Continuing Professional Development

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is of key importance to all practitioners in the financial services sector.

At the CISI, we are committed to providing all members with the tools needed to comply with regulators and training and competence rules set by employers.

What is CPD?

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It’s the process of learning and developing your knowledge and skills whilst you work. This shows colleagues, clients and the regulator that you are committed to upholding your competence.

At the CISI we offer you a wealth of opportunities to develop your expertise through online resources, events and publications, and document your progress.

New mandatory CPD changes

CPD is now mandatory for all members excluding Student members. All members who joined the CISI before or on the 31 March 2017, will need to ensure they meet the new mandatory CPD requirements by successfully completing one year of CPD by the 31 March 2019 and continuing to do so on an annual basis to maintain their membership.

If you joined the CISI on or after 1 April 2017 you are required to meet the CPD requirements within your first year of membership. 

The benefits of CPD

Completing CPD is a display of commitment to individuals’ roles and their wider profession. Members are therefore awarded a certificate on completion of each CPD year. This certificate, alongside their personal CPD record, is tangible evidence of a dedication to ongoing professionalism.

Completion of full CPD years also provides members with many opportunities. Alongside the correct qualification, it allows members to apply for a Statement of Professional Standing – necessary for all practising retail investment advisers regulated by the FCA, and, alongside other criteria, enables members to apply for an individual charter.

What does this mean for me?

To find out what exactly the new CPD changes mean for you select your membership level

Chartered members, CFPTM and SPS holders
All other members excluding students

Guidance

Policies & documentation

Recording non-CISI CPD

Activities of other professional bodies or training providers may still be admissible, but all CPD logged has to be professionally relevant to the member. Members may need to demonstrate the professional relevance of an entry on their CPD log should this be requested by the CISI.

The Institute reserves the right to decline CPD activity that does not meet its requirements. Please email cpdscheme@cisi.org with any questions regarding the relevance of certain activities.

 Certificate of Attendance for 3rd Party CPD

How you can gain CPD

The CISI’s CPD scheme is designed to reflect professional requirements. All activities are categorised into two types of learning, referred to as structured and unstructured. The CISI recommends members complete 35 hours of CPD per year, of which a minimum of 21 must be structured and a maximum of 14 may be unstructured.

Structured

Structured CPD is defined as an activity undertaken for the express purpose of learning. Examples:

I have attended a:
  • Company briefing/update/ team meeting with an explicit briefing remit
  • Exam training course
  • Conference or CPD event
  • Seminar Training course
  • Workshop Professional forum
I have developed others by:
  • Chairing or presenting at a profession-relevant event
  • Member of professional-sector-related board, panel or committee
  • Developing and assessing exam questions
  • Syllabus exam panel
  • Training or briefing staff and colleagues on profession-relevant topics
  • Writing professional articles, workbooks and journals
  • Contributing towards learning materials
I have watched or listened to:
  • Verifiable webcast
I have undertaken:
  • Exams
  • Verifiable eLearning
  • Exam revision material
  • Studying material
I have read:
  • Quality educational material with specific learning outcome

Unstructured

Unstructured CPD includes unplanned activities, where there is no predetermined learning objective and outcome. This also includes unaccompanied learning activities. Examples:

I have attended an:
  • Informal meeting with no predetermined learning purpose
I have developed others by:
  • Informal coaching and mentoring staff on profession relevant topics
I have watched or listened to:
  • Television programmes on relevant topics
  • Unverifiable podcasts
  • Unverifiable webcasts
  • Unverifiable live webstreams
I have undertaken:
  • Research
I have read
  • Financial Times
  • CISI’s The Review
  • Trade magazines
  • Online news services
  • Professional journals