Continuing Professional Education

The Notaries (Continuing Professional Education) Regulations 2021 came into force on 31 December 2021.

The Regulations require notaries to undertake Continuing Professional Education (CPE) – i.e. to participate in activities which ensure the notary keeps up with changes in the law and best professional practice. The CPE Regulations must be complied with before a Practicing Certificate will be issued each year. CPE must be carried out in the area of Notarial Practice by all notaries. Notaries carrying out Conveyancing and Probate activities in their capacity as notaries will also need to complete CPE in these areas.

50% of the CPE activities a notary carries out must be activities accredited by the Faculty Office. Accredited activities must be either physical attendance at a lecture or seminar, or participation in a course which is provided partly or wholly at a distance that involves written assessment.

Some FAQs about Continuing Professional Education can be found here. 

Schedule 1 of the 2021 Regulations sets out which activities may contribute towards (non-accredited) CPE.

The CPE Regulations do not apply to newly-qualified Notaries, as they are covered by separate provisions for Post-Admission Education whilst under supervision.

The CPE Record Form, a copy of which must be submitted each year with the application for a Practising Certificate, can be downloaded here. 

A notary or course provider may make an application for accreditation of an activity for CPE. It is advisable to make such an application in the format suggested by the Faculty Office, to ensure that all the relevant data is supplied at the outset and the application can be considered efficiently. This application form can be downloaded here.

If there is any doubt as to whether an activity has been accredited by the Faculty Office for CPE, check with the provider first. The Faculty Office will also confirm, on request, whether an activity is accredited.