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Annual Requirements

Fulfilling the Central Bank’s Minimum Competency Code

Qualified Members are required to complete a single set of 15 CPD hours annually, simplifying your professional development journey. The Minimum Competency Code stipulates specific requirements for these hours: 
  • At least one hour must cover Ethics, ensuring you stay aligned with the highest professional standards. 
  • Each retail financial product category you're accredited in must be represented in the remaining 14 hours. 
Excitingly, some CPD activities, such as LIA CPD seminars, LIA exams, online MyCPD modules and on-demand CPD events, may count towards more than one category, efficiently covering multiple requirements in one go. 
 
All members, irrespective of designations held, have full access to our range of CPD supports. While these supports offer a broad educational spectrum, we recommend focusing on those directly relevant to your accreditation for CPD purposes. This specificity is crucial when logging hours online or completing your Annual Return. 
 
You're welcome to explore CPD activities beyond your accredited categories. These endeavours are excellent for broadening your industry knowledge but remember, such hours shouldn't be included in your CPD Annual Return. 
 
To read more about members’ CPD Guidelines, click here.
Members must complete a number of CPD hours yearly, regardless of their business area, industry or product accreditation.  

Designation  Total CPD Hours Relevancy Criteria 
QFA  15 Hours  1 hour in categories 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 + Ethics, 
APA  15 Hours  1 hour in each Accredited Category + Ethics,  
CUA  15 Hours  1 hour in Credit Union Accredited Category + Ethics 
CUC  6 Hours  Relevant to the CUC designation 
CUG  6 Hours  Relevant to the CUG designation 
PTP  6 Hours  1 hour in categories 2, 3 + PTP 

*Special conditions for new LIA Designees and those subject to adjustments for catch-up hours or a pro-rata in hours.  

  • The CPD year aligns with the calendar year, meaning CPD hours must be completed within this timeframe.  

  • The standard annual CPD requirement is 15 hours, subject to adjustments for catch-up hours or a pro-rata in hours.  

  • Members are required to complete at least one hour of CPD related to each accredited product category and one hour in Ethics. 

  • CPD requirements depend on your designation at the start of the CPD year.  

  • New LIA designess have reduced CPD requirements in their first year.  

           *Members must log-in, view their own personal CPD log and hours of accreditation that apply to them.  Members, click here to log-in. 

  • Successfully passing LIA exams awards additional CPD hours, not counting towards relevancy.  

  • CPD must be directly relevant to providing advice to retail consumers under the Central Bank’s Minimum Competency Code - click here to view/download the MCC. 

  • CPD completed with LIA is automatically added to the members CPD log on successful completion.  

  • All external CPD events must be accredited by LIA. If approved for CPD, the member will be provided with an accreditation number which must then be logged.   

  • Members must record and submit CPD events annually by 31st December, making an Annual Return submission, by 31st January, the following year.  

  • LIA will select a random sample of CPD returns each year for audit. Anybody who is selected for audit, will be communicated with, outlining the requirements.  

Still need help?

Our 24/7 Live Chat is always available.
LIA Agent support is provided Monday–Friday, 11am–4pm, or you can email membership@lia.ie for further assistance.

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