Since 1 November 2023, ICAEW has required a set number of hours, and a set number of verifiable hours, based on the work you do. Two things catch members out: working out which category they are in, and the fact that ICAEW’s CPD year ends on 31 October, two months before most other bodies.

At a glance

Requirement

What ICAEW asks for

CPD year

1 November to 31 October

Hours

20, 30 or 40 a year, depending on your category

Verifiable hours

Between 5 and 30 a year, depending on your category

Ethics

At least 1 hour of verifiable ethics training every CPD year, whatever your category

Declaration

Confirmed through your annual return

Find your category

Category

Members in practice

Members not in practice

1

40 hours, 30 verifiable

40 hours, 15 verifiable

2

30 hours, 20 verifiable

30 hours, 10 verifiable

3

20 hours, 10 verifiable

20 hours, 5 verifiable

Broadly, Category 1 covers the highest-risk work, such as auditing listed and other public interest entities. Category 3 is the default for members in practice who don’t fall into Categories 1 or 2, and for members in business who don’t hold the senior roles described in the higher categories. Check the exact definitions on ICAEW’s categories page before deciding.

What makes an hour verifiable

ICAEW’s evidence must be:

  • Objective: based on facts, not your own view of what you learned

  • Corroborated: capable of being confirmed by a third party or a system

  • Retained: documented and kept

You need only one piece of evidence per activity.

Where CPDProof fits

A CPDProof certificate meets each test in turn. It is objective, because it records a quiz you passed on that specific content. It is corroborated, because ICAEW or anyone else can confirm it through the certificate’s QR code and public verification link. And it is retained, because the certificate is a dated PDF you can keep with your ICAEW online CPD record.

ICAEW decides what satisfies its rules, so no provider can guarantee acceptance. Choose content relevant to your role.

See plans

Common questions

Is 31 October the deadline to declare?

It is the end of the CPD year, so it is the deadline for completing your hours. You confirm compliance afterwards, through your annual return.

Does the ethics hour have to be verifiable?

Yes. At least one hour of verifiable ethics training every CPD year, whatever your category.

I’m in business, not practice. Do I need verifiable hours?

Yes, but fewer: between 5 and 15 a year depending on your category.

Related: ICAEW CPD deadline 31 October: getting your hours done in time · What counts as verifiable CPD

Sources: ICAEW, CPD categories · ICAEW, Your guide to CPD · Ross Martin, ICAEW changes to a verifiable CPD model