ICB CPD Requirements 2026: 30 Points a Year
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers recommends 30 CPD points a year, up to 15 structured and 15 unstructured, but its conduct regulations require planned CPD every year.
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, known as ICB, tells members to aim for at least 30 CPD points each year. The ICB's Professional Conduct Regulations go further than the recommendation: they require every member to undertake a programme of planned CPD each year and to give ICB a record of it. This guide separates what ICB recommends from what it requires, explains how the points work and lists what we could not confirm. See also our AAT CPD guide, our comparison of UK and Irish accountancy body CPD and our CPD for accountants guide.
At a glance
| Requirement | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Recommended points | At least 30 CPD points a year |
| Structured CPD | Up to 15 points; one hour earns one point |
| Unstructured CPD | Up to 15 points count; one hour earns half a point |
| Year | Your subscription year, not the calendar year |
| Logging | In the CPD portal in MyICB; structured activity can be supported with uploaded documents |
| Backdating | You can log activities from up to the last six months |
| Mandatory duty | The Professional Conduct Regulations (November 2021) require planned CPD every year and a record for the subscription year |
| Failure | Under the regulations, failing to comply is misconduct |
What ICB recommends
ICB's CPD page says members should aim for at least 30 CPD points per year. The page describes this as a recommendation and says members are responsible for their own development, so the figure is a benchmark rather than a pass mark.
What the regulations require
The Professional Conduct Regulations of November 2021 say, in clause 16, that a member must undertake a programme of planned CPD every year and give ICB a record of the CPD undertaken during their subscription year. Clause 6 says that failing to comply with the regulations is misconduct. The practical reading is that you must plan and record CPD every year, and 30 points is the level ICB expects.
How the points work
Structured CPD, such as courses, webinars and exams, earns one point for each hour, and up to 15 points can be structured. Unstructured CPD, such as reading articles or journals, earns half a point for each hour, and only 15 unstructured points count towards the total even if you log more. That means 15 unstructured points takes 30 hours of reading.
Structured and verifiable activity
Structured activity should be planned, measurable and verifiable, and members can upload documentation to support it. Unstructured learning is self-recorded. Keep certificates for courses and a short note for each reading session, because a record is what the regulations ask you to provide.
The subscription year
The year runs from your last membership renewal, not from January. Start logging from your renewal date. The portal shows a running total and lets members upload activities from up to the last six months, so a late entry is still possible.
Goals and the portal
The portal asks members to set learning goals and link activities to them. The page says there is no external check on goal progress, so the goals are for your own planning. The record you give ICB is the portal log.
How this compares with other bodies
Other UK bodies set their own numbers. Our AAT CPD guide sets out the AAT's approach, and our comparison of UK and Irish accountancy body CPD sits alongside our ICAEW CPD guide and CIMA CPD guide. ICB is lighter on hours but still requires a planned, recorded programme.
Planning your year
Put 15 points of structured learning in the diary at the start of the subscription year, such as two or three half-day courses and a handful of webinars. Fill the rest with reading, and log each item the week you do it. If you file self-assessment or VAT returns for clients, count the update sessions you attend on rule changes.
What we could not confirm
We did not locate the standalone ICB CPD policy document, so we cannot state a reporting date, a record-retention period, a carry-forward rule or the grounds for exemption. The ICB site lists an exemption route under membership, but we did not read it. Confirm the current rules with ICB before you plan your year.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPD points does an ICB member need?
ICB recommends at least 30 a year. The regulations require planned CPD every year.
How are the points calculated?
Structured CPD earns one point per hour and unstructured earns half a point per hour; up to 15 of each count.
Is CPD mandatory for ICB members?
Yes. Clause 16 of the Professional Conduct Regulations requires a planned programme every year and a record of it.
Does the year follow the calendar?
No. It follows your subscription year.
Where do I record my CPD?
In the CPD portal in MyICB.
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 ICB before you plan your year.
Source: ICB CPD page (bookkeepers.org.uk) and ICB Professional Conduct Regulations, November 2021, clauses 6 and 16, checked October 2026.
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