What is CPD? Guide to Completing Your CPD Hours for Accountants
- Thanuwat Khumkainam
- Jun 13
- 6 min read
CPD (Continuing Professional Development) refers to the ongoing long-term professional development for accounting professionals. It ensures they stay up to date with new technologies and practices in accounting and taxation. It is therefore an important duty for all registered accountants, whether as 'account preparers' or 'auditors', to accumulate training hours in order to maintain their rights and qualifications as required by law.
The meaning of CPD and the relevant laws.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accounting refers to the process by which accounting professionals are required to regularly attend training, seminars, or academic activities to enhance and update their knowledge related to accounting and taxation. This requirement is stipulated in the Department of Business Development’s Announcement B.E. 2557 (2014) under Section 7(6) of the Accounting Act B.E. 2543 (2000), which specifies that an accountant must engage in professional continuing education at least once a year. The Federation of Accounting Professions (FAP) under the Royal Patronage is responsible for determining the content, activities, and number of hours for this knowledge development.
Account preparers must complete at least 12 CPD hours per calendar year, with at least half of those hours (no less than 6 hours) related to accounting content.
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are required to complete at least 40 CPD hours per year, consisting of 20 formal training hours (at least half of which must cover accounting or auditing topics) and 20 informal training hours.
This law also sets special conditions for the first year of registration. For example, if an accountant registers during the second half of the year, the CPD hours will start counting in the following year. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification from being a legally recognized accountant.
Why is CPD necessary for accountants?
CPD is essential for accountants because, in addition to being a legal requirement, it also offers professional benefits and value, as follows:
Maintain qualifications and membership status – Completing the required CPD hours ensures that accountants and auditors retain their membership status and qualifications as prescribed by law. Otherwise, they will be deemed 'unqualified' and may face deregistration or penalties in accordance with the regulations of the Federation of Accounting Professions.
Stay updated with current knowledge – The accounting profession must adapt to changing accounting standards (TFRS), new tax regulations, technology tools, and evolving business practices. Engaging in CPD helps continuously develop knowledge in accounting, taxation, and other business areas, enabling professionals to work efficiently and stay up to date.
Enhance work capabilities – Attending training or seminars helps develop new skills, both technical and ethical. As the profession adapts to economic changes, continuous learning enables accountants to better handle various situations.
Increase credibility and networking – Demonstrating continuous CPD training helps build confidence among clients and relevant agencies that the accountant is knowledgeable and committed to self-development. Additionally, group training sessions provide opportunities to build professional networks.
In summary, CPD is a tool that helps improve the quality of accountants' work and ensures compliance with the requirements set by accounting laws and the Federation of Accounting Professions.
Types of CPD activities"
The Federation of Accounting Professions has defined various types of activities that can be counted as CPD hours, such as:
Training or seminars (Formal Training) – Attending training or seminars in courses accredited by the Federation of Accounting Professions (FAP), whether in-classroom or e-Learning formats via websites or online platforms, such as courses on accounting, taxation, finance, or professional ethics. Each organizing body will specify the CPD hours granted in advance.
Online Learning – Currently, there are approved online courses (e-Learning) for accounting professionals, such as the 'CPD' or 'TFAC e-Learning' courses approved by the Federation. Learners can conveniently accumulate CPD hours through these online systems.
Other professional activities (Non-formal CPD) – Reading academic books, professional articles, attending academic conferences, conducting research, or serving as a speaker can also be counted as non-formal CPD hours. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) can accumulate up to 20 non-formal CPD hours per year.
The key principle is that the organization or institution conducting the training or seminar must obtain prior approval from the Federation of Accounting Professions before the CPD hours can be counted. Additionally, the Federation has clearly announced the list of approved CPD course providers for accountants to ensure that participants can confidently submit their completed hours to the Federation.
Number of CPD hours per year and the accumulation period.
Accountants are required to accumulate no less than 12 CPD hours per calendar year. These hours must be completed by December 31 of that year, and at least 6 of the hours must cover accounting-related content.
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are required to accumulate at least 40 CPD hours per year, consisting of 20 formal CPD hours (with at least 10 hours related to accounting/auditing and at least 1 hour on ethics) and an additional 20 informal CPD hours.
For the first year of being licensed to practice accounting, CPD hours can be calculated proportionally based on the number of months remaining in that year without rounding up. For example, if the license is granted in August, the CPD hours must be accumulated proportionally for the remaining 5 months of that year.
Calculation example: If an accountant started practicing in 2020 and only accumulated 5 hours, which is below the required amount, then in 2021, they must accumulate an additional 19 hours (which is 12 hours for 2021 plus 7 hours to compensate for 2020).
How to verify and report CPD activities
Account preparers and auditors report their CPD hours through the online system of the Federation of Accounting Professions (TFAC e-Service), which requires the following steps:
Access the TFAC e-Service (www.fap.or.th or eservice.tfac.or.th) by logging in with your member account.
Enter the number of CPD hours accumulated in each category (Accounting, Ethics, Others) and attach the certificate or proof of training received from the seminar organizer or instructor (if available).
Early submission – Account preparers must report their CPD hours by January 30 of the following year (counting from the year of training), while auditors must submit by the last working day of that year.
Check status – After submitting the information, you can check the submission status through the Federation’s online system. If any issues arise, please contact the Federation directly.
Failure to submit CPD hours or incomplete submission by the deadline will be considered non-compliance and may require guidance or corrective action from the Federation of Accounting Professions.
Benefits that accountants gain from doing CPD.
Up-to-date knowledge and skills: Completing CPD hours helps accountants maintain their qualifications as account preparers and regularly update their knowledge in accounting, taxation, and other related areas.
Work efficiency: Gaining new knowledge through learning helps accountants solve complex problems more effectively and work faster and more accurately, resulting in higher quality financial statements and tax filings.
Keep up with professional standards: As accounting and tax standards are constantly updated, CPD helps professionals stay aligned with the latest practices, preventing errors caused by lack of knowledge.
Career development: Besides helping with daily work, CPD serves as a foundation for career growth for accountants. For example, gaining new knowledge can increase opportunities for higher positions or expand roles into accounting and tax consultancy.
Accounting CPD (Continuing Professional Development) is a set of requirements that every accountant must strictly follow to maintain professional quality and the legal right to practice accounting. Each year, accountants must accumulate the required CPD hours as stipulated by the Federation of Accounting Professions, through training, seminars, or self-learning. Understanding these requirements, how to accumulate hours, and planning ahead will help accountants sustainably uphold professional standards and stay prepared for changes in laws and the business environment.
FAQ
What is CPD in accounting?
CPD in accounting refers to Continuing Professional Development, where accountants must accumulate learning and development hours each year as required by the Federation of Accounting Professions to maintain their legal status as professional accountants.
How many CPD hours must accountants accumulate per year?
Accountants must accumulate at least 12 CPD hours per year, including at least 3 hours of ethics training. These hours can be earned through training, seminars, or self-study.
What happens if CPD hours are not accumulated?
If accountants fail to accumulate the required CPD hours, they may be suspended or have their rights to practice as accountants revoked, which affects their ability to legally practice the profession.
How can CPD hours be accumulated?
CPD hours can be accumulated through various methods, such as attending training sessions, seminars, online learning, self-study from resources approved by the Federation of Accounting Professions, or teaching and serving as a professional speaker.
