CPD Requirements for statutory auditors

 
Introduction
Continuing professional development (CPD) is the means by which a statutory auditor maintains and enhances their professional knowledge, skills and values. An effective programme of continuing education achieves the outcomes listed below;
  • The statutory auditor actively maintains and enhances the knowledge, skills and values they need to perform high quality audits and deliver a professional service to their clients.
  • It contributes to the performance of high quality audits, and thereby safeguards the public interest.
  • It enhances public confidence in the auditing profession
CPD Requirements
Practising Certificate holders are required to complete 120 hours CPD (75 structured and 45 hours unstructured) in a three year cycle. 40 hours of the Structured CPD must be completed from any combination of the following six areas over the three year CPD cycle:
 
 • Financial Accounting
• Auditing
• Law & Regulation
• Taxation
 • Professional Ethics
• Practice Management
 
With effect from 1st January 2023 a statutory auditor is required to complete 20 hours of their 40 hour core competency requirement specifically in the following areas;
 
• Financial Accounting
• Auditing
• Law & Regulation
 
On an annual basis 30 hours structured must be completed (15hrs structured and 15hrs unstructured).
 
This requirement applies to CPA members and non members (affiliated partners and responsible individuals) approved by CPA Ireland as statutory auditors.

CPD Plannng, evaluation and documentation

A statutory auditor, authorised by CPA Ireland, is required to:
  1. plan their CPD activities by reflecting on the knowledge, skills and values required to competently fulfil their professional responsibilities, identifying their learning and development needs and deciding on the CPD activities necessary to address them.
  2. complete sufficient, relevant and appropriate CPD each year to meet their learning and development needs and thereby maintain and enhance their professional knowledge, skills and values in all of the areas of work that they undertake.
  3. evaluate the effectiveness of their CPD activities regularly and revise their approach as necessary to ensure it remains effective in achieving its objective of maintaining their professional knowledge, skills and values at a sufficiently high level.
  4. be able to demonstrate their compliance through the retention of appropriate written records of CPD planning, completion and evaluation. Such records should include supporting documentation which evidences that they undertook the CPD activity.
  5. retain their CPD records for a period of six years to facilitate review of their compliance.
 CPD Toolkit
 
To assist with the achievement of these requirements please find below some supporting templates and guides;
  • Guidance on CPD Planning and Evaluation for Statutory Auditors-Click here
  • Template to record the planning and evaluation of my CPD - Click here
  • Webinar – CPD for Statutory Auditors-Click here

Frequently Asked Questions on CPD- Click here