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Unless you are a Student member or a non-practising member, or your employer participates in the QAS CPD scheme, you must complete 15 of hours CPD, two hours of which should be professional skills training. Practising Certificate holders have extra CPD requirements to meet.
Any activities that involve learning relevant to a member鈥檚 actuarial work (current or future) or professional development, which address a personal development need and have an identifiable learning outcome. Those activities can be wide ranging and include, for example, lectures, seminars, workshops, webinars, personal reading and research. It could also potentially include carrying out actuarial work where that has a relevant learning outcome.
As there is no longer a requirement to record CPD with 黑料正能量, it is no longer necessary for 黑料正能量 to recognise the CPD schemes of other bodies. In most cases, if you are currently carrying out CPD under the requirements of another IAA body, it is very likely that you will be able to count those activities towards your IFoA hours too. During your reflective practice discussions, you would be required to reflect on the CPD that you had carried out during the year, as a member of 黑料正能量.
If you are required to prove compliance with 黑料正能量 Scheme to another body, we would be willing to do that for you. Please contact the CPD Team to discuss this at cpd_feedback@actuaries.org.uk.
All activities must have a learning outcome relevant to your current or future role. Therefore any learning that builds on an area you are considering moving into can be counted.
It is up to you to determine your learning and development needs depending on your current or future roles, and which activities are right for you. We encourage members to try to obtain CPD from different sources so that they benefit from a range of different perspectives. External events can be helpful in providing those alternative insights and perspectives.
There will no longer be disciplinary consequences for failure to comply with the CPD Scheme, except in cases where the Actuaries鈥� Code has been breached. Instead, 黑料正能量 aims to better support members in meeting their needs and assisting members in their professional development. However, members are still required to comply with the Actuaries鈥� Code and this requires members to develop their knowledge and skills in a manner appropriate to their role.
You must keep a record of activities to facilitate your reflective practice discussions but this can be in whatever form you choose. You no longer have to submit the record to 黑料正能量 every year or use 黑料正能量鈥檚 recording facility. If selected for a reflective practice discussion with 黑料正能量, you will be asked to provide your record to 黑料正能量 team in advance. This is simply to inform the discussion. The CPD recording facility will still be available for those who would like to continue using it. It has been updated to reflect the requirements of the new Scheme and allows you to record your objectives, activities, and learning outcomes.
Exemptions are available for students, those with Non-Practising status, and members working for organisations that adopt the QAS CPD Scheme.
Any member can apply for Non-Practising status if they are not currently involved in technical actuarial work. This might include members who have retired completely or it might include those members who are working but not involved in technical actuarial work, such as those acting as Non-Executive Directors or Trustees. Whether work is paid or not is not relevant to your eligibility. Applications can only be made where a member has or intends to have, that status for 5 weeks or more (other than in relation to absence for parental or medical reasons where there is no such limitation).
If the work that you carry out is technical actuarial work, you will not be eligible for Non-Practising status for as long as you are carrying out that work.
You can apply for Non-Practising status by completing a short online application form. This will be reflected in your entry in the Actuarial Directory.
The requirement for the rest of the year will be on a pro-rata basis according to the number of weeks that your status is no longer in place (rounded down to the nearest week). The hours requirement will be rounded to the nearest minute. The CPD Team will be able to confirm this. You can email the team at cpd_feedback@actuaries.org.uk.
The non-practising subscription rate will apply automatically to those granted non-practising status. Your category of membership and access to member benefits all remain the same, as do your professional requirements such as compliance with standards and the Actuaries鈥� Code. You are not obliged to apply for Non-Practising status even where you are eligible for it. For those members not carrying out any technical actuarial work, you can, of course, elect not to apply for Non-Practising Status and to remain in scope of the Scheme, if that suits your particular circumstances better. In those circumstances, Members will not be noted as Non-Practising in the Actuarial Directory. You should contact the Membership Team if you have any questions about your Membership category or the subscription rates that would apply to you.
During this period you will be treated as being Non-Practising. You do not need to apply for the status, but you should notify the CPD Team by email (cpd_feedback@actuaries.org.uk) so that they can mark this in your record and confirm your pro-rata requirement. Members who are on parental leave or are absent from work for health reasons, will be deemed to have Non-Practising status for the period that they are away from work. The Actuarial Directory will not reflect any change in status if the reasons for absence relate to parental or medical leave.
Reflective practice discussions are a conversation in which you reflect on what your learning needs and objectives were for the year and the outcomes of your CPD activities. You consider what you learned and whether you fully addressed your needs. The two-way exchange may also help to identify any gaps in your learning and allow for suggestions of further topics to explore. It鈥檚 also an opportunity to talk about your development, future plans, ambitions, and goals.
To get the most out of the discussion you should ensure that the individual you have the discussion with understands the nature of your actuarial work, your development and the outcomes of your CPD activities. It could be a peer, a colleague, a line manager or a volunteer of 黑料正能量. The person does not need to be a member of 黑料正能量 nor an actuary. If you cannot identify such a person, 黑料正能量 has set up a pool of volunteers to assist.
The discussion can take place any time after you have completed your CPD activities for the year. This will allow you to reflect on all your activities and whether you met your learning objectives for the year. If you complete your CPD on 30 August, for example, you should have the discussion after that, even if it takes place after 1 September in the following CPD year.
It may be useful for you to keep a record of the discussion which may help you to help reflect on the past year and to help plan your future learning activities, however this is not mandatory.
Some members will also be selected for a Reflective Practice Discussion with 黑料正能量鈥檚 specialist team. You will be asked to submit your record of activities in advance of this to inform the discussion.
The CPD Scheme has been designed to provide members with greater freedom, but also increased responsibility, for their ongoing learning and development. The CPD Scheme defines CPD activities as 鈥楢ctivities that involve learning relevant to a member鈥檚 actuarial work (current or future) or professional development, which address a personal development need and have an identifiable learning outcome鈥�.
The definition is purposely broad to enable members to direct their learning to meet their individual needs, including the development of soft skills. Activities can be wide-ranging and include, for example, lectures, seminars, workshops, webinars, personal reading and research. It can also include carrying out actuarial work where there is a relevant learning outcome.
Members can use CPD as a tool to develop the skills or knowledge that they require, for the area they currently, or aspire to, work in, wherever they are based.
The CPD Scheme is designed to be inclusive, offering a range of options to accommodate the diverse needs of all members. Its broad definition of 鈥楥PD activities鈥� allows members the flexibility to choose learning that best suits their personal learning style, and Non-Practising status is available for those who are away from work or not currently engaged in technical actuarial work.
If you are on parental leave, or leave due to ill health, you will not be required to carry out any CPD and are deemed to be 鈥楴on-Practising鈥� for the period of your absence. If your leave does not span the entirety of the CPD Year (01 Sept -31 Aug), you are entitled to a pro-rated CPD requirement.
You can also apply for Non-Practising status if you are not involved in technical actuarial work by completing the . If you work for a QAS organisation that adopts the QAS CPD Scheme, you should follow your organisation鈥檚 requirements about absences from work.
Reflective Practice Discussions (RPDs) are a method by which your professional development can be supported through a discussion with an Appropriate Person of your choice. RPDs provide an opportunity for you to reflect on your learning outcomes and how you鈥檙e applying that knowledge.
The CPD Scheme defines an Appropriate Person as 鈥淎n individual identified by the Member, who understands the nature of the Member鈥檚 Actuarial Work, their development, and their Learning Outcomes鈥�. Your Appropriate Person need not be a member of 黑料正能量 nor an actuary. You have the freedom to choose an individual of your choice to enable you to get the most benefit out of your annual RPD, and to create psychological safety when sharing personal reflections. To find someone who can fulfil this role for you, or to gain a fresh perspective, you can access a list of IFoA volunteers willing to act as an Appropriate Person. Reflective Practice Discussions can take place any time after you have completed your CPD requirements for the year, offering further flexibility.
If a member is selected to participate in an IFoA-led RPD, they are provided with a detailed brief of what to expect before, during and after the discussion, and offered additional support and accessibility options. IFoA-led RPDs and Group RPDs are facilitated in a way that enables members to reflect in their preferred manner. They do not follow a one-size-fits-all format and are tailored to meet individual needs to support and provide benefits to you.
The Practising Certificates (PC) Scheme has transitioned from a narrow focus on experience requirements to a competency-based approach, ensuring an effective, fair and inclusive process for members looking to obtain and retain a PC.
Members are required to demonstrate how they meet the competencies set out in the relevant competency framework, which focuses on the broad range of knowledge and skills required for the specific role/s the PC covers. All applicants, whether applying for their first PC or renewing a PC, can draw upon wider experiences and training to demonstrate those competencies, which can be through work reserved for a PC holder, other work carried out by the applicant or even through experiences outside of their work life, such as volunteering.
Although it is expected that applicants are able to demonstrate 鈥榣ive鈥� competency in each area, there are no defined time periods set out in the PC Scheme, and a flexible approach is taken. This means that PCs can be achieved and maintained regardless of working patterns and periods of absence.
Members who previously held a PC and did not renew during a period of parental leave or ill health can renew by submitting a Full Renewal PC Application Form upon their return to work, where they will be required to demonstrate how they continue to meet the competencies. For more information on the application process, please review the PC Handbook.
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances, you can contact practising.certs@actuaries.org.uk
The IFoA communities platform and the connected app provide actuaries with an inclusive and collaborative environment to exchange knowledge, solve challenges, and stay informed on the latest industry discussions in a supportive and inclusive community.
Members can join or start discussions on the topics you want to hear about in our all-member and community group forums. The communities platform also hosts dedicated forums for the 鈥榃omen Actuaries community鈥� and 鈥楽tudent community鈥�, which can support those returning to the profession by connecting them with other members and providing a forum for support, in-person events, and other ways to engage with developments in actuarial work.
IFoA community forums are a great place to collaborate, learn, and problem-solve with your peers while keeping up with emerging topics and debates in your areas of interest.
Members can search by geography, role, or shared areas of interest by exploring community groups and connecting with like-minded individuals and collaborating around topics that are of interest. Members can also explore topics in depth through the community collection of articles on developments in the field and links to relevant community resources, and discuss hot topics and the latest research in the community group forum.
The IFoA鈥檚 Professional and Regulatory Support Helpdesk (the Helpdesk) is a free and confidential space for members to ask questions about the interpretation and application of professional and technical standards. The Helpdesk can also help with guidance on ethical issues that a member may be facing in their actuarial work. If you are looking for support in any of these areas, please contact the Helpdesk.
Whether you are applying for an initial or renewal PC, the PC Team can help guide you through the application process. The Team can also put you in touch with a member of the Practising Certificates Committee if you require more tailored guidance on your personal circumstances.
A new IFoA mentoring scheme can also provide support for members who have experienced periods of leave. More information is available on the IFoA Career Support webpage.
The IFoA also supports a cross-company mentoring scheme. The Actuarial Mentoring Programme is a cross-company mentoring programme run annually, sponsored by PIC and supported by 黑料正能量. Find out more in the , including contact information. Separately, 黑料正能量 Foundation also offers international mentoring opportunities.
You will be asked to declare your compliance with the CPD Scheme in your membership renewal notice. This will be an online declaration in your own member record. Once you have declared compliance with the CPD Scheme you will be able to renew your membership in the usual way. Those who are exempt will be able to confirm that their details are correct and that they are still eligible for that status.
Fellow/Associate/Affiliate (pre January 2021 joiners)/Certified Actuarial Analyst members
You are required to confirm your CPD status and, if you are in scope of the CPD Scheme, that you have met the CPD requirements for the CPD year.
If you are registered as Non-Practising, you will be asked to confirm your status.
Student/Student Actuarial Analyst members
Whilst you have no CPD requirement, you are required to submit a declaration to confirm your status as a student, and that you are exempt from the CPD requirements.