Chartered Accountancy is a profession wherein you have to continuously keep updating your knowledge so as to stay abreast with the latest changes. To ensure that CA’s continuously keep updating their knowledge, ICAI has made Continuing Professional Education (CPE) mandatory for all CA’s. All CA’s are required to their keep updating their knowledge and complete a specified number of CPE Hours at regular intervals.
The CPE Hours can be divided into 2 parts:-
- Structured Learning Activities (SLA’s) i.e. attending Seminars, Conferences etc organised by ICAI
- Unstructured Learning Activities (ULA’s) i.e. updating the knowledge themselves by reading journals, through internet etc.
CPE Hours requirement for the period 1st Jan 2017 to 31st Dec 2019
The minimum requirement of CPE Hours is on a periodic basis of 3 years and currently the applicable period is from 1st Jan 2017 to 31st Dec 2019.
CA’s are required to meet this requirement not only on a 3 year periodic basis but also on a per year basis.
The following is the minimum CPE hours requirement for CA’s residing in India and are below 60 years of age:
3 year period from 1st Jan 2017 to 31st Dec 2019
| Particulars | Holding COP | Not Holding COP |
| Total Min Hours (Structured + Unstructured) | 120 | 60 |
| Total Min Structured Hours | 60 | No min requirement |
| Total Min Unstructured Hours | No min requirement | No min requirement |
1 year period i.e. individually for 2017, 2018 & 2019
| Particulars | Holding COP | Not Holding COP |
| Total Min Hours (Structured + Unstructured) | 20 | 15 |
| Total Min Structured Hours | 20 | No min requirement |
| Total Min Unstructured Hours | No min requirement | No min requirement |
Structured ICAI CPE Hours
The following are some of the examples of Structured Learning Activities of specified by ICAI:-
- Attending Seminars, Conferences, Workshops, Certificate Courses conducted by ICAI and POU’s
- Participation in activities of ICAI Study Groups
- Publication of Article in ICAI Journal
- E-Learning Courses conducted by ICAI
For a detailed note on the learning which qualifies as Structured Learning and the hours allocated for each type of learning, kindly download this file on Structured Learning Activities.
For a list of upcoming events in your city which qualify to be claimed as Structured Learning Activities, refer this link on upcoming Programs – https://www.cpeicai.org/?page_id=337
Unstructured CPE Hours
The following are some of the examples of Unstructured Learning Activities which can be claimed as credit for CPE Hours:-
- Self Learning Modules and Courses
- Reading ICAI Journal or other Business Journals
- Acting as Visiting Faculty of Various Universities
- Providing solutions to questionnaires/ puzzles available on the web like caclubindia, charteredclub etc
- Viewing of Programs on the web channel of ICAI
CA’s would be required to maintain and retain proper records of unstructured learning undertaken by them i.e. type of unstructured activity, topic, date, and no. of hours. The members would also be required to submit a self-declaration form every year to avail the credit for CPE Hours of Unstructured Learning.
For a detailed note on the learning which qualifies as Unstructured Learning and the hours allocated for each type of learning, kindly download this file on Unstructured Learning Activities.
This self declaration form for Unstructured Learning Activities to be claimed as credit is required to be submitted every year on or before 31st May of the next year.
Penalty for Non Compliance with CPE Hours
If a CA fails to comply by the CPE Hours requirement, his/her name would be hosted on the website of ICAI for the information of the public at large. Moreover, ICAI will not be responsible in any way for any action taken by any of the regulatory authorities on the basis of the names hosted on the website for allotting the professional work to them as sole proprietor or to their partnership firm.
To get their names removed from this list, a CA would be required to complete double the hours of shortfall. Such additional hours should be completed in addition to the regular CPE hours requirement for the particular Calendar year in which they are making up the shortfall.
How CA’s can earn extra Income by recommending Financial Products
A Doctor earns money both by providing consultancy as well as on the sale of Medicines. Both the Consultancy as well as the Medicine are important for a speedy recovery of the Patient.
Similarly, smart CA’s also earn by providing consultancy and recommending financial products to Clients which will reduce the Tax Liability and also increase the Wealth of the Clients over a period of time.
These Financial Products which are good for the Financial Health of the Clients and also help CA’s earn a decent income on recommendation have been explained in detail in this e-book which can be purchased for Rs. 99 from this link – Financial Products which CA’s can refer to their Clients and make good Money in 2017
