APSCA

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT (CPD) HANDBOOK

APSCA CPD HANDBOOK

CONTENTS

Introduction

1. WHAT IS CPD?

3

A. Purpose

3

B. Objectives

3

2. CPD REQUIREMENTS

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

3. MEMBER AUDITOR STATUS AND CPD REQUIREMENTS

4. TIMELINE FOR CPD REQUIREMENTS

5. CPD CATEGORIES AND DETAILED INFORMATION

6. FINDING YOUR CPD LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

A. APSCA CPD On-Demand Courses

B. APSCA Recognized Training Courses

C. Independent Courses

D. Claiming CPD hours by developing training material

E. Training an ASCA during an Onsite Audit

F. Self-Study

7. MEMBER FIRMS AND TRAINING ORGANIZATION -

How to Submit a Course for CPD Recognized Training

11

Appendix A: Additional Resources and Contacts

Appendix B: Sample CPD Portfolio

Appendix C: Resources for Independent Courses

Appendix D: Resources for Self Study

15

16

17

18

19

Appendix E: Sample Ethics CPD Approval Matrix

APSCA CPD Handbook

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to APSCA’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Handbook. This document

is a supplementary resource to the Continuous Professional Development Policy (CPD Policy

D-105), designed to help professionals understand and implement effective CPD requirements.

Whether you are a Member Auditor, a Member Firm, or a training organization looking to submit

a course for Recognized Training status, this guide provides essential information and practical

insights to help you navigate the APSCA CPD Policy with clarity and ease.

1. WHAT IS CPD?

CPD involves the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the knowledge and skills

required to conduct social compliance audits effectively and professionally. This may

include improving areas identified in APSCA CSCA Exam Reports, deepening knowledge of

emerging issues, or advancing expertise in specific areas.

CPD activities can include formal education like instructor-led courses, workshops, or

seminars, as well as informal methods such as work-based learning. Self-directed study,

including e-learning courses and structured reading, also counts as CPD.

CPD can be provided by companies specializing in such training (e.g., commercial training

providers, independent coaches), or provided internally by a Member Firm, Collaborative

Programs, partners, and affiliates.

A. PURPOSE: The purpose of CPD training is to ensure that CSCAs maintain and enhance

their knowledge, skills, and competence throughout their careers. It is designed to keep

professionals apprised of emerging issues with the latest advancements in the social

auditing industry.

B. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of CPD training include:

•

Enhancing Competence: To improve and maintain professional competence by

acquiring new skills and knowledge.

•

Professional Growth: To support career progression and opportunities for

professional growth to attain a higher level of expertise

•

Ethical Standards: To uphold ethical standards and responsibilities within the profession.

Innovation and Adaptation: To foster innovation and the ability to adapt to changes

in industry standards, regulations, and advancement on emerging issues.

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2. CPD REQUIREMENTS

A CSCA must complete 48 hours of CPD per year, including 32 hours of training and 16

hours of onsite auditing.

Mandatory Training: A CSCA must complete at least 2 hours of Mandatory Ethics and

integrity-related training on the Recognized Training Course.

Elective Training: A CSCA must complete at least 30 hours of training and learning

activities per year, including two categories: Recognized Training and Independent

Submission.

– Recognized Training: A CSCA must complete between 18 and 30 hours of courses

from the Recognized Training Course List. While you can take more than 30 hours

of CPD from this list, any hours beyond 30 cannot be applied to previous years or

carried over to future years.

DID YOU KNOW?

Each Recognized Training Course only contributes towards your CPD

requirements once. CPD is designed to continuously expand your skills and

knowledge, and repeating the same course annually may not effectively

support this objective.

– Independent Submission: A CSCA can submit training courses or learning activities

that align with APSCA’s learning objectives but have not been recognized by APSCA.

o A CSCA may claim a maximum of 12 hours of Independent Submission.

o Independent Submission includes the following learning activities. For a more

detailed explanation of the maximum requirement, refer to APSCA Continuous

Profession Development (CPD) Policy D-105 section 2.4.2.

Independent Courses

Training material development

Training an ASCA

Self-study

For Example

To meet the Elective Training requirement, a CSCA may complete:

30 Hours of Recognized Training, or

25 Hours of Recognized Training + 5 Hours of Independent Submission = 30 Hours, or

18 Hours of Recognized Training + 12 Hours Independent Submission = 30 Hours

Note: Provided the minimum 18 Hours of Recognized Training is met, the remaining 12 hour

requirement can be met with either Recognized Training or Independent Submission.

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Table 1: CPD Requirements

Minimum

Requirement

CPD Category

Training Type and Description

Mandatory Training 2 hours

Ethics & Integrity Training

Two categories:

•ꢀ APSCA Recognized Training a minimum of

18 and up to 30 hours of APSCA Recognized

Training courses.

Elective Training

Onsite Audits¹

30 hours

•ꢀ Independent Submission – up to 12 hours of

learning activities including the combination

of Independent Courses, Training Material

Development, Training an ASCA, and Self-study.

A minimum of Two (2) onsite audit¹days totaling

16 hours

16 hours.

CSCAs should include a balanced and diverse learning portfolio. A balanced portfolio

should include courses that sharpen the various skills listed in the APSCA Competency

Framework and address emerging issues in social compliance.

Refer to APPENDIX B – SAMPLE CPD PORTFOLIO for an example of a year worth of

CPD for a CSCA, which includes a wide variety of learning activities.

3. MEMBER AUDITOR STATUS AND CPD REQUIREMENTS

Below are the various Member Auditor statuses and the CPD requirements.

ASCA – there is no requirement to provide CPD credits while taking the exams

as an ASCA

CSCA – existing CSCAs must meet the full CPD requirement annually to

maintain their CSCA level as described in Section 2 of the CPD Policy D-105

New CSCA - CPD requirements take effect once a Member Auditor becomes a

CSCA. New CSCAs must complete 2 hours of Mandatory Ethics training at any

time during the calendar year. Elective Training and Onsite Audit requirements are

calculated on a pro-rata basis from the date of becoming a CSCA until the end

of the calendar year. As such, training and audits for these categories can only be

entered if completed after the date of becoming a CSCA.

Inactive CSCA – Auditors who require a hiatus may do so by changing to

‘Inactive’ status.Inactive CSCAs must complete 2 hours of Mandatory Ethics

training and 50% of the Elective Training requirement for the period they are

Inactive.Inactive CSCAs have no onsite audit requirement as they are unable to

audit whilst Inactive. If an Auditor is Inactive for a portion of the year, their CPD

requirement will be pro-rated accordingly

1

Onsite audit should meet the deﬁnition of APSCA’s Social Compliance Audit.

Refer to APSCA Glossary of Terms.

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In Table 2 below, it demonstrates the CPD requirement for each of the Membership Status in

various situations:

Table 2: CPD Requirements

CPD Hour Requirement

CSCA

Category

ASCA

For the full

Since

Inactive for the

full year

calendar year

1 September

Mandatory Ethics

Elective Training

Onsite Audit

2

9

5

2

15

0

Not

30

16

Required

4. TIMELINE FOR CPD REQUIREMENTS

Several key dates are crucial for CSCAs to remember to ensure they meet the CPD requirements.

CSCAs are strongly encouraged to attend training courses throughout the year and record

CPD hours in ‘MY ACCOUNT’ as soon as a training course is completed. This is to avoid

rushing to record at the last minute.

DID YOU KNOW?

After January 15, you cannot delete or make changes to your CPD entries for

the previous year.

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APSCA CPD Handbook

6. FINDING YOUR CPD LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

There are a wide range of avenues to fulfill your CPD requirements.

A. APSCA CPD On-Demand Courses

In an effort to support the continuous professional development of our Member Auditors,

APSCA invites partners to share their areas of expertise with our Members throughout the

year. Many of the sessions are recorded and available in the CPD On-Demand portal at any

time and free of charge.

CLICK HERE to register to the CPD On-Demand portal to take advantage of this fabulous way

of learning from the industry experts.

DID YOU KNOW?

For each On-Demand course there is no requirement to upload proof of

attendance as your view time is automatically tracked in the portal. Ensure

to complete the course in its entirety to claim the full CPD credit.

Select Delivery Method ‘CPD On-Demand” when entering the course to your

portfolio to bypass the requirement to upload veriﬁcation.

B. APSCA Recognized Training Courses

APSCA Member Firms, partners, and affiliates submit courses to us regularly to be

considered as a Recognized Training Course.

Many Member Firms develop and conduct these Recognized Training Courses for internal

staff only (e.g. employed/subcontractor/freelance auditors). However, some Member Firms

and training organizations offer Recognized Training courses to the public. A LIST of these

publicly available Recognized Training is available on our website.

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C. Independent Courses

When assessing if an Independent Course meets the CPD requirement, use the same

criteria applied to Recognized Training courses, as below:

□ Objectives: The course should build your social compliance auditing skills and

knowledge, meet your professional development goals, or enable you to specialize

in certain areas of expertise.

□ Relevancy: The course content and subject should align with the Foundational Skills

and Functional Knowledge Areas in the APSCA Competency Framework.

□ Documentation: the course provider provides training materials, outlines of the

course, certificate of completion, attendance record, and/or learning notes.

Any documents submitted as your CPD records should include your name, your APSCA

Member Number, date, and duration. Additional information may be required based on the

CPD Category.

Independent Courses can be found in a wide variety of areas, including Audit Firms,

Collaborative Programs, international organizations, non-for-profit organizations, training

organizations, etc.

Refer to APPENDIX C – RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENT COURSES for a list of

organizations where you can obtain additional training, resources, research,

publications, videos, podcasts, etc. The list provides guidance on additional

resources but is not exhaustive.

D. Claiming CPD hours by developing training material

CSCAs can claim CPD hours when developing training materials that are relevant to

social compliance auditing, align with APSCA Competency Framework, and focus on any

emerging issues in the social compliance industry.

We recognize that the development of any training requires extensive knowledge, research

of information, reconsideration, and revision, hence a CSCA can claim 3 CPD hours for each

hour of training created.

Additionally, CSCAs can claim CPD hours for presenting training. The number of CPD

claimed should match the time spent presenting.

A maximum of 9 hours per year can be claimed in this category.

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E. Training an ASCA during an Onsite Audit

The best way to learn is by teaching others, as it reinforces your own knowledge and

helps you gain new insights through the process of explaining and guiding. CSCAs are

encouraged to train ASCAs.

CSCAs can claim CPD hours for providing training activities to ASCAs, including but not limited to:,

Shadowing an ASCA conducting the audit process

Mentoring an ASCA by providing guidance, support, and explanation to develop their

auditing skills and knowledge

Providing hands-on demonstration of the audit process and components

Providing constructive feedback on performance and areas of improvement

Reviewing the audit report completed by an ASCA

These activities are designed to integrate learning through practical demonstration and

explanation.

CSCAs can claim 2 CPD hours per audit day when training an ASCA, up to a maximum of

8 hours per year.

F. Self-Study

The self-study subcategory allows CSCAs to control their learning pace by reviewing

publications, books, podcasts, videos, white papers and other resources related to the

topics in the APSCA Competency Framework.

Refer to APPENDIX D – RESOURCES FOR SELF STUDY for a sample list of

organizations that offer excellent learning opportunities. The list provides

guidance on additional resources but is not exhaustive.

When submitting self-study activities, upload Learning Notes as a record of

your learning. A fillable LEARNING NOTES TEMPLATE is available to assist you in

recording your learning.

Refer to APPENDIX E – SAMPLE LEARNING NOTES.

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7. MEMBER FIRMS AND TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS

How to Submit a Course for CPD Recognized Training

The process for approving training courses has been significantly improved, enhanced, and

streamlined. Our updated procedure is designed to make it easier and more efficient to

submit courses for approval, with clear and straightforward requirements.

These enhancements ensure that you can now submit your course for approval with

greater clarity and ease. The new process simplifies each step, providing a more

transparent path from submission to approval.

There are five steps for a Member Firm or a training organization to submit their courses to

be a Recognized Training:

Step 1 Determine whether the course meets the CPD criteria

Step 2 Prepare the submission documents and information

Step 3 Submit the course through the application process

Step 4 The course is reviewed by the APSCA CPD Team

Step 5 The application process is completed with the approval decision.

1. Determine

2. Prepare

3. Submit

4. Review

5. Approve

STEP 1: Determine the course meets the CPD Course criteria by completing the checklist:

□ Objectives: The course is designed and aligned with the objectives of APSCA’s CPD

expectation.

□ Relevancy: The course content and subject are relevant to the Foundational Skills

and Functional Knowledge Areas in the APSCA Competency Framework.

□ Alignment: The course promotes professional development goals.

□ Quality of Content: The course should be accurate, up-to-date, and based on

reliable sources.

□ Qualification of instructors and presenters: Instructors should possess relevant

expertise, qualifications, and experience in the subject matter.

□ Documentation: the course provider should submit the comprehensive

documentation for approval.

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STEP 2: Prepare the submission documents, with the following checklist items:

□ Course materials such as slides, handouts, training manuals, video recordings,

e-learning courses, storyboards, etc.

□ Evidence supporting the number of CPD hours requested, such as the course

agenda with the breakdown of time for each training topic.

□ Evidence supporting relevancy to the APSCA Competency Framework, such as the

course outline, course syllabus, course activities, tests/quizzes/exams, etc.

□ Trainer credentials demonstrating experience, expertise, and qualifications, such as

resume, APSCA ID number, etc.

□ Other supplemental materials, such as training certificates, attendance records

(including auditors’ name, APSCA ID, time of training, signature of the trainer),

feedback forms, etc.

Trainer Requirement for Recognized Training:

To effectively deliver the Recognized Training, trainers should hold relevant knowledge and

have substantial practical experience on the training topic. Strong communication and

presentation skills are essential to engage participants and facilitate interactive learning.

Additionally, trainers must be adept at assessing learners’ needs and adapting their

methods to suit diverse learning styles, ensuring that the content remains relevant and

impactful.

If an individual Member Auditor seeks to host or serve as a Trainer for a Recognized Training,

the Member Auditor should be In Good Standing per APSCA Auditor Membership Status

Policy and have achieved CSCA status.

STEP 2: Submit the course through

Recognized Training Application

Form

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DID YOU KNOW?

The Application Form uses the SMARTSHEET app. If SMARTSHEET does not

work due to ﬁrewall issues, use the following alternative method:

Step 1: Click and complete APPLICATION TO RECOGNISE CPD - ALTERNATE FORM

Step 2: An email will be sent to you with instructions on how to upload

documents (e.g. training materials, outlines, etc.)

QUICK TIP!

Multiple documents can be dragged and dropped from your computer

folder into the application form.

Remember to send yourself a copy of the submission.

Once submitting the form, you will receive a ‘Success!’ message on the

screen. If you do not see this message, your submission may not have been

successful. Contact cpd@theapsca.org for additional support.

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STEP 4: Once the application is submitted, APSCA CPD Team will review the course with

supplemental documents. Additional information may be required during the review

process.

The reviewing of an application is based on the following criteria:

□ The course meets the CPD Course Objectives.

□ The course content and subject align with the APSCA Competency Framework.

□ The course supports the development of social compliance auditing objectives.

□ The course contains accurate, up-to-date information, and the content is based on

reliable sources.

□ The course content aligns with the training agenda.

□ The course includes engaging and interactive content to reinforce the learning objectives.

DID YOU KNOW?

Any courses less than one (1) hour will not be considered for Recognized

Training Course. However, partial hours are permitted when the course is

over 1 hour. For example, a course can be 1.5 hours, 2.5 hours, 3.5 hours, etc.

STEP 5: The training organization will be notiﬁed of the application decision upon

completion of the review, including:

The application is on hold as additional information is required

The course application is accepted with all CPD hours granted

The course application is accepted with partial CPD hours granted

The course application does not meet the minimum acceptance criteria

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APPENDIX A – ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND CONTACTS

Access a ﬁllable PDF template here

REFERENCES

APSCA Auditor Membership Status Policy

APSCA Code and Standards of Professional Conduct

APSCA Competency Framework

APSCA Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Policy D-105

APSCA Glossary of Terms

APSCA Website

Member Auditor Login to “My Account” for CPD:

APSCA’s CPD Page

APSCA CPD On-Demand Portal

APSCA CPD Recognized Training Course Application

APSCA’s Resource Library

APSCA Newsletter

Follow APSCA Social Channels

YouTube

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APPENDIX B – SAMPLE CPD PORTFOLIO

Each CSCA should include a balanced and diverse learning portfolio. A balanced portfolio

should include courses that sharpen the various skills listed in the APSCA Competency

Framework and address emerging issues in social compliance. A sample of a balanced

CPD portfolio may be:

Hours Per

Course

Hours

CPD Category

Training Course & Learning Activites

Accumulated

Mandatory Training

(2 hours)

APSE-001 Member Auditors Clinics Ethics

Session

1

2 hours

(up-to-date)

XXX-001 Think Impartiality

Elective Training –

OEC-002 The Essentials of OECD Due

2.5

8

Recognized Training Diligence for RBC

(Min 18 hrs)

SDX-001 Auditor Academy SMETA

Training

25.5 hours

APSCA-009 2023 AMM - Emerging

Legislation Unveiled

2

(up-to-date)

UDM-001 Micro Expression Training and

Body Language For Lie Detection

3

10

3

ITC-ILO-004 Establishing Fair

Recruitment Processes

Elective Training

– Independence

Submission

(Max 12 hrs)

Independent Submission – Training an

ASCA

7 hours

(up-to-date)

Independent Submission –

Independent Course (Occupational

Health and Safety)

2

Independent Submission – Self-study

(Book: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer)

Onsite Audits

(Min 16 hrs)

ABC Manufacturing Inc

123 Fifth Ave

16 hours

16

(up-to-date)

Oceanica City, Ocean Province

50.5 hours

Total (Min requirement 48 hours)

(up-to-date)

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APPENDIX C – RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENT COURSES

Organization

amfori

Information and Link

amfori Academy

Free Courses in England

Courses to #MakeChange

Ethical Recruitment

Impactt

ITC

International Training Centre

Responsible Business Conduct eLearning

Academy

OECD

OSHA

Sedex

Training Institute Education Center

Training Academy

Social Accountability

International

Training

UN Global Compact

Verité

Human Rights

Resources center

Training

WRAP

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APPENDIX D – RESOURCES FOR SELF STUDY

Organization

BSR

Information and Links

Sustainability Insights

Business & Human

Labor Rights

Rights Resources Centre

CSR Europe

ILO

Our Library

Research and Publications

Harvard Kennedy

School

Corporate Responsibility and Citizenship Hub

University of Pittsburg

UNDP

Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace

Publications and resources

U.S. Department of

Labor (ILAB)

Labor Rights InfoHub

Human Rights

UN Global Compact

U.S Department of Labor Auditing for Child Labor Guide

The Mekong Club Resources, Toolkits, whitepapers, and publications

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APPENDIX E – SAMPLE LEARNING NOTES

Sample Learning Notes

Training Topic

Trainer:

Effective Listening Skills

Joe Smith

Duration:

2 hours

Training Date:

APSCA Auditor

APSCA Auditor ID

June 24, 2024

Jane Auditor

21712345

Key Message:

• Repeat people’s last few words back to them.

• Don’t “put it in your own words” unless you need to.

(summarize the key

message or theme of the

presentation)

• Offer nonverbal cues that you’re listening to — but only if it

comes naturally to you.

• Pay attention to nonverbal cues.

• Ask more questions than you think you need to.

• Minimize distractions as much as possible.

• Don’t rehearse your response while the other person is talking.

1st point:

“Performing” active listening (e.g., eye contact, nodding,

appropriate facial expressions). Do extra repetition to make up for

the lack of nonverbal communication.

(summarize the 1st point)

2nd point:

At the very least, you are both listening to words and watching

body language. You may also be listening to multiple people at

once, communicating on multiple platforms simultaneously, or

listening while also taking in visual information, such as building

plans or sales projections. Figure out what helps you listen best.

(summarize the 1st point)

3rd point:

If you’re struggling to understand someone, ask questions to

clarify. If it’s helpful, from time to time recap your understanding of

both the subject and the other person’s reason for bringing it up

— and ask them to validate or reﬁne it. (Make it clear that you are

doing this for your own understanding.)

(summarize the 3rd point)

Key Takeaways

1. Listen more than speak

2. Practice with workers during the next interview.

3. Take notes when the others speak

4. Rephrase to ensure understanding

Questions

What should I do if I am easily distracted?

(include any questions you

have remaining after the

presentation)

How to encourage the other person speak more?

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APPENDIX F – APSCA ETHICS CPD APPROVAL MATRIX

APSCA ETHICS CPD

APPROVAL MATRIX

Points – Ethics CPD Value

Item Training Elements

Self-guided

Training

Live Sessions with

role playing / Q&A

1

Review or Reinforcement of Internal Company

0

Documents.

2

Review of Reinforcement of speciﬁc program or

0

audit scheme requirements for Auditors.

3

Instruction on Company Grievance system,

including how, when, where and why to report

ethics and integrity concerns or violations of

the company code AND APSCA’s Code and

Standards of Professional Conduc.t

1

4

5

Review of APSCA Member Auditor Requirements

and Expectations.

1

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

reporting issues to appropriate parties.

2

6

7

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

avoiding consultancy services that represent

APSCA Code violations.

1

2

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

properly managing conﬂicts of interest, including

avoiding perceived conﬂicts of interest.

8

9

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

avoiding bribery and corruption, including

perceived corruption and bribery.

1

2

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

professional conduct as outlined in APSCA’s

Auditor Handbook.

10

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for honest

and true record-keeping and reporting of facts,

including time in/time out/days worked/proper

and full review of auditor responsibilities.

1

2

Document Name:

Version & Date:

Replaces:

APSCA Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Handbook - T-067

Version 1 - September 2024

Version - None

This document is no longer version controlled once printed.

Page 20 of 22

Author/Owner:

Authorized by:

President & CEO

APSCA Executive Board

APSCA CPD Handbook

|

APSCA ETHICS CPD APPROVAL MATRIX

Points – Ethics CPD Value

Item Training Elements

Self-guided

Training

Live Sessions with

role playing / Q&A

11

12

13

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

appropriate use of APSCA credentials.

1

2

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

maintaining conﬁdentiality.

2

Presentation of real-life audit scenarios that

include strategies and best practices for

maintaining impartiality.

14

15

Identifying and addressing emerging trends

for Auditors.

1

2

Focus on Auditor safety and managing

challenging issues and confrontation in audit

situations.

16

17

Certiﬁcation of attendance provided for training.

1

The training provider conﬁrms attendee full

participation via monitoring and veriﬁcation

of full engagement during training period by

tracking online timeframe or visual conﬁrmation

during live attendance.

18

19

Duration of training is less than 1 hour in duration.

0

1

0

1

Duration of training is greater than 1 hour

in duration.

20

Training program has been updated within

90 days of rollout to ensure training content

addresses current issues and emerging trends in

social compliance auditing.

1

Ethics CPD Hour valuation based on point system for training components

0 – 10 points

10 – 20 points

20+ points

0 hours

Ethics CPD Credit

1 hour

Ethics CPD Credit

2 hours

Ethics CPD Credit

Document Name:

Version & Date:

Replaces:

APSCA Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Handbook - T-067

Version 1 - September 2024

Version - None

This document is no longer version controlled once printed.

Page 21 of 22

Author/Owner:

Authorized by:

President & CEO

APSCA Executive Board