The CPD process for achieving Chartered Associate status is not just a box-ticking exercise focusing merely on numbers of hours’ activity. It is aimed at evidencing a high-quality learning experience and identifying the skills that this learning has delivered for you. CPD activities should be demonstrably linked to your current role and/or career aspirations within financial services (or related sectors, for example research, teaching, financial services consultancy, etc).

CPD process

1. On first application for the Chartered scheme you must submit a brief statement (200-400 words) outlining your key development needs for the year. This will be done via the online CPD tool in my ifslearning, myCPD. The statement should outline a development plan and the benefits of successfully achieving that plan for yourself and/or your employer.
2. Once your development statement has been submitted and validated you can then start to record CPD via the online CPD tool , myCPD.
3. At the end of each CPD year, you are required to submit a summary record and a brief annual statement of between 200 and 400 words that: 
   1. identifies the way and the extent to which the activities undertaken have supported the objectives identified at the beginning of the year; and
   2. states the development/learning objectives for the forthcoming year. This will then form the development statement for the coming CPD year. Download a completed CPD record and development statement example.

Qualifying CPD activities

1. The CPD activities that you undertake will depend on your particular development/learning objective/s for the year. As a general guide, however, the following points should be borne in mind.
   
   1. No more than 50% of the activities should be orientated towards the development of ‘soft skills’.
   2. The activities undertaken should not be part of your normal current role. Thus an individual who regularly delivers training on Treating Customers Fairly will not be able to count this activity as part of their CPD; however, an individual who is just starting in such a role and has to undertake research and preparation as part of delivering this training may be able to count that preparatory and first presentation activity as part of their CPD.
   3. Active and positive engagement in learning activities is expected rather than simply passive attendance.
2. Development can be achieved in many ways, both formal and informal: through attendance at in-house or external courses, workshops, seminars and other events; through developing others and sharing knowledge; through study and research; and through a range of activities both in an individual’s workplace and undertaken out of work. To avoid a focus on ‘counting hours’ and ticking boxes the ifs is steering away from specifying categories within which qualifying CPD should fit. However, you might find the following ideas useful when considering the which activities to undertake to fulfil your learning objectives.
3. Need to develop ‘soft’ skills (managerial, presentations, negotiation, etc)
   Possible means:
   1. Participation in relevant management development programmes run by professional bodies or business schools
   2. Participation in ifs’ Masterclasses
   3. Study for an MBA and reflection on the learning therein
   4. Use of relevant resources (eg ‘50 Lessons’) in ifs KnowledgeBank
   5. Delivering a presentation and seeking formal feedback from a pre-briefed observer
   6. Undertaking 360-degree feedback, and then discussing this with a mentor/line manager (the resulting action plan would feed usefully into the next year’s CPD)
   7. Study for a relevant qualification offered by a professional institute (eg CIM, CIPD, etc)
   8. Use of in-house training packages (whether elearning or others)
   9. Participation at in-house development event
   10. Taking on a new coaching or mentoring role with someone who is not a direct line report
4. Need to enhance and develop technical skills and knowledge
   Possible means:
   1. Undertaking any ifs qualifications (and reflecting on how the theory applies to practice, and vice versa)
   2. Researching for and delivering a speech, presentation, training session, etc, on a new or unfamiliar topic
   3. Participation in relevant short courses, seminars, workshops or Masterclasses on specific technical areas, whether provided in-house, by the ifs or by other providers
   4. Research for and writing articles/reports for publication
   5. Undertaking higher-level study (eg at postgraduate level) offered by universities or professional bodies
   6. Researching or studying a topic (for example using the resources of ifs KnowledgeBank) such that this new knowledge and understanding is incorporated into an individual’s role
   7. Undertaking professional qualifications to expand skills and knowledge
   8. Use of in-house training packages (whether eLearning or others)
   9. Undertaking tutoring, lecturing or training in an area that requires the individual to expand their own knowledge and understanding
   10. Undertaking work-shadowing (with specific learning objectives and reflection afterwards on the technical skills and knowledge thereby enhanced) 

Activities not qualifying for the Chartered Associate CPD scheme

1. Certain activities that are considered to be routine for individuals in financial services or related fields, or which might form part of your everyday job role, will not normally be accepted as counting towards an individual’s CPD record.
   For example:
   1. Reading the financial press, either daily or specialist
   2. Attending FSA briefings and/or reading FSA updates
   3. Delivering training courses (unless done as a one-off to develop the individual or as a new/first-time activity for which greater research and preparation is required)
   4. Preparing for a presentation or similar activity in an area familiar to the individual (which might thus be seen as a normal part of their role).
2. Other activities that would be encompassed by CPD schemes that focus narrowly on number of hours but do not necessarily represent learning that is participative or of suitable depth will not normally be accepted for the Chartered Associate CPD scheme.
   For example:
   
   1. Attending large conferences/exhibitions where no participation is required (normally those with more than 30 attendees)
   2. Mentoring or coaching where such activities are an integral part of your role
   3. In-house training due to changing or new internal systems; the use of which is necessary to perform your role (eg learning to use a new reporting system).