- Requirements
- United Kingdom
- ICAEW · Chartered accountants
ICAEW · Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales · UK
ICAEW CPD requirements for chartered accountants, in plain English
Short answers first, detail after, source at the bottom. Written to be read on a phone at work.
The rule in one sentence
Since 1 November 2023 ICAEW members fall into one of three CPD categories requiring 40, 30 or 20 hours per CPD year (1 November–31 October), with a verifiable minimum of 30/20/10 hours in practice or 15/10/5 outside practice, including at least one hour of ethics, confirmed on membership renewal and checked by random sample.
Last verified by RiverCPD team
Source: icaew.com →- Volume
- 20/30/40 hrs by category · 1 hr ethics · year ends 31 Oct
- Cycle
- 1 November–31 October
- Deadline
- 31 October (end of the CPD year)
- Audit
- Random sample each year
- RiverCPD
- Planned
How many hours of CPD do I need?
Short answerYour category depends on your role. Category 1 needs 40 hours, Category 2 30 hours, Category 3 20 hours. Verifiable minimums are 30/20/10 hours in practice and 15/10/5 hours outside practice. At least one hour each year must be ethics-related. Hours are not pro-rated for part-time work but may be for joining mid-year.
What counts as CPD?
Short answerICAEW does not mandate topics other than ethics. Any activity that meets a development need counts; verifiable hours need evidence that is objective, corroborated and retained. Your record must describe your roles and category, your development needs, activities with durations, impact, and reflections for next year.
What happens if I'm audited?
Short answerICAEW selects a random sample every year and emails you with questions about your work and a request for your CPD records; do not send records unless asked. The Quality Assurance Department reviews them and may follow up. Any format is acceptable, provided verifiable activities are evidenced.
When is the deadline?
Short answerThe CPD year runs 1 November to 31 October. You make no separate active declaration: renewing membership confirms compliance with Principal Bye-law 56. Where your employer's CPD year differs, the renewal wording lets you confirm compliance to 31 October and commit to completing the hours by your employer's year end.
Source and verification
Verification
Last verified by RiverCPD team
Re-checked when the regulator publishes a change.