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We’re excited to announce some important changes to our professional development program that will come into effect on 15 October 2025.
From that date, we are replacing our Director Professional Development (DPD) program with a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program. Instead of earning ‘units’ by attending events and educational courses, members will instead accrue ‘points’.
But it’s more than just a name change.
CPD is a term used by many professional bodies and membership organisations in Australia and internationally. It emphasises the importance of continual learning for professionals.
It’s a way of ensuring that you remain at the forefront of contemporary governance and is integral to our purpose statement of benefiting society through world class governance.
Why the change?
Feedback from members about the DPD program indicated widespread confusion about how units are accrued over a rolling three-year term.
Many of you suggested it would be easier to track if we switched to the more common procedure of annual totals instead. Very few advocated to retain the three-year tally!
What’s changing?
The new program will also make it simpler for AICD members to track their points as they will be tallied annually instead of over three years.
Until now, you have been required to earn 60 units over three years, but in future you’ll need to earn 20 points per year.
There are many ways to earn points including:
VIEWING WEBINARS
Live and/or recorded, our webinars are an efficient way to fuel your knowledge on current governance issues.
Enrolling in our Courses
Our calendar of flagship courses, short courses and programs covers various areas of governance and stages of directorship.
Attending AICD Events
Events are a great way to earn CPD units while gaining unrivalled insights, making new connections and nurturing existing ones.
Reading Company Director Magazine
Australia's leading magazine for directors, with all the news and features on the legal, economic and strategic issues affecting your board.
Listening to AICD Podcasts
Whether you're a seasoned director or starting your governance career, these podcasts will give you valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of the modern boardroom and economy.
Another helpful change is that attending the Company Directors Course, which previously gave you 50 DPD points spread over two years, will now be worth 60 points over three years.
Transition Period
To help with the move to CPD points, there will be a transition period until 31 October 2026.
That means, at your next renewal, you can either have earnt:
- 60 units over your current three-year period, or
- 20 points in your current membership year (from your last renewal to your next renewal).
After that date, the requirement will be 20 points per membership year.
After 15 October 2025, you may notice that your CPD total is less than your previous DPD total because only those units or points earned since your last renewal will be shown. However, at your next renewal, we will still accept every unit or point that you have accrued in your current three-year period.
You can calculate your CPD tally over your last three-year rolling period by looking in the CPD History tab in your CPD Dashboard and adding up your points from your renewal date two years ago to now.
Member Transition Example
The member below is due to renew on 30 June 2026.
Her current three-year DPD period is from 1/07/2023 – 30/06/2026.
- She has met the 60 DPD unit requirement over her rolling three-year period with a total of 80 DPD units.
- On 15 October her CPD dashboard will show as 0 CPD points, but that’s OK.
- She does not need to meet the new 20 CPD points in her current membership year of 1/07/2025 – 30/06/2026, because she meets her current three-year DPD requirement.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which we are located and pay our respects to Elders, past and present. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.
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