ICAP CPD Requirements 2026: 20 Hours a Year, 120 in Three
ICAP members must complete 20 hours of CPD a year and 120 hours in each rolling three-year period, at least 60 of them verifiable, under CPD Directive 8.01.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, known as ICAP, sets its continuing professional development rules in CPD Directive 8.01, revised in 2022 and effective from 5 January 2023. The directive requires at least 20 hours of learning in each year and at least 120 hours in each rolling three-year period, of which 60 should be verifiable. This guide sets out the main rules in the directive, including the caps on self-certified learning, the carry-forward limit, the 120-day deficit rule and the extra requirement for engagement partners, and says what we could not confirm. See also our ICAI CPE guide and our CPD for accountants guide.
At a glance
| Requirement | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Annual minimum | At least 20 hours, or equivalent learning units, in each year (paragraph 11(b)) |
| Rolling total | At least 120 hours in each rolling three-year period (paragraph 11(a)); prorated for members admitted mid-cycle |
| Verifiable hours | 60 of the 120 hours should be verifiable |
| Self-certified reading | General or self-certified reading is capped at 30 hours per rolling period (paragraph 12(i)) |
| Carry-forward | Up to 30 excess hours can carry forward; only 30 hours of a shortfall can carry forward, and the rest must still be made up |
| Deficit rule | A non-compliant member signs a declaration to make up the deficit within 120 days (paragraph 15) |
| Engagement partners | Must meet an extra requirement: 30 hours per rolling period in listed areas, or the IES 8 outcomes |
| Effective date | 5 January 2023 |
What Directive 8.01 requires
ICAP's Directive 8.01 sets two tests that apply together. The annual test is at least 20 hours, or equivalent learning units, in each year. The rolling test is at least 120 hours in each three-year period. For members admitted part-way through a cycle, the 120-hour requirement is prorated. The directive was approved by ICAP's Council in October 2022 and is effective from 5 January 2023.
Verifiable and non-verifiable learning
Of the 120 hours, 60 should be verifiable, meaning there is documentary evidence. The directive uses the words verifiable and non-verifiable, not structured and unstructured. Verifiable evidence must be kept for one year after the rolling period closes. General or self-certified reading counts as non-verifiable and is capped at 30 hours per rolling period.
Carry-forward
At the end of a rolling period, excess hours can carry forward up to a limit of 30 hours. The directive also allows up to 30 hours of a shortfall to carry forward, but the member must still complete the rest to avoid sanctions. Do not treat that as permission to fall behind: it is a limit on how much of the deficit moves into the next period.
The 120-day deficit rule
A member who is non-compliant at the end of a year or a rolling period must sign a declaration committing to make up the deficit within 120 days. The directive says ICAP's CPD Committee may then recommend sanctions to the Council. The directive does not list the sanctions in the extract we read.
Engagement partners
Engagement partners face an additional requirement. Under Option A they complete at least 30 hours per rolling period in areas that include audit, financial reporting and accounting, governance and risk, ethics, corporate laws and the international auditing and reporting standards. Under Option B they meet the IES 8 learning outcomes and submit an annual declaration that they have done so.
Ethics
The directive does not set a general number of ethics hours for all members. Ethics is one of the listed areas for engagement partners under Option A. Our IES 7 explained guide explains how the international education standards fit together.
Declaring and audits
Members make an annual declaration to ICAP in an online format and supply evidence on request. ICAP conducts sample audits, so keep your records. We did not find an annual declaration date in the extract we read.
What we could not confirm
We did not confirm the annual declaration deadline or the full list of sanctions, and we did not check whether ICAP has issued a later revision since 2022. We also read the directive through a summarising tool, so check paragraph references against ICAP's PDF before quoting them.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPD hours does an ICAP member need?
At least 20 hours in each year and 120 hours in each rolling three-year period, with 60 of the 120 verifiable.
How much self-certified reading counts?
General or self-certified reading is capped at 30 hours per rolling period.
Can I carry hours forward?
Excess hours can carry forward up to 30 hours, and up to 30 hours of a shortfall can carry forward, but the rest of any shortfall must still be made up.
What if I am short at the end of the year?
You sign a declaration committing to make up the deficit within 120 days, and the CPD Committee may recommend sanctions.
Do engagement partners have extra CPD?
Yes. They must complete 30 hours per rolling period in listed areas, or meet the IES 8 learning outcomes.
Finding courses that count
Learnsignal publishes accounting, tax, audit, ethics and finance courses in its CPD and CPE library. Before you pay for any course, check the awarding body's own rules on what it accepts, and keep the certificate and the course details. Confirm the current rules with ICAP before you plan your year.
Source: ICAP CPD Directive 8.01 (revised 2022, effective 5 January 2023), checked October 2026.
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