General Introduction
1. Who are required to comply with the HKIB CPD Scheme (Scheme)?
All HKIB professional qualification holders, including the following, are required to comply with the Scheme.
— AHKIBTM (Associate of The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers)
— CP (Certified Professional - Credit/ Operations/ Treasury/ Wealth Management)
— ABP (Accredited Banking Practitioner) and
— CFMPTM (Certified Financial Management Planner)
2. What are the requirements of the Scheme?
For AHKIBTM, CP and CFMPTM holders:
It is required to fulfill 15 CPD hours every calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
For ABP holders:
It is required to fulfill 5 CPD hours every calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
Any excess CPD hours accumulated within a particular year cannot be carried forward to any other year. Of the above-mentioned 15 CPD hours for AHKIBTM, CP and CFMPTM holders, at least 5 CPD hours must be earned from activities related to topics of “compliance, code of conduct, professional ethics or risk management”.
Qualified CPD Activities
3. What are the scopes of qualified CPD activities?
The scopes of qualified CPD activities are as follows:
— compliance, code of conduct, professional ethics or risk management (At least 5 CPD hours is required)
— banking and financial knowledge
— economics
— accounting
— legal principles
— business and people management
— language and information technology
— subject areas covered in HKIB professional examinations
4. What are the natures of qualified CPD activities?
The natures of qualified CPD activities can be broadly categories into two types as follows:
— Training activities, academic or professional qualifications studies
— Non-training activities, including
- Serving as a member of committees and working groups of HKIB, government bodies or any other relevant professional bodies
- Writing of published technical research articles, papers or books
- Community / voluntary activities
- Mentoring scheme appointed by tertiary institutes, government bodies or professional bodies
(provided that they are within the scopes specified in Question 3)
5. Can self-study or reading journals be counted as qualified CPD activities?
Self-study or reading journals cannot be counted as qualified CPD activities. However, e-learning with proof of attendance or assessment record can be counted as qualified CPD activities provided that it is within the qualified scopes.
6. How to count the CPD hours of e-learning?
One learning hour is equal to one CPD hour with proof of attendance or assessment record.
Keeping CPD Records
7. What kind of documents do I need to keep for attending training activities?
You need to keep supporting documents, such as (1) attendance record / attendance certificate / assessment record, (2) course outline and (3) HKIB CPD Records Form.
8. What kind of documents do I need to keep for my academic or professional qualifications studies?
For both studies, you need to keep supporting documents, such as (1) transcript / result slip and (3) HKIB CPD Records Form. You need to pass at least one subject in a particular year in order to be granted the 15 CPD hours for that particular year, provided that at least 5 hours should be related to the scopes of compliance, code of conduct, professional ethics or risk management.
9. What kind of documents do I need to keep for participating in non-training activities?
You need to keep supporting documents, such as (1) appointment letter with specific roles identified / minutes of the meeting / published articles, etc. and (2) HKIB CPD Records Form for non-training activities.
10. Do I need to submit any supporting documents yearly?
No, you are not required to submit any supporting documents yearly. However, you are required to maintain supporting documentary evidence for at least 3 years for random audit by HKIB. For supporting documents required, please refer to Question 7, Question 8 and Question 9.
11. Do I need to submit the CPD Records Form yearly?
No, you are not required to submit the CPD Records Form yearly. The CPD Records Form is designed to facilitate you to keep the record of your own CPD activities and must be completed for random audit by HKIB.
12. How does the Institute know that I have complied with the CPD requirement?
Through a self-declaration process, you are required to declare your compliance of CPD Scheme during membership renewal at the end of each year. At the same time, we will conduct a random audit and the members identified will be asked to provide proof such as attendance certificate / assessment record, course outlines and CPD Records Form, etc.
13. If my employer does not issue any certificate of attendance for the in-house programs, how can I prove?
If you are selected for the random audit, you will need to ask your employer to provide you the supporting documents.
Non-Compliance
14. What are the consequences if I cannot comply with the CPD requirement?
Failure to comply with the CPD requirements will result in suspension of professional designations during which you must stop using the professional designation until the necessary documents confirming the fulfillment of CPD requirements are submitted. While your professional designation is being suspended, your name will not appear on the online HKIB Professional Qualifications Register.
Exemption
15. Under what circumstances can one be exempted from CPD Scheme?
HKIB professional qualification holders, including AHKIBTM / CP / ABP / CFMPTM, who cannot comply with the CPD requirements for health reasons, retirement from employment or other circumstances beyond control, may apply for exemption.
16. Can I be exempted from CPD Scheme if I am no longer working in the banking and financial services industry?
If you still want to use the professional designations, you are required to fulfill the HKIB CPD requirement.
