CPD FAQs

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the process of maintaining and developing your skills, knowledge and experience so that you can meet the requirements of your current role, achieve your career aspirations and meet your professional obligations.

Yes, all CIMA members need to keep learning throughout their career and keep a record of their activities.

The CPD requirement applies from the date on which you are elected to membership i.e. the date you are able to use the letters ACMA/FCMA and CGMA after your name.

No, CIMA members taking a career break don’t need to undertake CPD. However, if you intend to return to work, we would strongly recommend that you do whatever is necessary to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

There are no special arrangements for members working part-time. All members need to ensure that they meet the requirements of their role (whatever they might be).

CIMA doesn’t prescribe a number of hours or units, instead we ask that you do as much as you need to remain professionally competent and advance your career. This will obviously depend on your individual circumstances and development needs.

Any activity (formal or informal) that helps you develop your knowledge and skills will count as CPD. CPD activities include, but are not restricted to:

• Work based learning
• Project work
• Secondments
• Observation and feedback
• Coaching and mentoring/being coached/mentored
• Delivering training
• Academic and professional qualifications
• Internal and external training courses
• Conferences and events
• Local CIMA events
• Reading technical reports and journals
• Online learning
• Research
• Discussion forums

No, that’s not an issue. Your professional development should focus on the requirements of your current role and/or a role you want to move into. This may be outside the finance function.

Please use the My Learning section of the Competency and Learning website to record your CPD.

The Competency and Learning website allows you to identify your learning needs, track your progress and, if selected, submit your record to the CIMA CPD monitoring team.

For more information on the Competency and Learning website visit competency.cgma.org or download our guide.

If you work for a Premier Partner or CIMA Development Quality Partner you can use your appraisal/personal development plan to record your CPD and, if selected for CPD monitoring, you may not need to submit your record for assessment.

A list of CPD accredited employers is listed on our website. If your employer isn’t listed, and you still believe that they are accredited, please let us know.

Watch our short video to learn how to add a learning activity to your My Learning record.

Watch our short video to learn how to add a role to your My Learning record.

As this could be an extensive list, we would recommend that you identify key themes and record what you learnt and how you have applied it in the workplace against each theme.

When reflecting on any learning activity please make sure you answer the following questions:

• What competency did you develop?
• What can you do now that you couldn’t do before?
• Did you meet your objectives? If not, what else do you need to do?
• What will be the wider impact for your team, your organisation and your career?

Answering these questions will ensure you provide the correct level of detail.

Whilst all CIMA members need to keep their CPD record up to date, you don’t need to submit your CPD record for monitoring until formally requested to do so by CIMA’s CPD monitoring team.

If you’ve been selected for CPD monitoring you will be notified via email and by post.

If selected for CPD monitoring you will be required to submit your record using the Competency and Learning website.

If you haven’t started using it yet, please familiarise yourself with the My Learning section of the website and start using it to record your CPD now.

If you need assistance, download our guide.

If selected for CPD monitoring you will be required to submit your CPD record for the last 12 months using the Competency and Learning website.

If you’re selected for monitoring, but believe you may be eligible for an exemption, please contact us outlining your circumstances.

Exemptions are normally only given to members who are already fully retired, on maternity leave or in ill health. CIMA will not grant exemptions due to high workload as it is expected that members undertake and record CPD on an ongoing basis.