Can TED Talks be counted as CPE for CPA?

TED Talks can count toward CPD hours for CPAs if they meet specific requirements. To qualify, the content must be directly relevant to professional skills, properly documented, and in line with state board standards. However, TED Talks often lack formal verification, such as attendance tracking, certificates, or assessments, making them harder to use for CPD credit. CPAs can still leverage TED Talks for personal growth by documenting learning outcomes, writing summaries, and linking insights to their professional work. For verifiable CPD credit, tools like CPDProof can help by creating quizzes and issuing certificates.

Key Points:

• Relevance: Choose TED Talks related to CPA skills (e.g., leadership, ethics, time management).
• Documentation: Record talk details, viewing time, and learning outcomes.
• Verification: Use tools like CPDProof to validate learning and obtain certificates.
• Limitations: TED Talks alone may not meet strict CPD standards; they should complement structured CPD activities.

While TED Talks can inspire and educate, CPAs should focus on maintaining a balanced CPD plan that includes both verifiable and unverifiable activities.

CPA’s Journey – Experience Verification Route (EVR)

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CPD Requirements in the U.S.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) work together to set standards for CPD activities that help CPAs stay sharp and effective in their profession.

Professional Skills Alignment

CPD activities should directly enhance a CPA's professional abilities, focusing on areas such as:

• Technical accounting knowledge
• Business expertise
• Digital skills
• Leadership abilities
• Ethical awareness
• Professional integrity

"Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is lifelong learning for professionals, and includes activities that expand your knowledge and teach you new skills." - CPA Australia [3]

CPAs are encouraged to select CPD activities that align with both their current responsibilities and their future career aspirations.

Proof of Completion Requirements

State boards require CPAs to provide verifiable proof of their CPD participation. Acceptable forms of documentation include:

Learning Goals and Results

CPD activities must have clear objectives and measurable results. A typical CPD cycle involves:

• Identifying specific learning needs
• Evaluating current skills
• Pinpointing knowledge gaps
• Developing a structured learning plan
• Acting on development goals
• Measuring progress and outcomes

State boards have the final say on whether specific CPD activities qualify for credit [1][2]. CPAs should reach out to their state boards to confirm exact requirements, as these can vary by jurisdiction [1]. The overarching goal is to ensure all CPD efforts help CPAs maintain their professional competence and safeguard the public interest [3]. These guidelines also apply when evaluating less traditional CPD sources, such as TED Talks.

TED Talks as CPD Activities

TED Talks provide engaging and thought-provoking content, but for CPAs, their use as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities must align with strict professional standards.

TED Talk Topics for CPAs

Some TED Talks cover topics that enhance professional skills and complement the core expertise of accountants.

"CPAs are generally smart people, but it also takes an attitude of learning and growth to be best positioned for long‐term success. And it's critically important to coach young people in the profession that their mistakes are not failures, but opportunities to learn how to be better."
– Faye Hayhurst, CPA, CGMA, Director of Finance and Administration for the Minnesota Society of CPAs [4]

Despite their usefulness, TED Talks often face challenges in meeting CPD verification requirements.

Verification Issues

One major drawback of using TED Talks for CPD is the lack of formal verification. These presentations typically do not provide:

• Attendance tracking
• Completion certificates
• Formal assessments
• Clear learning objectives
• Verifiable proof of participation

Without these elements, it becomes difficult to align TED Talks with CPD standards.

Learning Structure Limitations

TED Talks also present structural challenges that may not meet the formal requirements of CPD programs:

• Undefined Learning Objectives: Most talks lack clear objectives tied to professional competencies.
• No Assessment Tools: There are no built-in methods to measure knowledge retention or application.
• Informal Presentation Style: The conversational approach may not meet educational standards for professional development.

"We tend to focus on applying rules and regulations, viewing numbers to indicate causes. But sometimes the solution is the company culture, the approach or motivation of people that creates goodwill... TED talks remind us to step back, think, and look for a solution from a different perspective."
– Jay Cardwell, CPA, COO of CFO Squad [4]

That said, CPAs who find valuable insights in TED Talks can still use them for personal growth. However, to meet CPD requirements, they must document their learning outcomes thoroughly. For example, Graylin Smith, CPA, CGMA, shared that Warren Valdmanis' TED Talk on creating good jobs directly supported his leadership development.

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Recording TED Talks for CPD Credit

CPAs need to carefully document their TED Talk learnings to meet verification requirements and ensure they count toward CPD credit.

Writing Learning Summaries

Learning summaries act as proof of the educational value provided by TED Talks, serving as an alternative to traditional CPD certificates. Cheryl Burke, partner and chief strategy officer at DGC, highlights their importance: "These TED talks inspire me because working in this industry takes so much more than just being a good accountant, and sometimes the pressure of getting the job done makes us forget that." [4]

A well-written learning summary should cover the following:

CPD Activity Tracking

To ensure TED Talk learning is recognized, CPAs should document their activities in a structured way. Quinn Martin, CPA, a partner at Wipfli LLP, stresses the importance of intentionality: "The message is not all meetings are bad, and certainly some are very productive and necessary, but we need to be more thoughtful in how we are approaching these both as an organizer and a participant. We need to think more and react less. We can control our time, or it can control us." [4]

Key tracking elements include:

• Talk Details: Record the title, speaker name, and date watched.
• Duration: Include both viewing time and time spent reflecting.
• Competency Area: Specify the professional skill addressed.
• Learning Outcomes: Note measurable impacts and how the insights were applied in practice.

Using CPDProof for TED Talks

CPDProof offers an efficient way to turn TED Talk learnings into verified CPD credits. The platform simplifies the process for CPAs by:

1. Allowing users to submit TED Talk details to create quizzes that evaluate understanding.
2. Providing AI-generated assessments to test comprehension of key concepts.
3. Issuing QR code-enabled certificates upon successful completion.

"CPAs are generally smart people, but it also takes an attitude of learning and growth to be best positioned for long-term success. And it's critically important to coach young people in the profession that their mistakes are not failures, but opportunities to learn how to be better."
– Faye Hayhurst, CPA, CGMA, director of finance and administration for the Minnesota Society of CPAs [4]

Conclusion: TED Talks and CPD Requirements

TED Talks can count toward CPD hours if they are tied to specific skills and documented properly [5]. To get the most out of these activities, focus on their relevance, track your time, validate your learning, and show how you’ve applied the insights.

As outlined earlier, maintaining compliance with CPD requirements depends on thorough documentation. Activities like TED Talks, which are less formal and harder to verify, should be used to complement - not replace - structured CPD activities. Strive for a well-rounded CPD plan, such as dedicating 20 hours each year to verifiable activities and another 20 to unverifiable ones, to meet the three-year total of 120 hours [5].

FAQs

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Can CPAs count TED Talks as CPD hours, and how should they document them?

Yes, TED Talks can count as CPD hours if they are relevant to your professional skills and responsibilities. To ensure proper documentation, consider the following steps:

1. Evaluate relevance: Confirm that the TED Talk aligns with your professional growth and contributes to your competencies as a CPA.
2. Identify learning outcomes: Clearly define the skills or knowledge you gained and how they benefit your work, clients, or organization.
3. Keep records: Document details such as the talk's title, speaker, date, duration, and a brief summary of its content. Retain these records for at least five years in case of an audit.

By following these steps, you can confidently include TED Talks in your CPD activities while meeting the necessary requirements for verification and compliance. :::

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Can TED Talks count as CPD credits for CPAs, and what criteria must they meet?

Yes, TED Talks can potentially count as CPD credits for CPAs, but they must meet specific criteria. To qualify, the talk should be relevant to your professional responsibilities, enhance your skills or knowledge, and provide measurable educational value. Additionally, the learning activity must be verifiable, meaning you should be able to document and demonstrate its applicability to your professional development.

When selecting TED Talks, focus on those that address topics like leadership, financial trends, ethics, or industry innovations. To ensure compliance, keep a record of the talk, including its title, date, duration, and a brief reflection on how it applies to your work as a CPA. :::

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How can CPAs use insights from TED Talks to enhance their professional development?

To incorporate TED Talks into your professional development as a CPA, start by selecting talks that align with your career goals, current responsibilities, or areas where you want to grow. Focus on topics like leadership, adaptability, or financial innovation, which can provide valuable insights for your role.

When using TED Talks for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), ensure the content is relevant, has clear learning outcomes, and contributes to your professional skills. Document your learning by summarizing key takeaways and reflecting on how you can apply them in your work. This approach not only helps validate the activity for CPD purposes but also maximizes its practical value for your career. :::