CPD Requirements for
ACI Certified Auditors
Maintaining your ACI certification requires ongoing professional development. This page details the credit requirements, eligible activities, and verification process for each auditor grade.
CPD Credits by Auditor Grade
Higher grades require more CPD credits, reflecting increased professional responsibility. All grades must include a minimum of 3 ethics credits.
- Ethics credits (mandatory)3
- General CPD credits12
- Max self-study credits5
- Ethics credits (mandatory)3
- General CPD credits17
- Max self-study credits5
- Ethics credits (mandatory)3
- General CPD credits22
- Max self-study credits5
What Counts as CPD?
ACI recognises a broad range of professional development activities. Each activity type has defined credit values and evidence requirements.
| Activity | Credits | Evidence Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI-Approved Training Courses | 14–31 | Certificate of completion from ATP | Foundation: 14–24 credits. Lead Auditor: 31 credits. Credits awarded automatically when ATP reports completion. |
| ACI Webinars | 1–3 | ACI attendance record | Live attendance: full credits. Recorded viewing: 1 credit per webinar. Quarterly schedule published on ACI Learning Hub. |
| External Training Courses | Varies | Certificate + syllabus | Must be relevant to auditing or management systems. Submit for pre-approval or claim retrospectively with evidence. |
| Conferences & Seminars | 1–3 per day | Attendance confirmation | Industry conferences, ISO committee meetings, professional body events. Maximum 3 credits per event day. |
| Writing & Publishing | 5–10 | Published copy | Peer-reviewed journal articles: 10 credits. Blog posts or technical guides: 5 credits. Must relate to auditing or management systems. |
| Mentoring & Coaching | 3–5 | Mentee confirmation letter | Formal mentoring of junior auditors. 3 credits per mentee per year, maximum 5 credits per cycle. |
| Self-Study | 1–5 | Reading log or notes | Books, standards review, online learning. Maximum 5 credits per 3-year cycle across all self-study activities. |
| ACI Ethics Module | 3 | Auto-recorded | Free, online, self-paced. Mandatory once per 3-year cycle. Satisfies the full ethics credit requirement. |
Mandatory Ethics Requirement
Every ACI certified auditor must complete a minimum of 3 ethics credits per 3-year certification cycle. The simplest way to satisfy this requirement is through the ACI Ethics Module — a free, self-paced online course available in the ACI Learning Hub.
The Ethics Module covers the ACI Code of Ethics, professional conduct standards, conflict of interest management, confidentiality obligations, and reporting responsibilities. It takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and includes a short assessment.
Alternatively, ethics credits may be earned through ACI-approved ethics workshops, professional body ethics courses, or ethics-focused conference sessions. All alternative ethics CPD must be pre-approved by the ACI CPD Committee.
ACI Ethics Module
How to Log Your CPD Activities
Record every CPD activity in your ACI portal. Accurate logging ensures a smooth renewal process.
After completing a CPD activity, log in to your ACI portal and navigate to the CPD section. Click "Add Activity" and select the activity type from the dropdown.
Provide the activity title, date, provider name, and a brief description of what you learned. Select the number of credits you are claiming.
Attach your supporting evidence — training certificates, attendance confirmations, published articles, or reading logs. PDF and image formats are accepted.
Your CPD entry is saved to your log. ACI-approved activities (ACI courses, webinars, Ethics Module) are auto-verified. External activities are reviewed during your renewal.
CPD Verification Process
ACI verifies CPD submissions to maintain the integrity of the certification programme.
Activities completed through ACI-approved channels — ACI courses, webinars, and the Ethics Module — are verified automatically. Credits appear in your log within 24 hours of completion.
When you submit your renewal application, an ACI reviewer examines your full CPD log. External activities are checked against the evidence you uploaded. Most renewals are processed within 5 working days.
ACI conducts random CPD audits on a percentage of certificate holders each year. If selected, you will be asked to provide original evidence for a sample of your logged activities. Audits are conducted respectfully and confidentially.
Browse available CPD activities, upcoming webinars, and ACI-approved training courses.