In today's fast-paced world, where technology and industries are constantly changing, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential for professionals in all fields. For Australian Certified Practising Accountants (CPAs), CPD is more than just a requirement; it's a way to stay skilled, advance their careers, and deliver top-quality service. As the accounting profession faces new challenges, CPD must adapt. This article explores the current state of CPD for Australian CPAs and looks at the upcoming trends and innovations that will shape their future, ensuring CPAs are prepared for what's next.

Understanding CPD for Australian CPAs

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the ongoing learning activities professionals undertake to develop and enhance their skills, knowledge, and professional capabilities throughout their careers. For Australian CPAs, CPD is mandated by professional bodies like CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). These requirements are in place to ensure that CPAs maintain their professional competency and stay ahead of the latest developments in accounting standards, regulations, technologies, and ethical practices.

Current CPD Landscape in Australia

Australian CPAs are required to complete a minimum number of CPD hours over a triennial period.

CPA Australia Requirements:

• Mandates 120 hours of CPD every three years, with a minimum of 20 hours each year.

• Requires a minimum of two verifiable ethics CPD hours per year and 10 hours per triennium.

CA ANZ Requirements:

• Mandates 120 hours of CPD every three years, with a minimum of 20 hours each year.

• Requires at least 6 hours of verifiable ethics CPD for trienniums beginning on or after 1 July 2024.

CPD activities can take various forms, including seminars, workshops, conferences, online courses, webinars, in-house training, and self-directed learning. 

Verifiable CPD hours require evidence of completion that is objective, corroborated, and retained for example a certificate of completion. This structured approach ensures that CPD is meaningful and contributes to the professional development of CPAs.

Future Trends Shaping CPD

The changing demands of the workforce and technological advancements are causing a rapid transformation in the continuing education landscape. The following trends will likely influence CPD for Australian CPAs in the future:

Online and Digital Learning

Technological advancements and global events have accelerated the shift towards online learning. Online platforms, like LearnFormula, offer flexibility, accessibility, and a wide range of learning resources, making CPD more convenient and adaptable to individual schedules.

Microlearning and Micro-credentialing

Microlearning—the delivery of information in brief, easily understood lessons—is gaining popularity, particularly among working professionals. Professionals can receive recognition for particular skills or competencies through micro-credentialing, which makes upskilling and reskilling more focused and effective. The need for CPAs to quickly adjust to new technologies and changing industry demands is in line with these trends.

Personalized Learning Pathways 

Recognizing that professionals have diverse learning needs and career goals, personalized learning pathways are gaining traction. These pathways allow CPAs to customize their CPD plans based on their specific interests, skill gaps, and career aspirations. LearnFormula offers a custom package option to cover your specific needs. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

AI is revolutionizing the e-learning industry and will significantly impact CPD. AI-powered tools can personalize feedback, identify learning gaps, automate administrative tasks, and even create assessments. For CPAs, AI-driven CPD can offer more efficient and effective learning experiences, ensuring they acquire the most relevant skills for the future.

Mobile Learning

The convenience of smartphones and tablets makes mobile learning a critical component of modern CPD. CPAs need to access CPD resources anytime, anywhere, and mobile-friendly platforms and content will become essential. 

LearnFormula offers a dedicated mobile app (App Store, Google Play), ensuring CPAs can access courses, track progress, and complete CPD requirements directly from their mobile devices. This mobile-first approach ensures that CPD is not just accessible, but also truly convenient and integrated into the daily workflows of CPAs.

Innovations in CPD for Australian CPAs

Considering these future trends, several innovations are particularly relevant to CPD for Australian CPAs:

CPD focused on Advanced Technologies

The accounting profession is being disrupted by advanced technologies like blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Future CPD must equip CPAs with the knowledge and skills to navigate these technologies. This includes CPD on auditing blockchain and digital assets, AI in audits, cybersecurity risk management, and data analytics for financial reporting and auditing.

Blended Learning Approaches

The future of CPD may involve blended learning approaches that combine online modules with in-person workshops or events. This approach can offer the flexibility of online learning with the benefits of face-to-face interaction, networking, and collaborative learning.

Partnerships with Technology and Industry Leaders

Collaborations between CPA organizations and technology companies, as well as industry leaders, can lead to the development of cutting-edge CPD content that is directly relevant to the evolving needs of the profession. These partnerships can ensure that CPD remains current, practical, and impactful.

Package Recommendations

For Australian CPAs seeking structured CPD, LearnFormula offers several relevant packages:

• Technology for Accountants 

This comprehensive program offers 20.5 hours of online, verifiable CPD, including 2.5 hours dedicated to ethics. Designed for accounting professionals in Australia and New Zealand, it covers advanced tools, strategies, and emerging trends to enhance data analysis, fraud detection, and cybersecurity. Participants will gain actionable insights into ethical challenges in the digital age, master essential software, and harness AI to optimize their practice.

• Fraud Prevention for Accountants

This program focuses on ethics and risk management, ensuring CPAs stay ahead of fraud prevention strategies. Covering 20 hours of online, verifiable CPD (including 4.5 hours in ethics), it provides practical insights into detecting, deterring, and preventing fraudulent activities. Accountants will explore real-world case studies, strengthen internal controls, and navigate ethical complexities to uphold financial integrity.

• CFO-Controller Partnership 

Elevate the synergy between CFOs and Controllers with this comprehensive package designed to empower financial leaders. This series provides cutting-edge insights into strategic decision-making, ethical leadership, productivity, and the evolving technological landscape.

Challenges and Opportunities

The transformation of CPD also presents both challenges and opportunities for Australian CPAs and professional bodies.

Challenges:

• Maintaining Quality and Verifiability: It's important to make sure that all CPD activities, especially online ones, are high quality and can be verified.

• Keeping Pace with Technological Change: Technology changes quickly, so CPD needs to be updated often. It can be hard to create and deliver CPD content about new technologies fast enough.

• Ensuring Engagement and Relevance: CPD needs to be interesting and relevant to CPAs' daily work. Using personalized and interactive learning can help with this.

• Digital Divide and Accessibility: It's important to make sure that all CPAs can access digital CPD resources, no matter where they are or what technology they have.

Opportunities:

• Enhanced Learning Experiences: Using new things like AI, gamification, and personalized learning can make CPD more fun and effective, which leads to better learning.

• Greater Flexibility and Accessibility: Online and mobile learning make CPD more flexible and accessible, allowing CPAs to learn at their own pace and convenience.

• Data-Driven CPD: Using data and analytics can help CPD providers understand what people need to learn, personalize CPD, and measure how well it's working.

• Global Reach and Collaboration: Online CPD can make it easier for Australian CPAs to work with and learn from people all over the world.

Conclusion

The future of CPD for Australian CPAs is dynamic and exciting. Driven by technological innovation and the evolving demands of the accounting profession, CPD is moving towards more personalized, flexible, and technology-enhanced learning experiences. By embracing these trends and innovations, Australian CPAs can ensure they remain at the forefront of their profession, equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the future. Professional bodies, CPD providers, and individual CPAs must work together to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities presented by this transformation, ensuring that CPD continues to serve its vital purpose in maintaining professional competence and driving excellence in the Australian accounting profession.

Works cited:

• CA ANZ. (n.d.). CPD requirements | CA ANZ - Chartered Accountants. https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/learning-and-events/managing-your-cpd/cpd-requirements

• CPA Australia. (n.d.a). Ethics requirements for CPD | CPA Australia. https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/career-development/continuing-professional-development/ethics-requirements-for-cpd

• KnowledgEquity. (n.d.). Compulsory Ethics CPD for CPA Australia members (2 hours per year / 10 hours every 3 years) - KnowledgEquity. https://knowledgequity.com.au/cpa-ethics-cpd-compulsory-2024/

• PSC. (2018). CPD Requirements - the Professional Standards Councils. https://www.psc.gov.au/sites/default/files/CPD%20Requirements_0.pdf

• Therapas. (2024). Emerging Online Learning and CPD Trends in 2025 - Therapas https://therapas.com.au/emerging-online-learning-and-cpd-trends-in-2025/

• accountingcpd.net. (n.d.). 3 Differences in CPD Requirements Worldwide - accountingcpd.net https://www.accountingcpd.net/3_Differences_in_CPD_Requirements_Worldwide

• LearnFormula. (n.d.). Accounting CPD - Australia https://accounting-cpd-au.learnformula.com/