CPD for MIPs

System
System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 9 in AAT member discussion
Although the AAT CPD courses are always very good quality, and a great networking opportunity, the topics are of a general nature and the locations and timings are not always convenient.
As members in practice, how do other participants in this forum ensure they know all they should know in order to provide the best possible service to their clients? When working alone, or with a small team, we do not have the luxury of a technical specialist or unlimited time in which to browse for relevant updates.
In short - how do you know what you don't know?

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs

    I have not, but I would recommend attending some of the HMRC workshops which are free of charge.
    Topics such as:

    Becoming Self- Employed
    Self Assessment for the Self-Employed
    Setting up a Ltd Company
    Paying Your Employees Part 1 & 2
    Construction Industry Scheme

    I've been on a few of these courses and found them very informative. I realise AAT is just the beginning.

    I only have the London number for booking but call for more information
    020 7667 4827

    Also the HMRC website has so much information, if you have a spare 30mins just have a look at various topics.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs

    It's easy for me in a main Government Department because we have Certificates in Resource Management/Finance Licenses which we have to get every 3 years, passing tests based on competence frameworks which are defined in incredible detail for every skill area. We also have 6-monthly assessments against the skills frameworks. There are 2-day courses, in depth, for up to 6 areas of detailed financial competence.

    I do wonder, with the new mandatory CPD requirement being proposed for all Full Members, whether the courses offered by the AAT's trainers will be detailed enough - your post does seem to indicate they are very general. This is worrying (though not to me, obviously, but I do wonder about other members particularly those not actually in a job yet!)
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs

    Hi

    Sheelagh, have you had a look at Learn Direct (www.learndirect.co.uk)? There are online courses that you can take your own pace at. Also Stonebridge Associated Colleges (www.stonebridge.uk.com) do variety of short courses by distance learning. The best ones to look at are the 'Skills Course' courses in the Business, Management, Law and Security section as these are more affordable and are formaly acredited by ASET.

    As for the AAT courses being of sufficient detail, since they are currently recognised as CPD for anyone under a mandatory requirement (i.e. MIP), there is no reason to think that they wont be if mandatory CPD is brought in for all members. Also, any madatory CPD (current or proposed) is based on content and quality - i.e. it needs to meet the CPD needs of the member (i.e. based on current and needed skills, career devlopment etc) and not just a course attended to notch up the hours!

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs
    NeilH wrote:
    Also, any madatory CPD (current or proposed) is based on content and quality - i.e. it needs to meet the CPD needs of the member (i.e. based on current and needed skills, career devlopment etc) and not just a course attended to notch up the hours!

    That is why I am puzzled by Sheelagh's contention that "Although the AAT CPD courses are always very good quality, and a great networking opportunity, the topics are of a general nature". Certainly, generalist training is not admissable where I work (civil service).
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs

    Hmm

    Depends what you mean by general though, (1) general as in broad range in content or (2) general in that the course itself is topic specific but could apply to a wide variety of people?

    What AAT courses I have seen available would fall into the second catagory. Take for instance a VAT course, quite general in that it applies to a lot of people, but still specific enough to allow you to keep your occupational development up to date (i.e. with curent VAT regs).

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs


    If you want relevant CPD hours for free then try attending free members meetings organized by other professional bodies such as Chartered Institute of Taxation (CTA), ACCA, ICAEW etc. For example, CTA's webpage here will give you details of branches near to you and you can contact them for events in your area:

    http://www.tax.org.uk/showarticle.pl?id=226&n=3601

    I attend CTA's, ACCA's and ICAEW's in the London area.

    The meetings are free and open to all interested people. You don't have to belong to that body. The only requirement is that you don't come in jeans, trainers and baseball caps/hoodies as it upsets everybody!.

    Hope this proves useful.


  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs

    I have been wondering how to get more useful CPD myself.
    I do mostly book-keeping for accountant practices, I've done the HMRC free courses, and attended some software specific seminars, but most of the CPD courses are not convenient to me, and the topics are not relevant to the work I do!

    Having to do 10 hours minimum in a year & 30 over 2 years is worrying me!

    Any suggestions please?

    Thansk.
    Di
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs

    The recent proposed changes to CPD are both a worry and a relief to me. I will be interested to see how much flexibility there is in the planning requirement.
    As a freelance bookkeeper my main aim is to ensure I know all I need to know in order to complete my clients' books and to record and caluclate VAT and payroll, accurately. This means that each time I take on a new client I identify my CPD needs and address those needs very quickly. This CPD may include (for example) learning new software, researching specific areas of VAT, or learning how to complete CIS returns. If I am compelled to plan a year in advance I will be unable to predict these very specific knowledge gaps and might also attend courses which turn out to be irrelevant.
    I do attend some AAT courses and find them very interesting. Even if they are not entirely relevant to the services I provide the knowledge gained has been useful for some of my clients. The remainder of my CPD is from internet research, HMRC literature and help lines, and distance learning.
    Do you learn much from the practices you work for - I would have thought on the job training is the best kind of CPD for you.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:CPD for MIPs

    I think it depends on they practice(s) you work for.
    The one I sub-contract to is excellent for training. I have been invited to quite a few courses which has been great for me. I have also learned a lot as I have had exposure to things such as CIS, redundancy issues and complex tax issues which have helped both with my personal development and my ACCA which I have started.
    I agree on the job training and experience can't be substituted and is the best way of learning. College and books are good but nothing can beat hands on experience.

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