How to get your annual CPD hours for free
By Ibrahem Almahawe
Key takeaways for Arab directors
- 1Most bodies need ~40 CPD hours a year (e.g. ACCA: 21 verifiable + 19 non-verifiable)
- 2Your professional body's free webinars are the easiest verifiable hours
- 3The Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) run free CPE webcasts all year
- 4Deloitte's free IFRS e-learning gives a certificate with no registration
- 5Keep the certificates as evidence and log verifiable hours with your body
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between verifiable and non-verifiable CPD?
- Verifiable CPD requires objective evidence that learning occurred, such as a completion certificate, attendance record, or assessment result from a webinar or course. Non-verifiable CPD involves informal learning like reading technical tax articles, listening to industry podcasts, or professional reading where no third-party verification exists. Most bodies require a balance of both each year.
- Can I get 100% of my verifiable CPD units completely free?
- Yes. Major professional accounting bodies (like ACCA, ICAEW, and CIMA) offer complimentary member webinars. Additionally, the Big 4 firms host free CPE-eligible webcasts year-round, and Deloitte provides over 45 free IFRS e-learning modules with downloadable certificates.
- How do I prove my free CPD hours if audited by my professional body?
- Retain digital certificates of attendance, course completion PDFs, and webcasts confirmation emails in an organized CPD folder. Record the learning objective, date, provider, and how the knowledge applies to your role in your body's annual CPD online portal.
- Do free webinars from Big 4 accounting firms count towards ACCA or ICAEW CPD?
- Yes, provided the content is directly relevant to your professional role and development, and the provider issues a certificate of attendance or CPE credit note showing the duration and topics covered.
Fileminder’s take, written for Arab UK company directors
Continuing professional development (CPD) is a yearly obligation for most qualified accountants. ACCA members, for example, complete 40 units a year, of which 21 must be verifiable. Many people pay for CPD courses they could have got for free.
First, understand the two types. Verifiable CPD is anything you can prove you learned from, a course with a certificate, or a structured webinar. Non-verifiable CPD is informal: reading technical articles, listening to podcasts. You usually need a mix, and you keep the certificates as evidence.
Your own professional body is the first free source. ICAEW runs free webinars and a free CPD Conference, plus a free Code of Ethics course. ACCA members get free webinars, on-demand learning and technical articles through myACCA. AICPA & CIMA run free CPE webinars too.
The Big 4 are a goldmine of free, CPE-eligible learning. Deloitte Dbriefs, PwC, EY and KPMG all run free webcasts on tax, audit, accounting and regulation throughout the year, register with your email and keep the certificate.
For technical CPD with a certificate, Deloitte's IFRS e-learning is excellent: over 45 free modules, no registration needed to study, and you simply add your name before the assessment to earn a certificate. Dedicated platforms like accountingcpd.net and Learnsignal also offer free verifiable courses.
The hard part is keeping it organised. We've gathered the best free, verifiable CPD sources in one place, sorted by type, with how to access and log each one, so you can hit your annual hours without spending anything.
Written by
Founder of Fileminder, an AAT Licensed Accountant, and author of the eight-book International Taxation Series. Browse the books →
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Disclaimer
General educational guidance only, not legal, tax, accounting, immigration, investment or financial advice. We don't guarantee the information is complete, current or suitable for your situation. Always check official sources (GOV.UK, Companies House, HMRC, the relevant professional body) and speak to a qualified professional before acting. Last reviewed: June 2026.
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