New Professional Standards Scheme for CP Members

What is the new PSS all about?

The Scheme provides government recognition and legal protection for eligible Certified Professional (CP) members, subject to meeting new compliance requirements. The Scheme applies only to CP members providing external professional services - contractors, consultants and those providing external client services. 

Who is exempt from the PSS?

By law, CPs who are professional service providers must participate in the Scheme. Other CP members who may work in internal IT services, government or higher education can be exempted from the Scheme. CPD and other CP obligations will still apply. The Scheme does not apply to Certified Technologist (CT) members.

What are the obligations of PSS participants?

Scheme participants must hold compliant professional indemnity insurance. The PSS then caps at $2m the amount that can be awarded against a CP member in a professional liability case. This cap is granted by governments across Australia in exchange for a commitment by CP members to high professional and ethical practice standards. 

To benefit from the PSS, CP members must demonstrate ongoing compliance with professional standards, including ACS Insurance Standards, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) obligations and disclosure requirements. ACS must monitor member compliance with these professional standards. We are therefore introducing a new annual compliance declaration and PSS compliance audit.

What are the benefits?

The PSS is informed by insurers and actuaries and makes CP members a lower-risk group. This gives CP members a better deal in our complimentary member insurance Scheme and better access to other insurance policies.

The PSS also gives CP members access to protections in law. This may save you money in the event of a legal action.

PSS compliance reduces business risk and provides assurance to your clients, protecting their interests. They may need to be informed however if your liability is capped.

Recent CPD Activation Campaign

In preparation for the new CPD audit process, we ran a campaign to reach all CP members whose CPD records in the MyACS portal were not up to date. We called and emailed to help those CP members to update their records and complete additional CPD hours if needed.

Through the campaign we contacted 536 CP members, of which 146 have finished updating their CPD records in MyACS. A great response so far! A few members requested consideration for a career break or recognition as a former CP when in retirement, which we are working on.

CPD audit

To support the new Scheme, ACS will conduct regular (randomised) CPD audits on all certified members to align ACS with professional best practice across Australia. CPD audits will check the details of CPD claims and will not always require action by the CP member. In preparation, we are currently conducting a CPD audit pilot with a trial group of CP members and volunteers to help us finalise the audit process and standards. 

PSS exemption and annual declaration

All CP members must participate and comply with the Scheme, unless exempted. At the start of each certification year, CP members will be required to make an online ‘declaration’, which will include the following:

• The nature of your work and whether an exemption applies;

• If an exemption does not apply, further details will need to be declared, including:
  • your professional indemnity (PI) insurance coverage
  • any legal notifications, claims or settlements

PSS compliance audit

In addition to CPD compliance audit for all certified members, CP members participating in the Scheme will also be audited for compliance with PSS obligations, including PI insurance and sufficiency of business assets and disclosure of limited liability. 

How can I learn more?

Capability Team will be holding a Lunch & Learn session on the new PSS and related compliance changes on 2 December 2024. Details on the event can be found here – https://www.acs.org.au/cpd-education/event-detail.html?eventId=701Om00000HGK5qIAH.

In the meantime, you can find further information on the Professional Standards Scheme web page.

Please send questions to the PSS team at pss@acs.org.au.