Friday July 04 2008

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

1. INTRODUCTION

It is the policy of the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) that Members should keep abreast of changing legislation and case law reports relevant to the profession of writing Wills and Estate Planning.

Members of the Institute must be prepared and informed so that they can meet the obligations necessary to provide the best possible service to their clients.

The Institute recognises the need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a scheme has been introduced to meet all the following requirements :-

1. 1. It is relevant to the needs of Members in their field of work;
   2. It is flexible to cater for particular circumstances of Members;
   3. It does not create onerous demands on time;
   4. It is not administratively burdensome;
   5. It is available at reasonable cost

2. BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF SCHEME

1. The minimum requirement for Full Members is for 20 hours CPD per year of which 12 hours must be structured training and 8 hours unstructured training or study.
2. Associate Members are required to complete 4 hours structured training per year.
3. The CPD year will commence on the date of passing the Entrance Eaxmination and will end one calendar year later.

3. EXCEPTIONS

The Executive Committee of the IPW have discretionary powers to reduce the number of CPD hours (pro-rata in any year) for any Member where there is good reason for the CPD not being completed. Examples of such good reason are ill-health, non-practising work break, temporarily engaged in other full-time work.

4. STRUCTURED TRAINING

Attendance at conferences, seminars, workshops, discussion meetings or similar events where CPD hours are assigned.

5. UNSTRUCTURED TRAINING

1. Reading and Research
2. All learning media provided by the IPW or by another authorised provider whether or not in conjunction with video support and computer-based training packages.

6. NON-CORE SUBJECTS

1. Structured and Unstructured training must of course relate to the field of Wills, Estates and related work.
2. It is appreciated that Members must often keep up to date on other related topics of law and financial services and such other study should form no more than 25% of the CPD requirements.

7. CPD REQUIREMENTS OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL BODIES

1. It is appreciated that members of the Institute may also be members of other professional bodies having CPD (or its equivalent) requirements or recommendations.
2. Where a Member is also undertaking CPD for an appropriate organisation namely The Law Society, ILEX or STEP the CPD hours undertaken through such other organisation will count towards the IPW's CPD hours provided that they are relevant to Willwriting. This will include attendance at conferences and courses accredited to the bodies mentioned.

8. RECORDS

1. Members should keep their own records of the CPD they undertake on a Personal Record Sheet. Completion of this record is not compulsory and CPD requirements will be met provided the Member can produce records to demonstrate compliance.
2. Where a Member attends a training meeting (other than provided by the IPW) and where no charge is made for attendance, a record should be kept for CPD purposes. Where a charge is made, a copy invoice can be kept.

9. FAILURE TO MEET THE CPD REQUIREMENTS

1. If a Member fails to meet the requirements in a particular year the following aspects need to be considered:-
2. 1. He/she will be required to achieve a specified number of CPD hours in the following year, in order to meet the requirements over the two year averaging period.
   2. Any investigation into a complaint made about a Member will involve checking that Member's CPD records.
   3. Any exceptions will be considered and taken into account.
3. The Executive Committee may consider what further action is appropriate if a Member fails to meet the requirements over a two year averaging period.