Under regulations coming into force on 1 November 2023, the amount of CPD ICAEW requires to be completed annually is defined by categories of accountancy work. Read the full list of categories to identify which aligns with your work and understand how many hours of CPD you must complete.
ICAEW has defined three CPD categories of work for those in practice and an additional three for those working outside practice.
The tables below detail the types of work and levels of seniority expected by those within each category and clarifies the number of hours of CPD and verifiable CPD required.
ICAEW has provided additional guidance for those working in practice outside the UK and those providing services voluntarily to charity.
Categories - practice members
The table below outlines the type of work for category 1 and 2 for those working in practice. Individuals whose work does not fall into either of these categories will fall into category 3, see below for more information.
Definitions
More information defining the key concepts and terms used in these categories.
Regulations' definitionsKey concepts and termsCategory 3
Members and relevant persons working in practice, who are not exempt, and who do not fall within any of the areas of work set out in CPD Categories 1 and 2, are required to undertake 20 CPD hours of which 10 hours must be verifiable.
Practice members outside the UK
If you are a member based outside of the UK, you will need to use your judgment to determine whether you are engaged in an equivalent role, with reference to the relevant national laws and regulations where appropriate.
Categories - members not in practice
The table below outlines the type of work for category 1 and 2 for those working outside practice. Individuals whose work does not fall into either of these categories will fall into category 3, see below for more information.
Category 3
Members and relevant persons working outside of practice who do not fall within CPD categories 1 and 2 will be required to undertake at least 20 hours of CPD, of which five hours must be verifiable.
Volunteering at charities
Those members and relevant persons working / acting without reward as senior executive or financial positions at, or acting as trustees of, charities are required either:
- an hour of verifiable ethics training, such as ICAEW's free annual ethics CPD training course; and
- to undertake ICAEW's training programme for charity trustees (which is available for free); or
- to undertake training to keep themselves up to date with developments impacting their work as charity trustees with similar learning outcomes.
Additional guidance on CPD requirements for charity trustees is available here.
Are you affected?
Confirm whether you need to comply with ICAEW's CPD Regulations by answering a few simple questions about your work.
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Update History
- 26 Apr 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
- Practice CPD Category 2 (B - corrected to state 'large companies', where it had erroneously stated 'Public Interest Entities'.
- 24 May 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
- Further links added to definitions of terms.
- 14 Jul 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
- Not-in-practice category 1 F) and G) amended to clarify definition of large pension fund, as one which has >£1bn of gross assets or >10,000 members.
- 12 Sep 2023 (12: 00 AM BST)
- Amendment made to clarify definition of large pension fund as those with with gross assets >£1bn and >10,000 members. Previously this guidance stated 'or'.