see also...

top stories

Could you have met the CPD requirement through learning at work?

26 Nov 2007

Already meeting the requirement?

Verifiable continuing professional development (CPD) can take place without individuals formally thinking of the activity as relevant learning and development. Take 10 minutes to review some of the activities you have undertaken this year where you learned something to benefit your work or career, and you may be surprised at how much of the CPD requirement you have already achieved.

Remember, no matter what your learning activity is, if you can answer yes to the three questions below, you can record the activity as verifiable CPD.

• Was the learning activity relevant to your career?
• Can you explain how you will apply the learning in the workplace?
• Can you provide evidence that you undertook the learning activity?

Checklist

We have developed a five-point guide to CPD.

• You have completed a personal development plan that identifies the development you need to perform in your current role and in the future.
• You have identified which route you plan to take to meet the CPD requirement: the unit route, the Approved Employer – Professional Development route, or the other IFAC body route.
• You have identified and selected CPD activities that will enable you to achieve your desired development and meet your CPD requirement; for example, if you are following the unit route, this should include at least 21 units of verifiable CPD and 19 units of non-verifiable CPD.
• You have participated in some CPD activity and have a clear plan of how you will complete your full requirement before 31 December.
• You have kept evidence of your activity to prove that you have met the CPD requirement.

Submitting your CPD return

You can submit your annual CPD return online or via a printed form. To submit a return now or at any point of the year before 1 January 2008 , simply visit www.accaglobal.com and log into your myACCA e-business account. Your subscription notification for 2008 features a section dedicated to the annual CPD return and must be completed and returned, together with the annual subscription payment, by 1 January 2008 . The declaration is straightforward: you are required to confirm your CPD route, advise if you are involved in the preparation or presentation of publicly available accounts, and confirm that you have kept your professional ethics up-to-date. Remember – you do not have to send in your CPD evidence with this form, but ensure that you keep your evidence for three years in case ACCA requests it.