Verifiable CPD
Verifiable CPD is a learning activity that results in evidence that learning took place and the learning can be verified objectively by someone else.
Verifiable activities are much more than just a course, conferences, and seminars where you get a certificate or someone takes attendance which can validate you were there. Verifiable activities can also include presentations, publications or reports you have written may have required you to learn something new related to your professional role. The verifiable component is the actual presentation which was delivered to a Board or group of colleagues, or the research and new learning that resulted in a report, publication or book. The learning activity happens during the research phase, while the presentation or report verifies that the learning occurred. Giving the presentation however, would not be eligible as new learning, as the learning has already occurred.
Verifiable documentation should support your learning activity:
- Who – Identify the provider of the activity
- What – Describe the learning activity
- When – Identify date of the activity
- How – Connects the member to the activity
- Provide a basis for concluding that the number of reported hours is reasonable
Examples of verifiable CPD:
- Courses, webinars and e-learning;
- Participating in, or acting as a lecturer, instructor or preparer for learning activities, symposiums, conferences, seminars, workshops, presentations, technical committees or discussion groups (only initial offering hours or instances where significant subject area changes have occurred can be recognized);
- Research projects in areas that expand your professional knowledge and result in presentations, reports or similar documents;
- Organized, employer-based in-house training sessions;
- Formal study, including computer based or e-learning of courses leading to a designation, degree, certificate, or diploma, and e-learning from CPA Canada; and
- Writing and publishing of professional, technical or academic articles, papers or books.
If you are instructing a course and it meets the learning activity requirements, the reading and research time for the instruction may be used for verifiable hours, but only once. General instruction hours are not considered verifiable.
Unverifiable CPD
Unverifiable CPD are those learning activities that do not result in a product or for which no evidence of the learning exists.
Examples of unverifiable CPD:
- On-the-job learning related to a major change in job responsibilities, major involvement in special projects, and/or significant learning of new software, systems, procedures or techniques for application in a professional role;
- Learning activities gained through volunteer and community leadership contributing to professional competencies;
- Technical reading, self-study of published materials, self-study courses; and
- Casual reading of professional journals or magazines.