Mandatory CPD Hours Requirement for 2026

1. PURPOSE OF THIS CIRCULAR

This Circular is issued to inform members of the revised Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements for the calendar year 2026, as approved by the Council of the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAICSA).

The revisions are intended to:

• Strengthen professional competence and regulatory readiness;
• Ensure continued relevance in an increasingly complex governance environment; and
• Align MAICSA’s CPD framework with international best practices.

2. APPLICABILITY

This Circular applies to all MAICSA members, including:

• Members in Company Secretary Practice (CSP);
• SSM Practising Certificate (SSM PC) holders; and
• Members in non-corporate secretarial sectors.

3. MANDATORY CPD REQUIREMENTS FOR 2026

3.1 Members in Company Secretary Practice (CSP)

(Not Holding an SSM Practising Certificate)

a. Mandatory CPD Hours are reduced by 20%, from 22 to 18 CPD Hours per calendar year.

b. Of the 18 CPD Hours:

• A minimum of 14 CPD Hours must be obtained from MAICSA-organised physical events and/or webinars; and
• The remaining 4 CPD Hours may be obtained from:
• MAICSA-organised events;
• Events jointly organised by MAICSA with other professional bodies; or
• Events organised by recognised organisations, including regulators, other professional bodies, and HRD Corp–registered training providers.

3.2 Members in the Non-Corporate Secretarial Sector

Members who are not practising in the corporate secretarial sector are required to complete:

• 6 CPD Hours per calendar year.

3.3 Members in Company Secretary Practice (CSP)

(Holding an SSM Practising Certificate)

a. 22 CPD Hours are recognised for attendance at physical and/or online training.

b. Of the 22 CPD Hours:

• A minimum of 14 CPD Hours must be obtained from MAICSA-organised physical events and/or webinars; and
• The remaining 8 CPD Hours may be obtained from:
• MAICSA-organised events;
• Events jointly organised by MAICSA with other professional bodies; or
• Events organised by recognised organisations, including regulators, other professional bodies, and HRD Corp–registered training providers.

4. EXTENSION FOR 2025 CPD COMPLIANCE

Members are granted an extension until 31 March 2026 to complete their Mandatory CPD Hours for the 2025 calendar year.

5. CARRY FORWARD OF CPD HOURS

Members may carry forward a maximum of five (5) CPD Hours from 2025 to 2026.

6. CPD AUDIT

The CPD Audit for the 2026 calendar year will be conducted in April 2027.

7. IMPORTANT REGULATORY NOTE – SECTION 241, COMPANIES ACT 2016

8. MANDATORY AML/CFT/CPF AND TFS TRAINING (EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2026)

A secretary holding a practising certificate under Section 241 of the Companies Act 2016, in his or her capacity as a Reporting Institution, is required to complete relevant training programmes or courses focusing on:

• Anti-Money Laundering (AML);
• Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT);
• Countering Proliferation Financing (CPF); and
• Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS).

Such programmes must be organised by approved bodies or regulatory authorities and must specifically address the duties and responsibilities of company secretaries as reporting institutions.

9. ENQUIRIES

For further clarification, please contact:
members@maicsa.org.my