Maintaining CPD Evidence

Section 17(1)(b) of the Chartered Professional Accountants Regulation states that CPA Alberta members must keep a 5 year record of their CPD activities as well as supporting documentation that provides third party verification of the CPD learning activities. The Registrar can request to review your CPD log/record and supporting documentation at any time. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a copy of your CPD log and sufficient supporting documentation in order for your learning activities to qualify as verifiable learning. If your employer offers a system that maintains a log of your learning activities and you rely on this system, please ensure that you keep a record on your personal email/computer. If your employment situation changes don’t forget to obtain a copy of your CPD log and supporting documentation prior to your departure as it may be difficult to retrieve this information later.

Your CPD log must provide:

• The date of the activity;
• The type of activity;
• The name of the activity; 
• The name of the CPD provider;  
• The number of verifiable or unverifiable hours spent engaged in new learning activities.  

ACCEPTABLE CPD EVIDENCE

The list below provides examples of learning activities and supporting documentation. The information will help you determine if your CPD learning activities qualify as verifiable activities and help ensure you maintain the required supporting documentation to support your CPD declaration.

Courses, symposiums, seminars, conferences, webinars, employer-based in-house training sessions, computer based learning activities leading to a designation, degree, certificate, or diploma:

• Certificate of completion, academic transcript, exam results, copy of course assignment;
• Attendance record containing your name and the date of the activity (sign-in sheet);
• Confirmation of course registration (paid invoice); 
• Confirmation of participation in the activity from the instructor/provider;
• Letter signed by your employer (HR department/direct supervisor) confirming your attendance (must include your name, position, and the date, name, and duration of the activity). 

Research projects in areas that expand your professional knowledge:

• Letter signed by a third-party or your employer confirming your role in the research project;  
• A copy of the research proposal documentation, finished presentation, report or similar document;
• Letter signed by you providing a reasonable estimate of time spent on new learning during the research phase.

• Letter signed by your employer (HR department/direct supervisor) confirming your participation on the project;  
• Letter signed by you providing an estimate of the time spent on new learning and a summary of how the activity helped you develop and maintain your professional competencies.  

Professor, instructor, speaker: 

• Confirmation letter from the institution, organization, or employer of your role;
• A link to the course, conference, or training session description, date and duration;
• A copy of the course, conference, or training session outline; 
• Letter signed by you providing a reasonable estimate of new learning that occurred while reading, researching, and preparing for the instruction; general instruction hours are not considered verifiable learning:
  • Preparation and research time is only recognized once, unless there are significant subject revisions.
  • Marking can qualify as CPD when you learn new skills that enable you to develop and maintain your professional competences.
  • If you mark the same question, it can only qualify as CPD if you learn new skills that enable you to continue to perform your professional role.
    

Writing and publishing of professional, technical or academic articles, papers or books:

• A copy of published work; 

• A link to webpage where the written text can be viewed; 

• A letter signed by you providing a reasonable estimate of the time spent on new learning.

Technical committees (such as an audit committee for a public company, charity, non-for-profit organization), technical study groups, technical discussion groups, sitting on Board of Directors: 

• Minutes of each meeting;
• Agenda of each meeting;
• Letter signed by your employer confirming your attendance (must include your name, position, and the date and duration of the activity);
• Letter signed by you providing a reasonable estimate of new learning related to your professional responsibilities that occurred during the technical portion of the discussions only.

Volunteer or pro-bono work, such as sitting on a board of directors:

* Volunteer activities relevant to your professional role may be permissible as verifiable CPD, and the evidence options below apply. However, if the activities are not relevant to your professional role, they cannot be used.

• Letter from the organization confirming your role and time spent attending meetings; 
• Meeting agenda or minutes (redacted, if needed); 
• A copy of any formal presentations containing significant intellectual or practical content; 
• Letter signed by you providing a description of new learned skills and a reasonable estimate of hours spent on new learning. 

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