Recertification and continued professional development (CPD) help the trade finance sector – and those who work within it – to maintain high professional standards. This is essential in the ever-evolving trade finance landscape.
But what counts as a CPD activity? How can you log your hours? And how can you capitalise on your CPD to become an ‘Advocate’, or work towards the Diploma for Qualified Trade Finance Specialists?
Which trade finance qualifications require recertification?
You are required to carry out CPD or recertify for the following trade finance qualifications:
After you pass a trade finance exam, your designation remains valid for three years.
How can I recertify for CDCS, CSDG, CSCF or CTFC?
You have two options.
You can either carrying out continuous professional development (CPD) throughout the recertification period. Or you can retake – and pass – the full exam for the qualification designation you want to keep using.
How much CPD should I do to recertify?
One hour of learning is equal to one CPD learning hour. You need to do 36 hours of CPD over a period of three years, or six years if you’re a ‘CDCS Advocate’. CPD activities should build on your current knowledge and relate to:
- trade finance for CDCS, CSDG and CSCF
- trade finance compliance for CTFC.
What’s a CDCS Advocate?
We’ve been running the CDCS Advocate programme for many years and are now extending it to CTFC, CSCF and CSDG. Once you've completed five recertification cycles, we’ll present you with Advocate status automatically. This includes:
- an extended recertification period – you’ll only have to recertify every six years instead of every three
- a pin badge and certificate, and
- the right to use the ‘Advocate’ designation after your name.
Where can I find trade finance CPD activities?
Everyone’s learning style is different, so we – and our external providers – offer CPD in different formats to help you find something appropriate, including:
- webinars
- podcasts
- conferences
- insights, comment and analysis
- accredited courses offered by our external providers
- Financial World magazine.
You may also complete your CPD by studying for an additional trade finance qualification. For example, passing the CSDG exam would allow you to gain 30 learning hours towards your CDCS recertification. You’ll find more details about this in your MyLIBF.
How to log trade finance CPD
If you’re a member of the LIBF or you’re in the recertification cycle, you can keep an accurate record of your CPD hours on your MyLIBF account.
Log into your MyLIBF account and click on ‘MyCPD’ in the top navigation bar. You can log details of your CPD, including the activity and how you benefited from doing it. You should also upload supporting documents as evidence of your CPD achievements.
You can get more detailed instructions and a video demonstration of how to log your CPD on the CPD for Trade Finance Professionals page.
Diploma for Qualified Trade Finance Specialists (QTFS)
If you prefer to complete your CPD by studying trade finance qualifications, you may consider working towards the QTFS. To qualify, you’ll need to successfully complete and maintain a specific combination of three of our trade and transaction banking qualifications.
Related content
More about CPD for trade finance professionals
More about the Diploma for Qualified Trade Finance Specialists