Professional Learning Program
Cultivate your curiosity and advance in your career with professional learning (PL).
A commitment to keeping your skills sharp
Succeed in highly competitive and ever-evolving markets by committing to advancing your knowledge, skills, and abilities in pursuit of your professional goals. Participate in the Professional Learning program to improve your technical expertise, build on your foundations, and stay current on industry changes.
We encourage CFA® charterholders and members to earn at least 20 PL credits (including two credits in the areas of Standards, Ethics, and Regulations) throughout the membership year, whether you are using CFA Institute materials or resources from elsewhere.
Activities that qualify for PL credit
Participate in qualifying PL activities designed to contribute to your knowledge as an investment professional and lifelong learner. To earn your recommended 20 credits, including two Standards, Ethics, and Regulations (SER) credits each year, choose activities that:
- are educational in nature,
- relate to learning topics derived from the Global Body of Investment Knowledge (GBIK®), or
- are geared toward increasing your knowledge, skills, and abilities as an investment professional.
In addition to the opportunities offered through CFA Institute and local societies, a range of activities may qualify:
Self-study
Take a self-directed approach by choosing content relevant to your job, selecting the formats you prefer, and setting your own pace.
Employer based
Claim PL credit for any in-house or eligible on-the-job training you receive through your employer.
Third-party offerings
Live events, university courses, webinars, technical readings, and more opportunities outside of those delivered by CFA Institute or local societies may be eligible for PL credit.
Access the PL Guidebook
Get an overview of PL and find additional information about how to earn and calculate credit, determine eligible activities, and document your participation.
Awarding your dedication
We applaud the hard work of our members who pursue lifelong learning. When you renew, we will ask you whether you can attest to earning the recommended 20 PL credits, including 2 SER credits, for the membership year. In recognition of your commitment to continuing professional development, we offer our members the following...
Participation certificate
All members who participate in the PL Program can request a printable electronic certificate of achievement.
Digital badges
Members who have attested to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 consecutive years of PL receive a digital badge from Accredible, our digital badge provider, to share on their websites or social media accounts.
Milestone certificates
After claiming their digital badges, members who have attested to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 consecutive years of continuing professional development can claim a digital certificate. A printed certificate can also be requested for milestones of 20 years or more.
CIPM mandatory professional learning
As a CIPM® designation holder, you are required to complete a minimum of 15 PL credits annually to maintain your designation.
-
Earn and record a minimum of 15 PL credits
Complete 15 credit hours of qualifying activities following the year in which you earned or renewed your CIPM designation, and record your progress.
-
Attest to completing the requirements
When you renew your membership, you will be prompted to attest to your completion of the minimum annual required PL credits.
-
Maintain your documentation
Keep documentation of your activities for one year following the year you completed the activities in case of compliance review.
Access the CIPM MPL Guidebook
Get an overview of the CIPM Mandatory Professional Learning program and find additional information about how to earn and calculate credit, determine eligible activities, and document your participation.
Frequently asked questions
- Which activities qualify for PL credit?
- How do I calculate my activities into PL credits?
- How do I record my PL credit?
- Which activities are automatically recorded?
- What content is eligible for SER credit?
- How do I indicate my participation?
- Can I carry over credits to next year?
- How can I verify my PL participation with my employer or regulator?
- Are my activities reviewed for compliance?
Professional learning resources
Explore our collection of educational resources designed to help you stay competitive in the investment management industry.