FAQs

Continuing professional development, or CPD is the maintenance, enhancement and continuous improvement of knowledge, skills and abilities.

All Chartered Institute members and members in public practice must undertake the mandatory completion of CPD. 

20 hours of CPD must be undertaken for chartered members. Of this total, a minimum of five hours must be formal CPD with the remaining 15 hours being a mix of formal or informal.

Members in public practice are required to complete 35 hours of CPD, 10 hours of which must be formal CPD.

The general rule is that the meeting should be formal in nature. It should involve a group of people working to a fixed agenda, and involve some element of learning for you.

If you wish to have confirmation that any particular meeting or event can be considered towards your formal CPD please contact us

No, there is not a requirement for both students and graduates to undertake CPD.

The Institute does however recommend that students and graduates consider undertaking CPD.

A logging facility is available through MyCG.

At the end of the membership year, the Institue will choose a random selection of members to submit their CPD records and evidence for analysis.

CPD can be evidenced by providing anything from attendance lists, confirmation emails, copies of teaching materials or agendas.

Please visit here for more information on how to provide evidence of CPD.

It is the members responsibility to ensure the CPD requirements are met in order to maintain professional membership.

If you have difficulty completing the requirements, please contact us.

CPD declarations must be made through MyCG.

For those using the online CPD log, they will be automatically taken to the declaration page once they have logged the total required hours.

Those using an alternative log must login to MyCG and state the total amount of formal and informal CPD undertaken and make their declaration.

Chartered members must complete their CPD within the current membership year (1 August - 31 July). All CPD declarations must be made no later than 31 July each year. Members in public practice must complete their 35 hours of CPD within 12 months of the date stated on their practicing certificate.

The 2021 – 2022 CPD submission date has been extended to the 1 September 2022.

Yes, members can apply for either a full exemption from CPD or a reduction in their CPD requirement on a pro-rata basis should their circumstances meet the relevant eligibility criteria.

Members who are retired, unemployed, working part-time or on parental leave for a period greater than eight months are typical examples of those who might be eligible for exemptions.

Should you feel that your circumstances meet the eligibility criteria to be exempt from undertaking CPD, please contact us.

Yes, the attendance or completion of many of The Institute training courses and events will count towards your CPD requirement and the hours awarded for each course or event are stated on the website.

Should you be unsure as to whether a particular course or event counts as CPD, please contact us.

Yes, it is not mandatory for members to undertake CPD through Institute training and events.

Members must however ensure that the CPD undertaken is relevant to the continuation of professional development as a chartered secretary in order for it to count towards their CPD requirement.

For members in public practice, the CPD year runs from the date stated on the practicing certificate. Any CPD undertaken during the immediate past membership year, can be counted towards the 35 hours needed in your first year in Public Practice.

Members in public practice are required to complete the mandatory 35 hours of CPD within 12 months of the date on their practicing certificate.

Newly elected chartered members will not be required to undertake mandatory CPD until the next full year of membership.

What happens if I am elected to chartered membership part way through the subscription year?

Your best starting point when planning your CPD is to discuss the requirements with your employer.

If you are not already attending relevant meetings or events, then it may be possible to arrange with your employer for you to do so as part of your ongpoing professional development.