchor
  • Update History
    27 Apr 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
    Guidance amended to provide examples of acceptable evidence for webinar attendance and to clarify that only one item of evidence is required per verifiable CPD activity within a CPD record.
    26 May 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
    Insertion of 'CPD resources included in ICAEW membership' section.
    25 Jul 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
    Clarification added over potential verifiability of podcast listening and additional text to 'relevant CPD' section to reaffirm that CPD activities are not restricted to technical accountancy and finance subjects.
    31 Aug 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
    Inclusion of information about verification of CPD activities on icaew.com and the creation of a form to support the verification of on-the-job learning
    05 Dec 2023 (12: 00 AM GMT)
    Links have been added to the new online CPD record.
    05 Jul 2024 (12: 00 AM BST)
    Amended in light of AddCPD tool being live.
    21 Jul 2026 (12: 00 AM BST)
    Updated to clarify that additional evidence may be needed for verification in some cases, and to clarify what is not accepted as verifiable evidence.