Frequently asked questions about CPD
What is the AAT's new CPD policy?
CPD is no longer measured in hours. Instead it is now measured by the outcomes and benefits that members derive from doing CPD.
This approach changes the emphasis from the quantity of CPD that members do, towards focusing on the quality of their CPD.
It is now mandatory for every AAT member to consider and meet their CPD needs appropriately.
Members are required to undertake appropriate CPD to ensure that they remain competent for the work that they do, and to meet their career aspirations, whether their work is of an accounting/financial nature or not.
The new policy has been introduced in two phases:
- From 1 January 2007 the policy became a mandatory requirement for AAT members in practice and fellow members who were elected after January 1998.
CPD was already a mandatory requirement for these members, so the main change was the move from measuring CPD in hours towards measuring CPD by outcomes.
- From 1 January 2008 the policy became a mandatory requirement for all other AAT full and fellow members.
Find out more about the AAT's revised CPD policy
My employer sends me on courses that are relevant to my work. Do I have to attend AAT events too?
No. As long as the courses your employer identifies for you are relevant to your role or future career development they will count as CPD.
You will need to use our CPD cycle to assess, plan, action and evaluate your learning activity.
The learning activity you choose to meet your needs does not need to be organised or accredited by the AAT. It simply needs to be relevant to your personal learning and development needs and goals.
If there are a number of AAT members working at your organisation your employer may be interested in applying to become an AAT accredited CPD employer.
If they are approved you will automatically comply with our CPD policy.
I'm only interested in updating my existing skills. I don't want to develop new ones. Are you forcing me to do CPD to keep my membership?
CPD is as much about updating existing skills as developing new ones. Both areas are important and it is up to you to identify your personal learning needs.
To ensure your learning activity is effective our CPD cycle will help you to identify your learning and development needs and then plan, assess and evaluate your learning activity.
Our online CPD zone can help you to identify the type of learning most suitable for you as well as giving you suggestions for courses, events, reading materials etc.
Updating existing skills in this way can be just as valuable as gaining new skills.
I'm studying for CIMA and don't have time to attend AAT courses and branch events. Will I lose my membership?
No, you will not lose your AAT membership. Study towards another relevant professional qualification is CPD.
To meet our requirements you will be required to follow the CPD Cycle process to assess, plan, action and evaluate your learning activity.
Once you complete your CIMA qualification you can choose to comply with our CPD policy via our IFAC Body Accreditation Route, as CIMA are an IFAC full member body.
You will just need to inform us that you are complying with our CPD policy by adhering to CIMA's CPD scheme.
I'm on maternity leave for the next six months. Am I exempt from the CPD policy?
No, all our members must comply with our CPD policy.
As you currently away from the workplace when you assess your learning needs it is likely that you will not have any.
In this case, you will not need to complete any learning activities, but you do need to assess your needs within the CPD cycle process.
Just before you are due to return to work you can go through the CPD cycle again to re-assess your needs.
It may be that you need to do some internet research to find out if there have been any changes in legislation affecting your area of work or arrange some update meetings with colleagues to find out about changes that have happened in the office.
I now work away from accounting - in marketing. I would like to retain my AAT membership as a mark of the quality training that I have completed. Will this be possible within the revised CPD policy?
Yes, you can retain your AAT membership as a mark of your skills and professionalism.
Our revised CPD policy is designed to support all AAT members, whatever role they work in to ensure that they remain highly competent professionals.
Your CPD should ensure your competence for your current job - whatever sector it's in. We don't expect you to undertake further accountancy training unless it's relevant to you at this point in your career.
As an AAT member you are required to use the CPD cycle to remain competent to undertake the work that you do. As your main focus is marketing then that will be the area of learning that you focus on the most.
I am retired, except that I do a little work for two local charities. Am I exempt from the CPD requirement?
No, only members who are fully retired and will not be returning to the workplace in any way in the future are exempt from complying with our CPD policy.
As you are undertaking some work, even if only for two local charities, it is important that you are competent for the work that you are doing.
This does not mean that you will need to attend lots of courses, but you should still use our CPD cycle to assess, plan, action and evaluate your learning and development needs.
Depending on the nature of the work that you are doing, you may conclude that you have all the knowledge and skills necessary to do that work professionally and competently, in which case you would not have to undertake any CPD activities in the forthcoming 12 month period.
I am also a member of ACCA. Does the revised CPD policy mean that I have to do twice as much CPD and keep two lots of records?
No, as ACCA are a full member of IFAC, you can choose to comply with our CPD policy via our IFAC body accreditation route.
You simply need to tell us that you are complying with our CPD policy by adhering to ACCA's CPD scheme.
What CPD records would I need to keep, and how should I keep them?
You should keep a record showing that you are using the four-step CPD learning cycle (assess, plan, action and evaluate).
This record should show the conclusions you reached at each step, and must be available when requested for review.
We also recommend you keep evidence of the CPD that you've done, for example a certificate of attendance at a course, or a copy of minutes from an important learning discussion with colleagues.
CPD records can be kept on the AAT's online planner, in a spreadsheet, in a diary, or in the exiting online CPD log.
Output-based means that you will be assessed on the outcome of your learning and not by how much learning you do or how long you spend on the learning activity.
You only need to undertake the learning and development activities that are relevant to you at this particular point in your career.
We believe this policy will put you fully in control of your own training and development. It will help you to focus on what you really want to achieve and plan your time effectively.
It's not about learning for the sake of learning but will enable you to focus on developing the skills and knowledge to meet your own career and professional development goals.
How often do I need to use the CPD cycle?
You should use the CPD cycle once every 12 months of your AAT membership.
If you are a member in practice you need to use the cycle at least twice a year and consider your learning needs in relation to:
- each of the areas in which you are licensed to practice
- your business/practice management skills
- changes in legislation