Quick reference Set up your account, complete your profile, and create your first CPD cycle. A complete profile is required before generating your CIMA Declaration PDF. The Quickstart Guide on your dashboard walks you through the first steps in sequence.
1.1 Creating your account
Navigate to the CPDFlow login page and select Create account. You will need:
- Your email address
- A password (minimum 8 characters)
After registering, verify your email address using the link sent to your inbox. You will not be able to log in until verification is complete.
1.2 Completing your profile
Your profile has two purposes: it personalises your experience, and it populates the CIMA Professional Development Record Form when you generate your CIMA Declaration PDF. An incomplete profile means blank fields on your declaration.
Go to Settings (gear icon in the sidebar) to complete your profile.
Personal details
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| First name / Surname | As they appear on your CIMA membership |
| Email address | Read-only — set at registration |
CIMA membership
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| CIMA membership number | Your unique member ID |
| AICPA Account ID | Format: 1-XXXXX — found in your AICPA account |
| Member category | MiP (Member in Practice) or MiB (Member employed in Business) |
| Designation | ACMA or FCMA |
If you are a Member in Practice (MiP): your CPD cycle must include at least one AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance objective. CPDFlow will prompt you when creating objectives.
Professional context
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Current job title | Used in the “Define” step of your declaration |
| Key responsibilities | A summary of your current role — also feeds the declaration |
| Employer name | Optional |
| CIMA-accredited employer | If your employer is a Premier Partner or Development Quality Partner, tick this. It adjusts the compliance dashboard, though full CPD tracking is still recommended. |
1.3 Navigating the application
The sidebar
The sidebar is the main navigation. It contains:
- Dashboard — your at-a-glance CPD summary
- Cycles — manage and view your CPD cycles
- Objectives — your development objectives for the current cycle
- Activities — your learning activity log
- Inbox — captured items awaiting review and promotion
- Reviews — quarterly review wizard
- Search — find activities, objectives and resources
- Reports — generate your CIMA Declaration PDF
- Settings — profile, preferences
The cycle selector
The cycle selector in the header shows your currently active cycle. All data on the Objectives, Activities and Reviews pages is scoped to the selected cycle.
If you have multiple cycles (historical cycles from previous years), you can switch between them using this selector. Switching cycles updates the Objectives, Activities and Reviews pages to show data from the selected cycle. Your Inbox is shared across all cycles.
You can only have one Active cycle at a time. Historical cycles are readable but cannot be edited once Complete.
The dashboard
The dashboard is your starting point each session. It shows:
- Your current cycle’s progress across the 6 steps
- Hours logged vs your annual target
- Upcoming and overdue activities
- Active timer (if running)
- Quickstart Guide (for new users)
1.4 Your first cycle — the Quickstart Guide
When you log in for the first time, the Quickstart Guide appears on your dashboard. It walks you through the recommended first steps in order:
- Complete your profile (Settings)
- Create your first CPD cycle (Cycles → New Cycle)
- Complete your competency self-assessment (Assessments)
- Create your first development objective (Objectives)
- Log your first activity (Activities)
You do not have to complete every step in one session — the guide tracks your progress and picks up where you left off.
1.5 Creating your first cycle
Go to Cycles in the sidebar and select New Cycle.
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Name | Optional — defaults to the year range (e.g. “2026–2027”) |
| Start date | The first day of your CPD year. Many members align this with 1 January or their CIMA membership anniversary. |
| End date | Typically 12 months after start date |
Your new cycle starts in Draft state. See Chapter 2 — Your CPD Cycle for a full explanation of cycle states and what to do in each.
1.6 Logging back in
After your first session, return to CPDFlow at any time. The application remembers your selected cycle and where you left off. There is no session timeout for active usage — if you are inactive for an extended period you will be prompted to log in again.
What’s next?
If this is your first cycle, the recommended next step is to complete your competency self-assessment — this is Step 2 (Assess) of the CIMA cycle and forms the baseline for your entire year’s development planning. See Chapter 3 — Competency Assessment.