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IFoA PPD Guide 3: Common Mistakes, Missed Deadlines & Exemptions

In Part 1 of our IFOA PPD Guide, we addressed key questions about IFOA Personal and Professional Development, including what it is, the minimum requirements, the three areas of PPD, mandatory competencies, and formal learning hours.

In Part 2 of the IFOA PPD Guide, we dived into the specifics: What to write in your PPD record, how to track PPD easily throughout the year and everything about navigating PPD Exemptions.

In this third and final guide in our IFoA PPD series, we will explore the common mistakes to avoid when completing your PPD and understanding the difference between a PPD exemption and missing a deadline.

Common PPD Mistakes to Avoid While Maintaining Your IFOA PPD

You understand the PPD requirements now, but a few common mistakes can make the process more difficult than it needs to be.

Here are a few avoidable mistakes to note.

Mistake 1: Leaving Your PPD Until the Last Minute

One of the most common mistakes is treating PPD as something to complete just before the annual deadline.

If you wait until the end of the year, you may struggle to remember the details of your work, the challenges you faced, the feedback you received, and what you learned from different activities.

What you should do instead:

$\bullet \quad$Keep a simple activity log throughout the year: make brief notes about significant work activities and what you learned.

$\bullet \quad$Keep track of the credits you complete throughout your PPD year.

$\bullet \quad$Draft your PPD entries while the experience is still fresh.

$\bullet \quad$Review your progress quarterly rather than waiting until the deadline approaches.

You do not necessarily need to complete every entry immediately after an activity. However, keeping notes as you go makes it much easier to write meaningful entries later.

Refer to Guide 2 for more details on how to manage PPD throughout the year.

Mistake 2: Describing The Activity In The Learning Outcome

This is the most common mistake.

A good learning outcome reflects on what you learned, how you can apply the knowledge to your future work, the challenges you encountered, and what you could do differently going forward.

A stronger learning outcome should explain how an activity improves your ability to build current skill sets, ability to communicate (written or verbal), respond to feedback, or identify areas for improvement.

We have discussed how to write a good learning outcome in Guide 2.

Mistake 3: Forgetting About Mandatory Credits

You need to fulfil certain mandatory competencies by the time you apply for Associateship. These can form part of the minimum number of credits you are required to submit annually.

Note: Each competency must be completed at least once by the time you apply for Associateship. You are not supposed to submit the same mandatory competencies every year.

PPD is a long-term commitment, and it is easy to lose track of which mandatory competencies you have missed over the years. To avoid this, create a small checklist of mandatory competencies and update it as and when you submit them.

Mistake 4: Not Discussing Your Records With A Supervisor

Your PPD entries should form part of an ongoing professional development discussion with your manager or supervisor.

Before saving the PPD record for a competency on the IFOA Portal, you will be prompted to submit a declaration that your activity has been discussed and approved by a supervisor.

Submitting records without discussing them can mean missing valuable feedback and opportunities to reflect on your development.

The IFoA may also contact your supervisor to verify your records.

Your supervisor does not necessarily have to be a qualified actuary, but they should be the appropriate person to support your workplace development. Make it a point to not miss this step!

PPD Exemption vs Missing a Deadline: What Is the Difference?

This is an important distinction because being unable to complete your PPD requirements and forgetting to submit them on time are not necessarily treated in the same way.

Let’s understand the difference in two parts.

PART ONE

What Is a PPD Exemption?

A PPD exemption may be appropriate when you cannot meet your annual PPD requirements because of particular circumstances.

Examples recognised in the IFoA’s guidance include:

Unemployment.
Parental leave.
Career breaks.
Full-time further education.
Long-term sick leave.

However, an exemption is not automatic simply because one of these circumstances applies to you. You must contact IFoA Member Services as soon as possible and, importantly, before your annual PPD deadline, to discuss your circumstances and have the exemption recorded.

PART TWO

What Happens If You Miss Your PPD Deadline?

Missing your PPD deadline means you have not completed your required annual PPD submission by its deadline and do not have an approved exemption in place.

DEADLINE REMINDER

In this situation, the IFoA’s missed-deadline process applies.

As of October 2026, IFOA offers a 3-month extension from the missed PPD deadline to complete the requirements.

Within these 3 months, you can pay a penalty of £50 to unlock your previous year’s PPD submissions (the ones with the missed deadline).

You will have 7 days from the day you pay the penalty to submit your required PPD or apply for an exemption of the missed PPD year.

📌 NOTE ON EXEMPTIONS

An exemption doesn’t mean you have to submit the PPD for the exempted year later. It simply means that the exempted year will not count towards your PPD progress. You must complete the minimum PPD requirements for Associateship/Fellowship in the subsequent years’ PPD.

What happens if you take no action for 3 months post PPD deadline?

If 3 months pass after you miss your PPD deadline without taking any action, you will be barred from formally booking any IFOA exams for future sittings. This freeze will be lifted only once you pay the penalty and submit all your PPD within 7 days after payment.

STAGE 01

3 months

Extension period following the missed PPD deadline.

STAGE 02

£50

Penalty to unlock the previous year’s PPD submissions.

STAGE 03

7 days

Time to submit your required PPD or apply for an exemption after paying the penalty.

We hope this guide helps you avoid common PPD mistakes, stay organised with your submissions, and approach the entire process with greater clarity and confidence. With a little planning and regular effort, managing your PPD doesn’t have to be stressful!

For any assistance, feel free to reach out to us on praveenpatwari@actuatorseducation.com.

The Complete Guide