The SMSF Association has launched its accredited educators program with Heffron, Smarter SMSF and SuperConcepts the organisations to have been approved as the body’s inaugural accredited education providers.
The program has been established in response to member feedback calling for greater flexibility from the SMSF Association’s educational framework that would allow them to fulfil their continuing professional development (CPD) obligations more easily.
“SMSF Association accredited educators have been introduced to support SMSF Association members in meeting the association’s CPD policy and its commitment to ongoing professional development within the SMSF industry,” the industry body said.
“In an effort to harmonise CPD opportunities, SMSF Association members will gain SMSF Association accredited CPD hours if they attend events or undertake programs hosted by our accredited educators.”
According to the association, the new program will be advantageous to members because it will make it easier for them to meet their CPD education requirements, as well as those imposed by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority, will give them better access to high-quality, comprehensive and up-to-date content presented by leading technical experts, and give them the ability to experience a greater variety of SMSF training and education from a number of providers.
In addition, it will provide members with the assurance that any education received from an accredited educator has met the SMSF education industry standard and is SMSF Association compliant.
For the accredited educators, the program allows them to self-accredit their CPD activities, use the SMSF accredited educator logo on their marketing materials, and have their designation recognised and included on the industry body’s website.
The cost per CPD hour is also lower for the accredited educators.
Commenting on the announcement, SuperConcpts technical services and education general manager Peter Burgess said: “Being an accredited educator means we will be able to provide more education that carries CPD hours from the SMSF Association and ultimately that’s a good thing. It will give association members more choice and flexibility when it comes to CPD.”
Burgess told selfmanagedsuper the ability to self-accredit CPD hours is a significant benefit of being an accredited educator, but pointed out there is still significant rigour behind the process.
“There is a criteria we have to follow. We have to ensure our content or our education is mapped to the relevant standards,” he noted.
The association pointed out the new program will be run in conjunction with its established education services, which currently include its annual national conference, technical day roadshow, local community events and webinars.
