The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has announced significant amendments to its Continuing Professional Education (CPE) guidelines for insolvency professionals (IPs), introducing mandatory in-person learning requirements starting 2026.
Under the updated framework, every IP (except in their first year of registration) must complete at least 30 CPE credit hours annually. Beginning in 2026, a minimum of 40% of these credits must be earned through in-person programmes — this threshold will increase to 50% in 2027 and 60% from 2028 onwards.
Importantly, the IBBI has clarified that the CPE requirement will apply even if an IP’s registration is suspended or if they no longer hold an authorisation for assignment.
CPE credits can be accumulated through:
- Workshops, conferences, seminars, and training programmes
- Refresher courses, certificate programmes, conventions, and symposia
- Events conducted by IBBI, Insolvency Professional Agencies (IPAs), or other IBBI-approved bodies
- Publishing professional articles, delivering lectures, authoring books, or completing higher academic qualifications in relevant fields
The revised guidelines also make it mandatory to obtain prior IPA approval before enrolling in CPE programmes conducted by entities other than the IBBI or IPAs. IPAs must process these approvals diligently and within a set timeframe.
As the regulatory body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, IBBI plays a pivotal role in enforcing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and these changes are aimed at enhancing the skill set, accountability, and professionalism of insolvency practitioners across India.
