Continuing Professional Education Standard: Full text and Guidance

In accordance with article 10.b. of the bylaws of our Institute, the Board of Directors has decided to  put in place the Continuing Professional Education Standard for RFA-s. The Continuing Professional  Education Standard has been voted at the Annual Members Meeting of 27 March 2009.  

A.     Continuing Professional Education Standard (full text) 

Given Article 10, Paragraph B of the bylaws of the Institute of Forensic Auditors,  Given Article 9 of the Ethical Code of the Institute of Forensic Auditors, 

I. Principles 

Article 1 - The registered forensic auditor must over a period of three years spend a minimum of 120  effective hours, of which 20 at least per year, on activities which contribute to the furtherance of  his/her professional expertise.  

Article  2  -  The  registered  forensic  auditor  establishes  his/her  continuing  professional  education  programme  freely  taking  Article  3  into  consideration.  The  programme  includes  activities  which  contribute  directly  to  the  improvement  of  knowledge  in  the  fields  which  belong  to  the  forensic  auditor’s domain of expertise and must be put together in a balanced way. 

II. Continuing professional education 

Article 3 - The following activities contribute to the continuing professional education of registered  forensic auditors: 

1. Seminars and study days organised by the IFA; 
2. Seminars and study days organised by the public sector, universities or professional associations on a subject that is connected to the domain of expertise of the forensic auditors; 
3. Preparation of classes, paper presentations and publications on a subject that is connected to the domain of expertise of the forensic auditors; 
4. Active participation in IFA committees; 
5. Any other relevant PE-activity or training. 

The  Board  of  Directors  will  provide  further  Guidance  as  to  the  selection  of  activities,  the  balance  (article 2) and the minimum and maximum number of PE-points per activity. 

III. Control and sanctions 

Article 4 - The registered forensic auditor must retain an overview of his PE-points as well as the  appended justification documents (certificates issued at seminars, study days, etc.) for a period of five  years. They may be requested as a result of a control by or on behalf of the Board of Directors. 

Article  5  -  The  permanent  training  may  be  checked  by  the  Education  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors. Should there be shortcomings such as an insufficient number of hours, the non-compliance  of the type of training and missing justification documents, the Education Committee can extend the  control to previous years and issue the registered forensic auditor with recommendations in order to  help him/her comply with the present Standard. 

Article 6 - The established fact of not complying with this standard is considered as a shortcoming,  which  warrants  the  referral  of  the  registered  forensic  auditor  by  the  Education  Committee  to  the  Board of Directors, which in turn can obtain the Accreditation Committee’s recommendation. At the  recommendation  of  the  Education  Committee  and  the  recommendation,  where  provided,  of  the  Accreditation Committee, the accreditation as a registered forensic auditor may be withdrawn based  on the Board of Directors’ substantiated decision. 

Article 7 - PE points such as those usually granted, are put on a par with the hours as intended in this  Standard, unless the Board of Directors’ Education Committee decides to deviate from this practice in  certain cases. Half PE points and half hours do not amount to a whole PE point or whole hour. This  Standard will be voted by the General Assembly of 27 March 2009 and will take effect as of 1 April  2009. 

Explanation as regards the first term: 

Since the Standard takes effect on 1 April 2009, a reduction of three twelfths of the first year is  applied for the first term (3/12 x 40 hours = 10 hour reduction): 

- 2009: 20 hours minimum (unchanged) 

- 2009-2011: 110 hours minimum (120 hours minus 10 hours), 20 hours per year minimum 

- 2012 onwards: 120 hours per 3 years minimum, 20 hours per year minimum. 

B.     Guidance on obtaining PE-points  

Requirements 

120  PE-points  per  3  years,  with  a  minimum  of  20  PE-points  per  year.  The  number  of  PE-points  attributed by IFA for attending these courses corresponds to the number of hours of the program,  normally 2 (on-the-way-back-home-meeting), 4 (half day) or 8 (full day). 

Activities 

• Unlimited per year - Attending forensic audit trainings 
  
  
• min. 10 per year.  

1. 1. PE-points can be obtained at external trainings: IFA, other trainingagencies, conference institutes, in Belgium and abroad.
   2. PE-points can be obtained from in-house training.
      
      

• Max. 20 per year - Lecturing at forensic audit training (Idem) 
  
  
• Max. 10 per year - Writing articles and other publications on forensic audit 
  
  
• Max. 20 per year - Activities for IFA 

1. 1. organising trainings 
   2. activities in committees, board of directors, advisory board etc. 
   3. other.

In case of doubt whether an activity qualifies under the Continuing PE Standard, for example an in- house training program or a foreign seminar, please contact IFA to discuss. 

As you can see it is easy to obtain PE-points for any registered forensic auditor: young or old, rich or  poor, busy or retired, in Belgium or abroad. Cost is hardly a factor as there are inexpensive ways,  such as the activities for IFA and writing articles, that take only time, no cash-out. Furthermore in  2009 IFA launches their Forensic Audit Training Program, at a low cost per PE-point. Finally, larger  organisations that organise in-house trainings and newsletters can ask approval from IFA and register  under the PE-program. 

_______________