Continuing professional education

Continuing professional education is essential for internal auditors to stay updated with the demands of emerging and new risk areas. It is important to engage in CPE throughout your career and report your activities.

Members should familiarise themselves with this guidance and the CPE policy to understand when and where to report their activities, either to the Chartered IIA or IIA Global.

For the Chartered IIA, reporting coincides with your membership renewal, covering the period from April 1 to March 31. For IIA Global, reporting is due by December 31, covering the period from January 1.

If you have any questions about CPE, please contact studentsupport@charterediia.org.

Revoked designation

Members who fail to report CPE to IIA Global for three consecutive years will have their designation revoked. This means you may no longer use the designation and your membership will be downgraded accordingly.

To regain your certification, you must successfully pass the CIA Part 1 exam.

Reporting CPE

Depending on your designation, you need to comply with either the Chartered IIA’s CPE policy or the IIA Global Certification Renewals Policy. Ensure you are reporting to the correct body as there are important differences between the two policies.

Members holding the CIA, alone or in combination with another designation, must comply with the IIA Global Certification Renewals Policy and report CPE to IIA Global via CCMS. This also applies if the second designation is a Chartered IIA designation like CMIIA.

Members holding only designations issued by the Chartered IIA (PIIA, CMIIA, QICA) should report CPE solely to the Chartered IIA.

The benefits of CPE

CPE provides several benefits beyond promotions. Many employers now value 'learning agility' as a core competency. Managing your professional growth is seen as a significant strength.

CPE helps individuals to:

Build confidence and credibility by tracking your learning
Earn more by showcasing your achievements, useful for appraisals
Achieve career goals through targeted training and development
Adapt positively to change by updating your skill-set
Be more productive and efficient by identifying gaps in knowledge and experience

How to approach your CPE activity

It is best to integrate your CPE requirements with your organisation’s personal appraisal and development framework. This ensures your CPE plan becomes part of your annual development plan, which your organisation supports.

If this is not possible, use the Internal Audit Competency Framework© to identify areas for development and set objectives.

Collecting evidence

Recording and collecting evidence of your activity is crucial. Keep this information for three years to submit if selected for CPE monitoring.

Collect certificates of attendance for events and training courses
Keep a record of other CPE activities and have your line manager sign off

Your CPE record should describe the activity undertaken, the number of points claimed, your aims and objectives, what you learned, and how you applied it.

Record your CPE using our CPE record template

Use our CPE record template to document your activities. While CPE is recorded in hours, the term 'points' may also be used. One hour generally equals one point, with one hour being a minimum of 50 minutes. For example, 100 minutes of activity counts as two points of CPE. We recognise 0.5 CPE points, so 25-30 minutes of activity counts as 0.5 points.

Download CPE template

CPE for CFIIA, CMIIA, PIIA and QICA holders

If you hold a Chartered IIA designation, like CMIIA or PIIA, then you will report your CPE to the Chartered IIA and you will be asked to declare your compliance to the CPE policy when you renew your membership.

If you hold an IIA Global designation, either on its own or with a Chartered designation, then you will report CPE to IIA Global. You do not need to report CPE to both organisations.

CPE for CIA and QIAL holders

If you hold an IIA Global certification, like CIA, then you should report CPE to IIA Global using CCMS. You must report no later than 31 December.

If you hold an IIA Global designation and a Chartered designation, then you will report CPE to IIA Global. You do not need to report CPE to both organisations.

Details about the IIA Global CPE requirements can be found in the Certification Renewals Policy which members should study very carefully.