The best CPD providers for UK accountants in 2026 combine reliable technical updates, recognised speakers, and practical sessions you can apply immediately to client work. Tolley, BPP, Mercia Group, ACCA Learning, ICAEW Faculties, and AccountancyCloud are well-regarded options spanning tax, audit, financial reporting, technology and practice management. Most accept either subscription or pay-per-course models.
How to choose a CPD provider
Evaluate providers against five criteria:
- Relevance to your role: a sole-practitioner SME accountant needs different CPD from an audit partner in a large firm
- Verifiability: certificates of attendance, recorded webinars, written confirmations
- Speaker quality: recognised technical authors, retired HMRC inspectors, ICAEW/ACCA examiners
- Format flexibility: live, on-demand, podcast, conference, written
- Cost vs value: annual subscriptions can save money for high-volume users; pay-per-course suits occasional needs
Top CPD providers for UK accountants in 2026
Tolley (LexisNexis)
The leading UK tax CPD provider. Tolley webinars, conferences and Tolley CPD Online are widely used by tax-specialist firms and CTA students. Strongest in tax, weaker in non-tax topics. Subscription packages and pay-per-event options.
Mercia Group
Owned by Wolters Kluwer, Mercia is the dominant provider of practical, audit and accounts-focused CPD for UK accountancy practices. Annual CPD packages, auditing and accounts updates, regulatory updates, and the Practical Audit Manual are all standards in many practices. Strong on accountancy practice content; less specialist on tax than Tolley.
BPP Professional Education
Offers CPD across tax, audit, financial reporting and management. Strong technical training combined with online catalogues. Used widely by mid-tier and Big Four firms for staff training; suitable for practitioners wanting structured, high-quality content.
Kaplan
Provides CPD packages for accountants and tax professionals, alongside its strong professional study programmes. Particularly useful for keeping technical knowledge current after qualifying.
ICAEW Faculties
ICAEW members can join specialist faculties (e.g. Tax, Audit and Assurance, Financial Reporting, Corporate Finance, Practice). Each faculty publishes regular webinars, technical guidance and conferences as part of the membership fee. Excellent value for ICAEW members in technical roles.
ACCA Learning and ACCA Continuous Learning
ACCA's CPD platform includes free and paid online courses for members, plus regular webinars on tax, audit, ethics and emerging topics. Sufficient on its own for many ACCA members in industry; practitioners often supplement it with Mercia or Tolley.
AccountancyCloud, AAT events, and CIPP
For more specialised needs: AAT CPD events for AAT-licensed practitioners; CIPP for payroll-specific CPD; AccountancyCloud and similar tech vendors for software-related CPD.
Free CPD sources worth using
- HMRC webinars and recorded sessions on agent updates and specific tax topics
- FRC webinars on financial reporting and audit changes
- ICAEW Insights and ACCA Online Articles (reflective CPD)
- HMRC Agent Update and Employer Bulletin newsletters
- Vendor webinars from accounting software providers (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent) on technical updates and product features
What to prioritise in 2026
Topics that tend to demand strong CPD coverage in 2026 include:
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) for landlords and the self-employed
- Basis period reform aftermath and continuing transitional issues
- Changes to corporation tax marginal relief and associated companies rules
- Recent updates to FRS 102 and the periodic review
- Anti-money laundering rule changes and the Economic Crime Levy
- AI tools for accountants: practical use cases, risks, and engagement letter implications
- Cybersecurity and data protection in practice
If you complete more than 15 to 20 hours of CPD per year through a single provider, an annual subscription is usually cheaper than pay-per-course. Calculate your typical annual usage before committing to a multi-year deal.
Key Takeaways
- Tolley, Mercia, BPP and Kaplan are the leading paid CPD providers for UK accountants
- ICAEW Faculties and ACCA Learning give strong technical content as part of professional body membership
- HMRC webinars provide accessible, often free CPD for SME-focused practitioners
- Prioritise CPD on MTD, FRS 102, AML, and AI in practice for 2026
- Subscriptions usually pay back if you do more than 15 to 20 hours of CPD per year with one provider
Frequently asked questions
Is free CPD acceptable to professional bodies?
Yes, provided it is relevant to your role and properly recorded. Many free webinars from HMRC, FRC and software vendors qualify as verifiable CPD when accompanied by an attendance certificate.
How many CPD hours should I aim for each year?
For most active practitioners, 30 to 50 hours per year of structured CPD is a sensible benchmark, irrespective of which body's framework you fall under.
Are conferences good value as CPD?
Conferences offer high CPD hours per day and good networking, but generally cost more per hour than online CPD. They suit practitioners who prefer in-person learning and want sector exposure.
Can I count internal firm training as CPD?
Yes, where it is relevant to your role and recorded with date, topic, duration, and reflection.
What CPD should new practice owners prioritise?
AML, regulatory updates, engagement letters, professional indemnity, MTD, and practice management software. The first year of practice ownership is best supported by Mercia or ICAEW Practice Faculty content.