Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is continuous learning in order to retain and improve the levels of competency required for professional practice. It means that SAIS members keep abreast of developments in the industry on a regular basis. This learning includes the development of knowledge, the application of knowledge, the development of practical skills and the understanding and application of legislative and regulatory requirements and ethical norms. 

All members of the SAIS are required to complete 30 hours of CPD per cycle, in order to retain their designation, e.g. CSb(SA). In addition, members are responsible for maintaining a record of their CPD. Each CPD cycle starts on 1 June and ends 31 May.

In assisting members to obtain and record their CPD, the SAIS, in partnership with The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) has provided its members with an on-line CPD platform and access to local as well as international CPD. SAIS members have access to a joint SAIS-CISI portal where they can access international (CISI) as well as local (SAIS) CPD material. The reporting of CPD on this portal is mandatory for all SAIS members. SAIS members are required to monitor and manage their own CPD logs. Courses done on the portal will be automatically recorded in the CPD log. Any other CPD events/activities have to be recorded manually in the log. Members have to ensure that they log the required number of hours before the end of each CPD year. 

CPD falls into two categories:

• Structured CPD1 – 10 - 20 hours required (depending on designation); and
• Unstructured CPD2 – 5 - 10 hours required (depending on designation). 

Structured CPD, also known as verifiable CPD means that the hours that a member logs can be verified independently. This can be through means of a certificate of attendance, an assessment, a register of attendance etc.

For more information, refer to the SAIS CPD Policy.