CPD

Written by Annalien Carstens 2024
MCom, CA(SA), Registered Auditor, Chartered Tax Adviser

Managing Director
ac@altimax.co.za

IS A CPD REFLECTIVE PLAN REALLY AN ANNUAL ACTIVITY?

To evidence how we stay relevant as accountants some of our professional bodies require their members to take responsibility for recording their required development areas and related CPD activities on a reflective learning plan to demonstrate that the relevant and appropriate learning activities for the circumstances are undertaken. A “reflective learning plan” means the documented plan whereby a member or associate regularly performs the steps of planning, doing, and reflecting to record their learning and development plans and activities both as a means of demonstrating their commitment to lifelong learning and recording the necessary activities undertaken to remain professionally competent.

Very often you will find that because of the reflective plan being annually required by professional bodies, members will prepare it at the beginning of the year as a once-off activity

This approach may be very relevant when the member has a particular course or qualification in mind for the year ahead. It is also relevant when the member evaluated certain types of CPD interventions as to be ‘’regulars’’ on his / her development plan like an annual Tax Update or annual IFRS Update.

However, as CPD activities mean those activities that will assist a member in the ongoing demonstration of professional competence for their roles, these activities will vary from formal activities (for example further qualifications, formal courses, etc) to informal activities (reading, YouTube videos etc).  

Members will however find that especially informal activities and to some extent even selected formal activities are very much changing on a monthly, weekly and sometimes daily basis:

  • Professional bodies will advertise new CPD seminars on an ongoing basis. 
  • CPD service provider will have new events on a regular basis.
  • Regulatory and standard setting bodies will publish new exposure drafts, standards, reading material, educational guides and other guidance documents throughout a year. 
  • New podcasts and YouTube videos are frequently added to the different platforms. 
  • Reading material are becoming available through different publications and electronic mediums on a regular basis. 
  • Books are published continually.

These sources present information at the cusp of new developments as these are written and presented in the here-and now. Furthermore, members own day-to-day individual experiences, challenges and learnings will also have an implication on how needs change over a very short period. The member simply cannot ignore the importance of these activities in drafting the required reflective plan. These are critical elements to ensure that members continuously enhance their professional and business knowledge and skills. That means that although parts of the reflective plan can be prepared annually, that the reflective plan is very much an alive document which should be updated and changed on an ongoing basis to consider new information that becomes available that will assist the members to enhance their own individual relevance. So just like the reflective plan requires us to plan, do and reflect on the ACTIVITIES in the plan, the fast-moving world of change that we live in also require us to continuously plan, execute and reflect on changes to the PLAN itself.

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