Experienced members of the IFoA must complete at least two hours of learning focused on professional skills training (PST) each year. Here's how that obligation fits with your wider continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
What are professional skills?
The aim of PST is to enhance members' understanding of their professional obligations and the principles of ethical behaviour and to equip them to apply that knowledge in practice.
How do I meet my CPD and PST obligations?
It's important to note that under the PST you don't need to complete two extra hours of CPD each year: the two PST hours will count towards your overall CPD requirement.
Category 1 members
Experienced members who hold practising certificates are expected to complete 30 hours of CPD each year. Of those:
? 20 hours must relate to technical issues (10 of which must be obtained at external events);
? A minimum of two hours are focused on professional skills, in accordance with Stage 3 of the Professional Skills Training Handbook; and
? At least four hours of learning is related to either business skills and/ or additional professional skills. Business skills are those wider, non-technical skills that may be required no matter what role you carry out and may include management, staff development and IT training.
Category 2 members
Most Category 2 members must complete between 15 and 20 hours of CPD, depending on the types of activities you choose to undertake.
If you have reached Stage 3 of PST, two of those hours must relate to professional skills. If you have not completed Stage 2, you will be expected to do so within a year of transferring to the category of Fellow or Associate. Beyond this framework, you are free to select a mix of learning on technical and professional skills relevant to your role.
Professional skills learning
The IFoA has produced a number of video case studies that have been designed to meet the Stage 3 objectives set out in the Professional Skills Training Handbook.
These case studies include discussion in the form of character interviews. You can access the videos via the professional skills training area of the website.
Any learning that meets the Stage 3 objectives set out in the Professional Skills Training Handbook will, however, qualify as professional skills learning.
Please do ensure that you read and familiarise yourself with both the CPD scheme and the professional skills training regime, which can be found on our website.
If you have any questions about requirements for professional skills training, please email [email protected]
