Keep Your Knowledge and Skills Current Throughout Your Career
Our approach gives you the flexibility to focus on development that is relevant to your role and where you want your career to go.
Explore our frequently asked questions below to understand what counts as CPD, what you need to do, and how to record your development.
CPD in 30 Seconds
CPD applies to all ACT Associate and Fellow members
Choose learning relevant to your professional development and role
Reflect on what you’ve learned
Keep records for at least three years
Complete your annual declaration
About CPD
What is CPD?
CPD is a personal commitment to keeping your professional knowledge up to date and improving your skills. It focuses on what you learn and how you develop throughout your career.
You are in control of what you want to achieve and where you want your career to go.
Why is CPD important?
As a professional, you need to keep your skills and knowledge up to date.
CPD helps you to keep track of what you’re doing, identify the opportunities you are taking, and record your career objectives. It’s up to you how much you do, and the nature and scale of the benefits are up to you too.
The credibility of our profession is based on the commitment of individual members to self-improvement.
What do I need to do?
We recommend you review your learning over the previous 12 months and set your development objectives for the coming year.
Reflecting on the best ways for you to learn will ensure your development is easier to measure and methodical. You may already be doing this as part of your development review with an employer.
How much CPD do I need to do?
Our approach is based on reflecting on learning that focuses on outcomes and results. We do not count hours or points – it’s up to you how much time you spend. However, to give you a rough idea, someone who is professionally active on a full time basis would probably spend around 30 hours a year on CPD — many of which can be gained on the job.
Who needs to complete CPD?
All active FCT and AMCT members are asked to undertake and record CPD activity and submit a declaration as part of their annual renewal. Even if you are no longer working in treasury, on a career break or working part time you will need to evaluate your needs and record what is appropriate for your professional development. There are lots of different ways to record your CPD activity – visit My CPD for further information.
What if I don't have the time?
One of the most common misconceptions about CPD is that it takes extra effort over and above your normal daily activities to get results.
For many people, CPD can be seamlessly incorporated into the way they work. You’re probably already doing all the right things, it’s just a question of recording and understanding the value you have gained.
Some people set aside a regular hour or so a week to reflect on what they’ve done, others make it part of their working day.
Do I need to do CPD if I have moved from being a student to a member in the CPD year?
If you've moved from being a student to a member part way through the membership/CPD year, you won’t need to undertake CPD until the next full year of membership.
CPD Requirements
What CPD do I need to do if I work part-time?
Your CPD requirements are the same, regardless of working part-time. Review and decide what is relevant and appropriate for your role
What CPD do I need to do if I will be working less than a full year (e.g. I am on a career break, travelling, maternity leave, illness)?
As a minimum, you must periodically evaluate your needs and decide what is appropriate for you.
CPD doesn't have to be formal, for example if you are on a career break you can keep up with latest news and insights by reading technical articles, reading The Treasurer magazine or the financial press, listening to podcasts all of which count as CPD.
What CPD should I do if I’m a member, but I work outside treasury?
The subject matter and objectives within your CPD should be relevant to your role (which can be a non-treasury role) and your future aspirations.
Are there any exemptions?
Retired Members are exempt from having to complete CPD.
What Counts as CPD?
Do ACT qualifications, training and microcredentials count towards CPD?
Yes. ACT qualifications, training courses and microcredentials all contribute to your CPD, provided they are relevant to your current role, professional development objectives and future career aspirations.
Does learning outside work count?
Yes. Learning undertaken in your own time can count towards your CPD, provided it is relevant to your professional development. Examples include online courses, webinars, industry events, research, reading, and other structured learning activities.
Can I use CPD from other bodies' training courses?
CPD is specific to the individual. Training from another professional body can count as CPD if it’s relevant and effective. Furthermore, two people attending the same course will probably record different CPD learning outcomes for the time spent.
What other activities count as CPD?
The following all count towards CPD activity: Courses and qualifications, webinars and seminars, learning outside of work, industry presentations, teaching others, secondments, professional body learning, reading and research.
Are other qualifications recognised for CPD purposes?
Yes, if the course is relevant for your role and/or career aspirations.
Recording and Declaring CPD
How do I record CPD?
Identify learning and development activities
Take action and complete the activity
Reflect on what you learned
Record your development using ‘Log my CPD’
Review your progress regularly
How do I keep records of my CPD?
You can record your CPD in any format. We’ve developed a range of tools to help you record your CPD – including an interactive log, but we’re keen to ensure you adopt an approach that works for you.
Whatever method you choose, you should remember to keep your records for a minimum of three years – and be able to provide evidence, if requested.
How will the ACT support me in achieving CPD?
We will support our members wherever possible. Virtually all the services provided by the ACT can be regarded as CPD, in one form or another. For example events, training, The Treasurer magazine and any briefings or updates in person, in print or via the website. We will provide additional CPD guidance and other services whenever possible and much of this is free or substantially discounted for members.
Compliance and Reviews
How does ACT monitor CPD compliance and conduct reviews?
As part of your annual membership renewal, you will be asked to complete a CPD declaration confirming that you have considered your development needs, undertaken appropriate learning activities and reviewed the extent to which your CPD objectives have been met.
Members employed by a CPD Accredited Employer only need to confirm that they remain employed by that organisation.
Each year, a sample of members is selected for a CPD review. If selected, you will be contacted in September and provided with details of the information you must submit. You will be asked to demonstrate how you have followed the ACT CPD cycle and maintained appropriate records of your professional development activities.
The principal evidence required is your CPD record, which should demonstrate how you planned, undertook, reflected on and recorded your learning and development activities.
What happens if I don’t complete my CPD declaration or provide evidence when requested?
If you do not complete your CPD declaration, the ACT will initially contact you to discuss your circumstances, review any professional development undertaken during the previous 12 months and provide guidance on meeting the CPD requirements in the future.
If you are unable to comply with the CPD requirements in a particular year, you should contact the ACT as soon as possible.
Members who repeatedly fail to submit a CPD declaration, do not engage with the ACT regarding their CPD requirements, or fail to provide requested CPD records or evidence may be subject to the ACT's disciplinary procedures.
Members who fail to submit a declaration for a second consecutive year, or who are selected for review and do not provide sufficient evidence of appropriate CPD activity, may have their membership lapse. Membership may subsequently be reinstated upon submission of satisfactory CPD evidence, a commitment to comply with future CPD requirements and payment of the applicable membership fee.
How will I know if I’ve been selected for a CPD review?
If you’re selected, we will contact you in September. Information on when you need to submit your records will be provided in the communication sent to you. You will need to show how you have worked through the CPD three-stage cycle - visit the My CPD page to find out more.
What evidence will I need if I am selected under the periodic review?
The most important piece of evidence is your CPD record. This must be sufficiently detailed to allow us to assess whether you have planned, acted, evaluated and recorded your achievements. You will also be asked to provide a CPD cover sheet which highlights the three most important objectives you have completed over the CPD year.
CPD Accredited Employer Scheme
What does it mean for me if my organisation is part of the ACT's CPD Accredited Employer Scheme?
If your organisation is an ACT CPD Accredited Employer, Associate (AMCT) and Fellow (FCT) members can complete their annual CPD declaration through the employer route. This means you simply confirm that you are still employed by the accredited organisation each year. You are not required to submit a CPD record for review and you won’t be asked to submit any records or evidence as part of the annual audit.
How do I know if my organisation is part of the CPD Accredited Employer Scheme?
Please click here to see the list of organisations on the scheme
My organisation is not currently part of the CPD Accredited Employer scheme, how do we join?
For more information about the benefits of the scheme and how to join it please click here.
Useful Resources
My CPD
Plan, record, and reflect on your professional development, and find out what you need to do to complete your annual CPD declaration.
Training
Develop your knowledge and skills through practical training designed for treasury and finance professionals at every stage of their career.
Events
Keep your knowledge current, hear from treasury experts, and connect with the profession through ACT conferences, webinars and events.