Introduction

Passing the board exam is hard enough, but in life, it is the adversaries that we recall.

The many months of studying and answering mock tests is a worthwhile challenge. But nothing

beats the government’s criteria for producing the best professional accountant. It seems the

arduous task of getting your CPA license is just one step closer to attaining your professional

title. Maintaining your status as a professional is no small deed, infect PRC has created CPD.

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It refers to the process of tracking

and documenting the skills, knowledge, and experience that you gain both formally and

informally as you work, beyond any initial training. It's a record of what you experience, learn

and then apply. The term is generally used to mean a physical folder or portfolio documenting

your development as a professional. Some organizations use it to mean a training or

development plan.

The Congress defines CPD as to the in the calculation of advanced knowledge, skills

and ethical values in a post-licensure specialization or an integral or, multidisciplinary field of

study, for assimilation into professional practices, self-directed research and or/ lifelong

learning.

There is a council for CPD and it is called CPD council. The CPD council refers to a

body created to promote and ensure the continuous improvement of professionals, in

accordance with national, regional and international standards of practice.

 Each public accountant will be given a credit unit for compliance to any of the programs

the CPD council recognizes. Such activities are seminars, workshops, technical lectures or

subject matter meetings, no degree trainings lectures or scientific meetings, modules, tours and

visits, which equip the professionals with advanced knowledge, skills, and values in special or in

an inter multidisciplinary field of study.

The reason why CPD was created because it was declared the policy of the State to

promote and upgrade the practice of CPA profession in the country. The State shall institute

measures that will continuously improve the competence of the professionals in accordance

with the international standards of practice, thereby, ensuring their contribution in uplifting the

general welfare, economic growth, and development of the nation.

“MANILA, Philippines - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Regulatory
Board of Accountancy officially announced on Monday, January 23, the increase of the required
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Units for all certified public accountants (CPAs).
From 60 CPD units, CPAs will need to get 120 units within compliance period of three years,
which shall be implemented in phases as follows:”

From 2016 the Philippines Regulation commission has required all professionals to

acquire 60 units. In the following years, the CPD requirements have increased relative to the

following years. In the year 2018 the required CPD is 100 units and in by the year 2019, the

required CPD is 120 units. Every renewal will be 3 years after a CPA’s registration in the PRC.

“Thematic Areas of CPD activities have been changed to Competence Areas in order to align
with the International Education Standards. These have been divided into 3 major categories
namely: Technical Competence, Professional Skills and Professional Values, Ethics & Attitudes,
pursuant to Resolution No. 358 Series of 2016 of the Professional Regulatory Board of
Accountancy”
 The subjects relevant to CPD can summarize into a list of 5 professional areas. The first

is enabling laws, Rules and regulation which has a 6 unit limit. The second is Standards

Applicable to Professional practice which has a 24 unit limit. The third subject is called Ethical,

Governance and Quality principles that has a 10 unit limit. Fourthly is the Environment of the

practice which has a 10 unit limit. The last subject is called Development of the person as a

professional which in total has a 60 unit limit.

Each area is called thematic area and it is classified by a number following the word

“thematic area”. Below is a breakdown of each thematic area listed above.

Thematic area no. 1 includes Provisions of the Philippine Accountancy Act and

Implementing Rules and Regulations, applicable resolutions issued by the Professional

Regulation Commission and the Board of Accountancy, and other issuances pertaining to

registration, licensing, and professional regulatory regimes.

Thematic area no. 2 includes topics on current and recent issuances of the respective

area of practice of the profession, such as those from the standard-setting bodies on financial

reporting, assurance and auditing, accounting education, and the related practice statements

and interpretations as well as pronouncements related to taxation, depending on the area of

practice of the professional

Thematic area no. 3 includes Topics on the professional code of ethics, governance

principles, and quality standards based on issuances of bodies affecting the professional

practice.
 Thematic area no. 4 is involved with Issuances of government bodies like the Securities

and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Insurance Commission, Cooperative

Development Authority, and the like as well as frameworks, models, best practices,

benchmarks, tools and techniques espoused by professional and other organizations that affect

the operations and management of the clients and business entities of the professional; In the

case of accounting education, the topics may include issuances of higher educational

institutions and other professional bodies on the methods, styles, and approaches to teaching;

test construction and measurement; research innovations.

Thematic area no. 5 is involved with professional development activities that enhance

the individual competency of the CPA in the aspect of leadership, management and supervision,

oral and written communication, design and conduct of research and training, negotiation and

facilitation, personality and social graces, teamwork enhancement, project management,

information technology.

Technical Competence is involved with frameworks, models, best practices,

benchmarks, information technology advances, tools & techniques espoused by professional &

other organizations that affect the operations & management of clients & business entities of the

professional.

Professional skills are involved with professional development activities that enhance the

CPA’s intellectual, interpersonal, communication, personal and organizational skills.

 “The BOA is also encouraging agencies or organizations to apply for accreditation as
CPD providers, so that it will be much easier for CPAs to attend seminars and training,
especially from the rural areas with the increased number of providers. The Philippine Institute
of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), the national organization for CPAs, is a leading
provider of seminars and training with an array of different topics for the various competency
areas. Online or Web-based training can also be institutionalized so that learning can be more
accessible to CPAs through the aid of technology. CPAs can also earn CPD units by being a
resource speaker in conferences, seminars, and training.”

According to the Board of Accountancy, resolution No. 358 series of 2016 covers all

CPAs in public practice academe, commerce, industry, and government. International

Federation of Accountants (IFAC) defines CPD as a learning and development that maintains

professional competence to enable professional accountants to continue to perform the

profession competently. Seminars will be held and training mostly by The Philippine Institute of

Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), the national organization for CPAs, is a leading provider

of seminars and training with an array of different topics for the various competent areas.

References

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/managing-your-career/1318/what-is-continuing-

professional-development-cpd

http://www.picpa.com.ph/attachment/542017123547919.PDF

https://boa.com.ph/continuing-professional-development/

https://boa.com.ph/continuing-professional-development/

http://www.picpa.com.ph/attachment/542017123547919.PDF
https://boa.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/CPD-by-GBS.pdf