How many hours, and on what?
An approved SMSF auditor must undertake at least 120 hours of continuing professional development every 3 years. That is a rolling total, not a yearly number, so it is easy to leave until late.
The 120 hours must include 30 hours about superannuation, and at least 8 hours of those must be about auditing self managed superannuation funds. The rest can be other development that meets the test in the next part.
Remember
- 120 hours every 3 years.
- 30 of those hours about superannuation.
- At least 8 of the 30 about auditing SMSFs.
What counts: a test, not a list
The regulation sets a test rather than naming particular courses. The development must be something that could reasonably be expected to enhance the auditor’s technical skills or professional service delivery.
The ATO’s description of an auditor’s duties points to the same regulation: complete the CPD requirements prescribed in regulation 9A.04. ASIC lists the same duty in plain words: complete the prescribed ongoing professional development.
So the question for any activity is whether you could explain, to a regulator reading your record, how it improves your technical skills or the service you give. That judgement is yours.
Remember
- The test is “could reasonably be expected to enhance” your skills or service.
- The regulation we read does not name particular providers.
- Be ready to explain why an activity counts.
Facts and sources for this part
- The development must be something that could reasonably be expected to enhance the auditor’s technical skills or professional service delivery. [S4]
- The ATO says that under section 128F of the SIS Act, auditors must complete the CPD requirements prescribed in regulation 9A.04 of the SIS Regulations. [S3]
- ASIC lists completing the prescribed ongoing professional development among an SMSF auditor’s statutory obligations, and says the ATO monitors SMSF auditor compliance. [S2]
Records, and who checks
You must keep a written record of the development for at least 3 years after the end of the financial year in which it occurred. The ATO monitors SMSF auditor compliance, and ASIC acts on what it finds.
If an auditor is non-compliant, ASIC may impose or vary conditions, accept an enforceable undertaking, cancel the registration, or disqualify or suspend the auditor. In the first half of the 2025-26 financial year ASIC cancelled, conditioned or disqualified 28 SMSF auditors, after finding breaches that included failing to meet continuing professional development requirements.
Remember
- Keep the record for at least 3 years after the financial year ends.
- The ATO monitors; ASIC decides the action.
- CPD failures were among the breaches ASIC found in 28 auditors’ cases.
Facts and sources for this part
- The auditor must keep a written record of the development for at least 3 years after the end of the financial year in which it occurred. [S4]
- ASIC lists completing the prescribed ongoing professional development among an SMSF auditor’s statutory obligations, and says the ATO monitors SMSF auditor compliance. [S2]
- If an auditor is non-compliant, ASIC may impose or vary conditions, accept an enforceable undertaking, cancel the registration, or disqualify or suspend the auditor. [S2]
- In the first half of the 2025-26 financial year ASIC cancelled, conditioned or disqualified 28 SMSF auditors, after finding breaches that included failing to meet continuing professional development requirements. [S12]
Where this course fits, and what to record
This course is online, with review questions after each lesson and a final test. It is about fraud, scams and false documents in SMSF work. Whether it counts, and whether any of it counts towards the superannuation hours, is for you to judge against the test above. No body has been asked to approve it.
For your own record write the date, the provider, what the course covered, the hours you count and why it improves your work. Keep the certificate and receipt. The certificate from this course has a ready entry you can edit, with the way the hours were counted.
Remember
- You judge relevance and which category the hours fall in.
- Record date, provider, subject, hours and the reason it helps your work.
- Keep the certificate with your records.
Facts and sources for this part
Check what you have learned
Three questions from the test, each explained. Tap an answer.
Question 1 of 3
Within the total, how many hours must be about superannuation, and how many of those about auditing SMSFs?
Show the answer
Right answer: A, 30 hours about superannuation, at least 8 of them about auditing SMSFs. The development must include 30 hours about superannuation, at least 8 hours of which is about auditing self managed superannuation funds. [S4]
Question 2 of 3
What can ASIC do if an SMSF auditor is non-compliant?
Show the answer
Right answer: A, Impose or vary conditions, accept an enforceable undertaking, cancel, or disqualify or suspend. ASIC may impose or vary conditions, accept an enforceable undertaking, cancel the registration, or disqualify or suspend the auditor. [S2]
Question 3 of 3
Which of these belongs in your own CPD record for an online course?
Show the answer
Right answer: C, The date, provider, subject, hours counted and why it improves your work. A written record has to show what was done and why it counts; it must be kept for at least 3 years after the financial year ends. [S4]