Retirement and Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
How does being retired affect my CPD requirements? Were you working in any capacity during the year? If yes, you have a full CPD requirement. If no, and there was no reliance by a third party, you may not have a requirement. However you must still make an annual declaration.
Did you volunteer during the year? Where your role involves signing financial statements, information returns or other government filings, grants, applications or similar documents. Were you serving on a body with governance or oversight responsibilities where you: Served on a finance, audit or similar committee; Are the chair of the organization; or Are looked to for financial guidance if something went wrong financially. If you volunteered in any of these capacities, you have a full CPD requirement.
Competencies of a CPA Competencies include technical and enabling and are not limited to financial activities. Technical competencies: Financial Reporting Management Accounting Strategy and Governance Taxation Finance Audit and Assurance Enabling Competencies: Professional and ethical behavior Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Communication Self-Management Teamwork and leadership
Retired during the year? Working in any capacity during the calendar year results in a full CPD requirement. Reflect on anything you learnt during the year – not just courses, conferences or seminars, but all learning opportunities. Can this learning be verified by tangible evidence or a third party? If you still don’t meet the CPD requirement, declare “non-comply” and tell us why – the CPA Alberta Compliance Team will contact you to discuss your options.
Working in an unrelated field? If you are working in an unrelated field you may request an exemption from CPD requirements. Examples of unrelated fields would be: Department store greeter Golf course attendant Gas station attendant Restaurant server
Do I have to complete a declaration every year? Every member must complete the CPD declaration annually, even if your situation has not changed from the prior year. Other benefits of annual CPD declaration: Singular “touch point” every year to ensure our member records are correct/accurate; Allows CPA Alberta to notify members of any change to the CPD requirements.
In Review: Retirement may or may not affect your CPD learning activity requirement. All members must make a CPD declaration annually. Contact the Member Registrations team at cpdreporting@cpaalberta.ca call toll free: 1-800-232-9406