Structured vs. Unstructured CPD: A Guide for Busy Accountants

Structured unstructured CPD can shape your professional growth more than you might realise, especially when you are juggling deadlines in a busy accountancy practice. Whether you are fulfilling mandatory requirements set by ACCA, ICAEW, CPA, or another body, understanding the difference between structured and unstructured CPD is crucial. This comparison explores both types, shows how they fit into typical CPD requirements, and helps you plan how to meet your annual training goals efficiently.

Compare structured and unstructured CPD

Structured CPD refers to formal, planned activities such as courses, workshops, or conferences with clear objectives and measurable outcomes. In most regulated professions, these structured sessions meet official standards and often provide accreditation. Unstructured CPD, by contrast, is more flexible. It may involve listening to podcasts, reading professional publications, or self-directed study. Although they do not usually result in certifications, unstructured efforts can keep you up to speed on industry trends that emerge faster than any set curriculum.

Below is a quick way to see how they differ and where each can support your long-term development:

Many professional bodies, including those regulating accountancy, designate a certain minimum of structured CPD hours. For instance, regulated industries like finance and healthcare often require verifiable training each year (CPDCourses.com) to maintain licences or comply with auditing standards. It is common to complement this with unstructured CPD to broaden your expertise and keep skills fresh.

Review typical CPD requirements

Professional organisations such as ACCA and ICAEW frequently expect you to log a mix of structured and unstructured CPD. Exact rules vary, but you will often see guidelines advising a balanced split. The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), for instance, recommends spending about 10 hours on each category per year, though it does not enforce rigid proportions (CIPS). Accountancy bodies mirror this spirit, encouraging you to focus on high-quality, verifiable activities, while combining them with flexibility for reading or informal study.

Remember that structured CPD documentation is typically straightforward, since you receive a certificate or a confirmation email. Unstructured CPD requires more diligence in logging. Whether it is reading regulatory updates or analysing a new set of tax guidelines, a written reflection of what you learned can help you show value to regulators or your practice manager. If you need pointers, see our tips on tracking informal cpd.

What happens if you miss the mark?

Failure to meet the required number of CPD hours can carry serious consequences, from professional body fines to reputational damage. This is particularly true if you are a sole practitioner or responsible for CPD compliance in a firm. You can read more about potential penalties in cpd non-compliance risk. Simple measures such as spacing out learning activities year-round prevent last-minute scrambles and reduce risk during audits.

Choose your best approach

Your ideal approach depends on your career goals and the demands of your professional body. If you are an independent accountant, you may have specific compliance hours for structured CPD to meet each year, alongside unstructured learning that bolsters your expertise in ever-changing regulations. If you are a practice manager responsible for multiple staff, keep an eye on group sessions and eLearning platforms so the entire team can log structured activities collectively. Tools like practice manager cpd compliance are useful for overseeing participation and verifying records at scale.

Creating a balanced CPD plan

• Start with mandatory hours: Check how many hours or credits your institute requires for structured learning.
• Allocate unstructured activities: Build a schedule for podcasts, reading, or discussion groups.
• Use technology: Track your unstructured logs in a shared platform. If your firm runs an internal cpd program strategy, see if it supports automatic activity recording.
• Reflect and adapt: Every quarter, review progress. Top up any shortfall in structured hours or diversify your unstructured pursuits if you need new insights.

Prepare for CPD audits

Professional bodies may audit your CPD records at random or when you renew your registration. Preparing well in advance is simpler than rushing at the last minute. Keep training certificates in a single folder and note the skills gained from your informal study. When it is time to verify your annual CPD, proof of both structured and unstructured activities backs up your compliance claim. If you want to learn more about official checks, see cpd audit preparation for tips on evidence gathering.

Final verdict

Structured unstructured CPD is vital for sustaining a thriving accountancy career. Structured activities satisfy formal compliance, ensuring you meet those must-have credits. Unstructured learning fills knowledge gaps on the go, keeps you agile in a fast-moving landscape, and boosts your day-to-day problem-solving skills. With a careful balance of both, you will stay on top of mandatory requirements and become a more effective accountant in the process.