Knowledge Centre
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Keep your skills sharp, stay compliant, and build your professional advantage with CPD.
2. What You Need to Know
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is how you keep your knowledge and skills up to date throughout your career. It’s not just a compliance exercise, it’s about staying relevant in a rapidly changing business environment.
For CIBA members, CPD is a mandatory requirement linked to your designation. But it’s also an opportunity: it ensures you remain competitive, credible, and able to provide real value to your clients, employers, and communities.
For example, a Chartered Business Accountant in Practice who regularly attends CPD on tax and independent review updates is more likely to win new clients and avoid compliance risks.
3. Why It Matters to You
Earn more: The more up to date your skills are, the more valuable you become. Clients are willing to pay more for someone who knows the latest tax rules, financial reporting standards, or business practices. Employers also see CPD as proof that you are serious about your career.
Stay safe: CPD helps you avoid costly mistakes. If you don’t keep up, you risk penalties from SARS, pushback from regulators, or losing credibility with clients. Keeping your knowledge fresh protects both you and the people you serve.
Build trust: When you invest in your learning, clients and colleagues see you as reliable, professional, and future-ready. CPD shows that you are not standing still but are always improving, and that builds long-term trust.
4. Frameworks, Standards, or References
CIBA CPD Policy – This is the main document that explains your annual CPD requirements as a CIBA member. It tells you how many hours you need to complete, which activities count, and how to submit your annual declaration. (Download the full policy here).
IESBA Code of Ethics – The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants requires professional accountants to stay competent throughout their careers. CPD is one of the ways you meet this responsibility.
IFAC Framework on Lifelong Learning – The International Federation of Accountants promotes CPD as a global standard for all professional accountants. This framework shows that CPD isn’t just a local rule but an international expectation.
5. CIBA CPD Requirements per Designation
6. CPD Formats & Opportunities
There are many different ways you can earn your CPD hours. You don’t have to stick to one format — choose the mix that works best for your role, your practice, and your lifestyle:
Webinars and workshops – Live, interactive sessions where you can learn from experts, ask questions, and share experiences with other professionals. These are a great way to stay updated on the latest rules and best practices.
Online courses (on-demand learning) – Learn at your own pace with flexible, recorded sessions. Perfect if you prefer to study after hours, on weekends, or whenever it suits your schedule.
Conferences and practice management events – Big gatherings give you exposure to multiple topics in one place. They’re also excellent opportunities for networking, meeting potential clients, and learning about the future of the profession.
Reading technical updates or approved materials – Staying informed through CIBA’s technical updates, newsletters, and approved journals counts too. This keeps you current on changes in legislation, standards, and industry trends.
Presenting, mentoring, or writing articles – Sharing your knowledge also counts as CPD. If you present at a workshop, mentor junior accountants, or write professional articles, you’re contributing to the profession while earning hours.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake: Leaving CPD to the end of the year.
Many members wait until November or December and then rush to complete their hours. This creates stress, and often you end up choosing topics just to “tick the box” instead of focusing on what will truly benefit your career.
Do this instead: Spread your CPD throughout the year. Aim for at least five session per quarter. This way you can choose topics that interest you, stay consistently updated, and avoid the year-end rush.Mistake: Choosing CPD only on compliance.
While tax and regulatory updates are important, focusing only on compliance can limit your growth. Members who do this often miss out on developing business, leadership, or client-growth skills that can directly increase their earning potential.
Do this instead: Mix your CPD. Do the compliance sessions you need, but also attend practice management, leadership, and technology webinars. These sessions build skills that help you grow your practice and set you apart from competitors.
8. Verifiable and Non Verifiable CPD
CPD has traditionally been separated into verifiable and non-verifiable units. Verifiable units are obtained via attending an event and successfully completing an assessment.
Non-verifiable units are obtained via reading technical articles, self-study, etc. Recently professional bodies have started to require output based CPD rather than input based i.e., completing a short test after a CPD event to confirm competence. CIBA has adopted output based CPD for verifiable units.
9. How to Access CIBA CPD
Log in to the CIBA Member Portal
Go to the [CIBA Member Portal] and sign in with your member details.
Once inside, navigate to the CPD Centre – this is your dashboard for all CPD activities.
Browse and choose CPD activities
Explore a wide range of options: live webinars, workshops, on-demand courses, technical updates, and conferences.
Use the filters to search by topic (e.g., tax, IFRS, practice management) or format (online, in-person, shourt courses).
Pick the CPD that best matches your designation and your career goals.
Book and complete your activity
Register directly from the portal.
For webinars or courses, you’ll receive joining details by email.
For on-demand CPD, you can start immediately and work at your own pace.
Access your CPD certificate
Once you complete the activity and the assessment, your CPD certificate is automatically generated.
Certificates are securely stored in your CPD profile – no need to worry about losing them.
Submit your annual CPD declaration
Every year, you must confirm your CPD compliance through the portal.
This declaration is quick and ensures you remain in good standing with CIBA.