Internal Audit Education Center
This page contains the mandatory CPE requirements for CGAPs. It also specifies the method of reporting by CGAPs who wish to keep their designation in good standing.
NOTE: If you are a Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA)®, the CPE reporting that you complete for the CIA program satisfies the CPE reporting requirements for the CGAP and all other IIA specialty certifications. CPE reporting for specialty certifications requires that 25% of the hours earned must be in the specialty area of expertise.
CGAP professionals are responsible for:
CPE Requirement Regarding IIA International Standards
CPE Reporting Requirements for CGAPs
Certificate holders are required to self-certify as to the completion of the required continuing education hours. It is the CGAP's responsibility to assure that the CPE hours claimed conform to the guidelines established by the PCB. Forms are submitted by CGAPs on an annual basis and serve as signed statements that all applicable continuing professional development requirements have been met.
CGAPs may submit CPE reporting forms in The IIA's Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS). The reporting deadline is December 31 each year.
In order to facilitate reporting, CGAPs who also hold the CIA designation can satisfy the requirements of both programs by reporting appropriate CPE for the CIA designation only. The Institute will issue an acknowledgment of compliance to each CGAP meeting the requirements of this guidance. The Institute will keep information on the active/inactive status of CGAPs. The PCB, upon request, may grant partial or complete exemption from CPE requirements for individuals when good cause exists, such as military service or individual hardship.
Each CGAP should submit an appropriate CPE reporting form to The Institute, without supporting documentation, in compliance with CPE requirements. Each CGAP should maintain a copy of the CPE reporting form, along with all supporting documentation, for at least three years after the records no longer apply to filed CPE reports. Records must be made available to The Institute or its designee at The Institute's request. The records maintained by the CGAP in support of the reporting form filed with The Institute should include, as appropriate, the following information:
CGAP Reporting Categories
Category | Description/Requirements |
---|---|
Practicing CGAPs | A CGAP who is practicing government auditing must complete a total of 20 hours of acceptable CPE every year. |
Non-practicing CGAPs | A CGAP who is not practicing government auditing may request non-practicing status by notifying The IIA's Certification Department in writing. Non-practicing CGAPs must complete a total of 10 hours of acceptable CPE every year. As long as their CPE requirements are met, non-practicing CGAPs may use the CGAP designation; however, if they resume practicing government auditing, they must report as a practicing CGAP. |
Retired CGAPs | A CGAP who is not practicing government auditing because of retirement may request retired status by notifying The IIA's Certification Department in writing. Retired CGAPs are not responsible for completing CPE requirements. Retired CGAPs may use the CGAP designation; however, if they resume employment, they must report as a practicing or non-practicing CGAP, as appropriate. |
Inactive (Grace Period) Status | A CIA is automatically placed in inactive status by The IIA's Certification Department when the CIA fails to meet established CPE requirements. CIAs with an inactive status may not use the CIA designation. Any wrongful use of the CIA designation will be reported to The IIA's Ethics Committee for disciplinary action. The Individual must submit the prior year CPE report for the appropriate number of CPE hours. |
Reinstatement to Active Status | If an individual is inactive longer than 12 months, the individual will be required to report CPE hours at the status level that applies to their situation. (Refer to the CPE Reporting Statuses section in Administrative Directive No. 4). In addition, inactive CIAs will be required to pay the applicable reinstatement fee at the time of reporting. |
Qualifying CPE Activities
It is anticipated that CGAPs will maintain the high standards of the profession in selecting quality educational programs to fulfill the CPE requirements. The following general criteria are to be satisfied in order for a continuing education program to be accepted:
The CGAP Examination Topic Outline includes:
Activities other than those listed in this guidance may be deemed acceptable if the CGAP can demonstrate that they contribute to professional competence. Substantiating that a particular activity qualifies as acceptable and meets the requirements is the responsibility of the CGAP.
CPE credit will be awarded for whole hours only with a minimum of 50 minutes constituting one hour. As an example, 100 minutes of continuous instruction would count for two hours; however, more than 50 minutes but less than 100 minutes of continuous instruction would count for only one hour. Only class contact or acceptable self-study hours are allowable. For chapter meetings throughout the reporting period or continuous conferences/conventions when individual segments are less than 50 minutes, the sum of the segments should be considered one total program. For example, five 30-minute presentations would equal 150 minutes and should be counted as three contact hours.
CGAP Examination
Hours are awarded for the year in which the CGAP certification is earned. (Candidates receive 20 hours in the year the certification is awarded and 20 hours the subsequent year). The 40 CPE hours awarded for the CGAP certification are based on earning the certification, and are not NASBA-approved.
Education
A maximum of 20 CPE hours may be awarded in the education category each year. At least five of the 20 CPE hours required must be in this category.
Educational activities include:
Publications
A maximum of 10 hours may be awarded in the publications category each year for books, articles, research papers, and training materials. Generally, one full journal page of single-spaced print is equal to two hours of CPE credit.
Contributions to publications should pertain to government audit disciplines related to the CGAP Examination Topic Outline. Published articles or books not related directly to government audit are acceptable if CGAPs are able to demonstrate that these activities contribute to their professional proficiency.
The IIA's CPE program also allows certified individuals to earn CPE hours by readingInternal Auditor magazine articles and answering questions about them.
Translations
A maximum of 10 hours may be awarded in the publications category each year. Generally one full journal page of single-spaced print is equal to two hours of CPE credit, with the following limits on one translation:
Translations of publications should pertain to certification domains or disciplines related to the Common Body of Knowledge, and/or the specialty examination topic outlines. Translations of published articles or books not related directly to internal auditing are acceptable if the certified individual is able to demonstrate that these activities contribute to their professional audit proficiency.
Oral Presentations
A maximum of 10 CPE hours may be awarded in the oral presentation category each year.
The hours reported for the first presentation will be based on the presentation time, plus credit for preparation time equivalent to three times the presentation time.
Subsequent presentations of the same material may be reported as presentation time only, up to a maximum of five CPE hours each year.
Participation
A maximum of 10 CPE hours may be awarded in the participation category each year for participation as an officer or committee member in a professional industry organization related to government auditing. One CPE hour for each hour of qualifying participation will be awarded.
External Quality Assessments
A maximum of 10 CPE hours may be awarded each year in the category of external quality assurance review activities. One CPE hour will be awarded for each hour spent on site, with the following limits on any one quality assurance review activity:
No CPE hours will be awarded for activities such as preparation time and writing the report.
Programs on Audit-related Issues
Most local IIA chapters offer programs on audit-related issues and provide CPE credit for those attending.
CPE Audit Process
On a test basis, The Institute will verify the records of CGAPs and/or course sponsors in a manner deemed appropriate to determine compliance with the requirements set forth in this guidance. The potential penalty for submitting false information will be determined in accordance with the administrative directive, Disciplinary Policies and Procedures.