Free CPD for accountants, organised in one place
Hit your annual CPD hours at no cost. We've gathered the best free, verifiable CPD from the professional bodies, the Big 4 and dedicated platforms — with how to access and log each one.
How CPD works, in brief
- Most bodies require a set number of hours a year (e.g. ACCA = 40 units; one unit ≈ one hour).
- Part is verifiable (a course + certificate) and part non-verifiable (reading, informal sessions).
- Keep the certificate as evidence, and log your hours in your body's CPD record.
Requirements differ by body and country — always check your own body's rules.
Free CPD sources
Your professional body (free for members)
Free webinars and online courses on tax, reporting, audit, tech, ethics and leadership, plus a free CPD Conference and a free Code of Ethics course.
How to start: Open the CPD resources page on icaew.com and register free for sessions; keep the certificate as evidence.
Free webinars, on-demand learning, podcasts and technical articles that count toward your CPD.
How to start: Sign in to myACCA and open the CPD / Learning section.
Free CPE webinars on accounting, audit, tax and finance topics from the US/global bodies.
How to start: Search 'Free CPE webinars' on aicpa-cima.com and register.
Free CPD platforms
Free one-hour verifiable CPD courses that come with a completion certificate.
How to start: Open the Free CPD page, take a course, download the certificate.
300+ courses and 1,300+ verifiable units, recognised by 20+ professional bodies (ACCA, CPA Canada, CA ANZ and more).
How to start: Free to start, no card required; log the verifiable units with your body.
Around 12 hours of free, on-demand, verifiable accountancy CPD.
How to start: Create a free account and work through the modules.
Free CPE from the Big 4
All four firms run free, CPE-eligible webcasts on tax, audit, accounting and regulatory change throughout the year.
How to start: Search '<firm> webcasts / Dbriefs', register free per session, keep the CPE certificate.
Technical & IFRS (free certificates that count)
45+ free IFRS modules with a certificate — solid, verifiable technical CPD.
How to start: No registration to study; add your name before the assessment for the certificate.
Official free modules (including ISSB sustainability standards) with certificates.
How to start: Create a free ifrs.org account; certificate per module.
Software vendors (free, often CPD-eligible)
Free certifications and regular webinars from the major cloud-accounting platforms — many carry CPD/CPE.
How to start: Create a free partner/advisor account with each platform and check their academy/events.
Coming soon: CPD-accredited courses from Fileminder
We're getting our US Tax course CPD-accredited, so you can earn CPD hours while learning a new, paid practical skill.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPD hours do I need a year?
It varies by body. For example, ACCA typically requires 40 units a year (21 verifiable + 19 non-verifiable), where one unit = one hour. Always check your own body's exact requirement.
Does free CPD count?
Yes — as long as it's relevant to your role and development, and you keep evidence (a certificate or record) for the verifiable hours.
What's the difference between verifiable and non-verifiable?
Verifiable: an activity you can prove you learned from (a course with a certificate). Non-verifiable: informal activities like reading articles.
Resource links are to independent third parties not affiliated with Fileminder, and their terms and CPD eligibility may change. Always confirm details on their official sites and that your body accepts them.