CISI CPD Requirements 2026: How Many Hours, What Counts, and How to Stay Compliant

Table of Contents

• • CPD Requirements at a Glance
• - Category A Members
• - Category B Members
• • What Counts as CPD?
• - Structured CPD (Verifiable)
• - Unstructured CPD (Informal)
• • UAE-Specific CPD Obligations
• - CMA (formerly SCA) Requirements
• - DFSA Requirements
• - Practical Implications
• • Smart CPD Strategies for Busy Professionals
• - 1. Stack Your Learning
• - 2. Attend CISI Events
• - 3. Use Digital Learning
• - 4. Turn Reading into CPD
• - 5. Front-Load Your Year
• • Your Annual CPD Completion Checklist

Passing your CISI exam is just the beginning. Once you hold a CISI qualification and become a member, you are required to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every year to maintain your membership, stay compliant with regulatory requirements, and demonstrate ongoing competence to employers and regulators.

Yet CPD is one of the most commonly misunderstood obligations among CISI members — particularly for professionals based in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where local regulators may impose additional requirements on top of CISI’s baseline.

This guide explains exactly what is required, what counts, and how to stay compliant.

CPD Requirements at a Glance

The CISI operates a two-tier CPD system based on your membership category:

Requirement	Category A	Category B
Annual Total Hours	35 hours	10 hours
Structured Minimum	21 hours	6 hours
Ethics Minimum	3.5 hours	1 hour
Who Qualifies	Chartered Members, CFP™, SPS holders, APP	All other CISI members (excl. students)

Category A Members

If you hold any of the following designations, you fall under Category A:

• Chartered Wealth Manager or Chartered Fellow
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP™)
• Statement of Professional Standing (SPS) holders
• Accredited Paraplanners (APP)

Category B Members

All other CISI members — including those who hold standalone qualifications like the IISI, ICWIM, or GFC without a Chartered designation — fall under Category B.

Important: Students are exempt from CPD requirements until they achieve full membership.

What Counts as CPD?

Not all professional activities qualify. The CISI distinguishes between structured and unstructured CPD:

Structured CPD (Verifiable)

Structured activities must have:

• Defined learning outcomes — you should be able to articulate what you learned
• Minimum duration of 30 minutes per activity
• Verifiable evidence — a certificate of completion, attendance record, or course transcript

Examples include:

• Attending CISI-accredited training courses or workshops
• Completing online learning modules (including Exams Academy courses)
• Attending industry conferences, seminars, or webinars
• Studying for an additional CISI or professional qualification
• Completing regulatory training provided by your employer
• Participating in formal mentoring programmes (as mentor or mentee)

Unstructured CPD (Informal)

Unstructured CPD covers informal learning that contributes to your professional development but does not have formal learning outcomes:

• Reading industry publications, research reports, or regulatory updates
• Listening to finance podcasts or watching educational videos
• Informal discussions with colleagues about regulatory changes
• Self-directed research on market developments

The ethics requirement (3.5 hours for Category A, 1 hour for Category B) can be fulfilled through either structured or unstructured activities, as long as the content relates to professional ethics, conduct standards, or integrity in financial services.

UAE-Specific CPD Obligations

If you work in the UAE, your CPD obligations may extend beyond the CISI baseline:

CMA (formerly SCA) Requirements

The CMA (formerly SCA) expects licensed professionals to maintain ongoing competence. While the CMA does not publish a separate CPD mandate independent of the CISI framework, firms regulated by the CMA are expected to ensure that their staff’s qualifications remain current. In practice, this means your employer may set higher internal CPD targets than the CISI minimum.

DFSA Requirements

Professionals approved as “Authorised Individuals” within the DIFC are subject to DFSA competency requirements. The DFSA expects firms to maintain documented training and development programmes, and compliance officers must demonstrate ongoing expertise — particularly in evolving areas like ESG and digital assets.

Practical Implications

• Your firm’s compliance department likely tracks CPD completion as part of their regulatory obligations
• Some roles (e.g., MLRO, Compliance Officer) may have elevated CPD expectations
• CPD records may be reviewed during regulatory audits or inspections

Smart CPD Strategies for Busy Professionals

Completing 35 hours (Category A) or 10 hours (Category B) does not need to be a burden. Here are practical strategies:

1. Stack Your Learning

Studying for an additional CISI qualification simultaneously fulfils your CPD requirement. If you hold the IISI and are preparing for the ICWIM, every hour of study counts as structured CPD.

2. Attend CISI Events

The CISI runs regular CPD events — both in-person (particularly in the DIFC) and online. These are free or low-cost for members and are automatically logged to your CPD record.

3. Use Digital Learning

Online courses, webinars, and e-learning modules from accredited providers count as structured CPD. This is the most time-efficient approach for professionals working demanding hours in Dubai or Riyadh.

4. Turn Reading into CPD

The regulatory landscape changes constantly. Reading about the SCA-to-CMA transition, ESG compliance requirements, or digital asset regulation all counts as unstructured CPD — just log it.

5. Front-Load Your Year

Complete the majority of your CPD in the first 6 months. This eliminates the December scramble that catches many professionals off guard.

Your Annual CPD Completion Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure you stay on track throughout the year:

Maintaining your CISI CPD is not just a compliance exercise — it is a career investment. Professionals who actively pursue development in emerging areas like ESG, digital assets, and AI-driven compliance position themselves for the premium roles and salary bands that the UAE market increasingly rewards. For a complete picture of how CISI certification impacts your earnings, see our Dubai salary guide.