Our online courses can be taken at any point throughout the year and can be completed whenever there is time to do so. There are no scheduled lessons and so busy professionals can undertake the training whenever and where-ever they wish. Courses, modules and lessons are short and sweet and easily digestible. No essays, no long exams, no uncomfortable exercises. The only challenges students face, are the ones they impose upon themselves. Whether students consider themselves beginners or experts, our courses are tailored for all.
CPA Parliamentary Academy
Online Courses
How does it work?
About our online curriculum
The CPA Parliamentary Academy online curriculum currently comprises of six programmes:
- CPA Parliamentary Professional Development Certificate (Courses 101 - 104 and 201)
- CPA Parliamentary Service Professional Development Certificate (Courses 01 - 05)
- CPA Public Financial Management Certificate (Course 201)
- CPA Small Branches: Climate Change Certificate (Course 301)
- CPA CWP: Effective Women's Parliamentary Caucuses (Course 401)
- CPA CPwD Network: Making Parliaments Accessible Certificate (Course 501)
To be awarded a programme certificate, a student must complete and pass all courses within the programme. Upon completion of all courses within the programme, the student should contact the CPA Headquarters Secretariat to receive the overall programme certificate.
Students also have the option to take a standalone course. Once passed, students will be automatically issued with a single course certificate.
Further information on the programmes and individual courses is available below.
Who can register?
Free and discounted options are available
The CPA Parliamentary Academy online courses are open to anyone.
Courses are free to all Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff in active CPA Branches. Not sure if that includes you? Check our CPA Branches A - Z for a full list of CPA Members.
Non-Members can benefit from a range of paid options for groups and individuals. Discounts are available to partner organisations, non-Commonwealth Parliaments and academia.
We can also provide all-access institutional options to large organisations or academic institutions. Get in touch with our Academy team to discuss a tailored solution for your organisation.
Please note: If you have already registered for the CPA Parliamentary Academy and would like to enrol on a new course, you just need sign in above and choose a course to get started.
View the full pricing structure ->
What do we offer?
Find out more
Flexibility
Accessibility and Adaptability
Our online courses can be undertaken on the go. Hosted on the CPA website and developed to be accessed on laptops, tablets and even mobile/smartphones, our courses are designed to be available no matter what application is used. Our courses have also been designed for those with differing learning approaches, like reading, listening or through action.
Relevance and Reality
In designing the content of our courses, we chose not to take the overly theoretical and academic route. Instead, we wanted to uphold the core premise behind the CPA, which is that the only people who really know what it is like to be a parliamentarian, are other parliamentarians. As such, the content provides real life perspectives, case studies and practical advice.
A Global Perspective
Some courses have a tendency to be focused around one country or one system or approach. But we have strived throughout all our courses to offer a broad Commonwealth-wide approach. We offer examples and case studies from a vast variety of national and sub-national, large and small country perspectives, harnessing our global network. No other courses can provide so rich a learning experience.
Experience and Expertise
For all of our courses, we have sourced experienced global experts to provide and offer their insights and advice. From Speakers, Ministers, long-serving clerks and officials, parliamentary development consultants and even a former President, all have given their time and support. We have utilised the latest research and studies and incorporated them into our course curriculum. Our courses are structured to be engaging, instructive and have been tested and developed in broad consultation. We seek to continuously improve our courses by taking on-board the invaluable feedback of our students.
Affordability
We appreciate that professional development and learning can be overlooked due to personal and organisational resource limitations. Whereas we seek to recover our costs, we have worked hard to ensure our courses are affordable. Because learning is so important to us, we have even created a number of discounted rates to ensure as many people as possible can utilise our resources.
CPA Parliamentary Professional Development Certificate
Courses 101 - 104, 201
101 - Induction for New Parliamentarians
This introductory online course is designed for newly elected or appointed parliamentarians. It is also valuable for candidates running in elections, who are keen to get ahead of the curve should they be elected. It is equally valuable for parliamentarians’ staff who are new to the parliamentary scene. The course provides a useful overview of the key components of being a parliamentarian. Modules cover topics on legislating, scrutinising and holding the executive to account. There are a range of practical sections covering managing an office, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, constituency engagement, personal safety, ethics, communication and working with external stakeholders.
“This course was indeed very helpful on areas like procedure and conduct... this course encouraged me to do more CPA courses to gain more knowledge."
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 12 modules
Course Time (approx.): 4-5 hours
Course Price: From £125 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
102 - Legislative Process
Or everything you wanted to know about legislating, but were afraid to ask! This online course looks in detail at the legislative process in a step-by-step way. The course looks at the various stages of a Bill and how to amend and scrutinise legislation. It covers all types of legislation, including Public, Private, Hybrid and even Money Bills. The course also looks at current trends around emergency legislation, and post-legislative scrutiny. Whether you are in parliament or not, it is a valuable resource in gaining an expertise in how to draft, amend or repeal laws.
This course gives a good idea of what could be implemented in our Parliament and just an overall view of best practices worldwide. I liked the illustrated examples from different jurisdictions.
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 9 modules
Course Time (approx.): 3-4 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
103 - Scrutiny, Accountability and Oversight
This course covers the many varied ways that scrutiny is conducted within parliaments, committees, and oversight bodies. From Public Accounts Committees to Audit Institutions, this course gives a detailed look at the types of scrutiny and accountability available to parliaments. This course also examines the role of scrutiny and accountability in the chamber by advising how to hold the government accountable during debates. By the end of this course students will have a clear understanding of the benefits and best practices of scrutiny within varied parliamentary and non-parliamentary settings.
“It was a good refresher on the basics of scrutiny, accountability and oversight. Examples from different legislatures and best practices were most useful.
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 8 modules
Course Time (approx.): 3-4 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
104 - Representation, Advocacy and Education
The Representation, Advocacy and Education course covers a range of topics relevant to contemporary parliaments and it explores the broad question of what is the role of a parliamentarian? You will also look at advocacy work within your role and how-to best advocate for your constituency, from gathering expert advice, to asking questions, and delivering rousing speeches. Furthermore, this course looks closely at engaging with your community such as working with higher education institutions and the benefits of public outreach and education. By the end of this course you will have an understanding of various engagement channels and how to best utilise them, as well as techniques for making your voice heard.
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 7 modules
Course Time (approx.): 3-4 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
201 - Advanced - Speaker and Presiding Officer Course
The primary objective of this unique course is to provide newly appointed Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments with the knowledge and skills on how to perform their functions as the leaders within their parliamentary institutions. The course is intended for new or experienced Speakers and Presiding Officers. It is also beneficial to Deputy Speakers who wish to gain more understanding in their support role. The course will also be of value to Private Secretaries and support staff within Speaker offices, external parliamentary professional development specialists or political students.
The course will examine in-depth the procedural, administrative, ceremonial and outreach roles of Speakers and Presiding Officers from within a Commonwealth context. Nevertheless, such a course has value to students from outside the Commonwealth.
Course Level: Advanced
Course Length: 11 modules
Course Time (approx.): 6-8 hours
Course Price: From £125 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
CPA Parliamentary Service Professional Development Certificate
Courses 01-05
01 - Administration and Management of Parliament
In this course, students will learn about the complex systems of administration and management that make parliaments effective institutions, but also effective employers. This course covers the importance of Human Resources as well as ethics and standards within parliament. It also explores the topic of financial management such as parliamentary budgets and financial accountability. By the end of this course, students will possess a clear understanding of the administrative and financial aspects of working within a parliament.
“I really enjoyed the videos and how everything gets explained... It is really something wonderful...now i also understand different terminology which helps a lot. This is a good course for any future official starting at a legislature or Parliament.”
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 11 modules
Course Time (approx.): 4-5 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
02 - The Committee System
This course will provide an overview of the committee system within a parliamentary context. The course includes information on the various types of committees and their remits, the role of committee Chairs, Members and staff. Broken down into a number of modules and lessons, and including video presentations from leading global experts, the course provides an opportunity to learn about the ways in which committees can be most effective. The course features a range of case studies and resources taken from across the Commonwealth, providing a unique breadth of knowledge on the various types of committee and their function in different jurisdictions. Although the course has been tailored for newly appointed clerks and officials, the course is suitable for anyone new to the committee system.
“As a Committee Secretary I found the course very useful as an indicator as to how my committees compare to other Commonwealth jurisdictions.”
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 10 modules
Course Time (approx.): 4-5 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
03 - Parliamentary Procedure: The Basics
This can be one of the more intimidating aspects of parliamentary processes. This course offers expert advice and guidance from former and current clerks and parliamentary staff, who explore key concepts within parliamentary procedure, including parliamentary privileges, powers, and immunity. Students will also learn about the separation of powers and the role of the Latimer House Principles. By the end of this course, students will have a firm understanding of the complex nature of parliamentary processes and will have more confidence in interpreting Standing Orders and the rules of the game.
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 8 modules
Course Time (approx.): 3-4 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
04 - Building Relationships
This course covers a crucial aspect of any parliamentary staff member’s role and that is navigating, managing, and cultivating relationships. You will learn how to build effective relationships with Members, Presiding Officers as well as Ministers and Government Officials. This course will also provide guidance and tips on working with and engaging young people in the parliamentary process. Upon completing this course, you will have the knowledge and skills to work effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders, while also exploring the importance of building relationships with colleagues and other parliamentary staff.
Course Level: Beginner
Course Length: 8 modules
Course Time (approx.): 3-4 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
05 - Strategy, Business Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation
This course offers a better understanding of corporate governance through a contemporary lens that gives a detailed explanation and guidance on the role of monitoring and evaluation, creating business plans and the importance of risk management. This course gives clear and accessible definitions for concepts that play a vital role in the everyday workings of a parliament. By the end of this course students will be familiar and comfortable with these topics and possess the knowledge to put forward business plans and monitoring
and evaluation strategies.
I took away a lot of interesting links to resources to further reading and investigation! The course gave me lots of ideas for future initiatives and areas of improvement for my own office.
Course Length: 5 modules
Course Time (approx.): 2-3 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
CPA Public Financial Management Certificate
Course 701
701 - Public Accounts Committee Course
The course is aimed at Chairs, Members, potential Members and support staff of Public Accounts and equivalent committees. It aims to increase basic financial understanding and knowledge of the role within the committee. This course will enhance your understanding of the vital role that Public Accounts Committees (PACs) play in society. Modules will cover the history of PACs, the role of Members and staff as well as the remit of Supreme Audit Institutions. After completing this course, you will have a thorough grasp on the role and remit of PACs.
Course Level: Moderate
Course Length: 7 modules
Course Time (approx.): 4-5 hours
Course Price: £0 GBP (free to access for all)
CPA Small Branches: Climate Change Certificate
Course 301
301 - Parliamentary Action on Climate Change in Small Jurisdictions Course
This course is designed for elected or appointed parliamentarians and parliamentary staff and has been designed with the CPA Small Branches Network in mind but is available for all. Throughout the course you will explore the basics of climate change and how it impacts small jurisdictions in particular. It will focus on the science of climate change, disaster risk management and the importance of international frameworks. In addition, it will look at how to mitigate against and adapt to the effects of climate change as well how to engage with the local community on the important topic. By the end of this Course, you will have all the tools available to enact real change to combat climate change and its effects in your jurisdiction.
I have learnt many new things. I have come to realise that climate change is real and is affecting the whole world. For small jurisdictions like Bougainville, the effects are being felt across communities, especially those that are living on low-lying islands and atolls.
Course Level: Moderate
Course Length: 8 modules
Course Time (approx.): 5-6 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
CPA CWP: Effective Women's Parliamentary Caucuses
Course 401
401 - Effective Women's Parliamentary Caucuses
This course is designed for elected or appointed parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. This course offers an introduction to the main methods used to establish and run effective women’s parliamentary caucuses, based on the experiences of Parliaments across the Commonwealth and beyond. The course first explores the process of establishing a women’s parliamentary caucus, covering key issues such as how institutions can garner support, challenge resistance, and take advantage of a window of opportunity to successfully establish their caucus. It then outlines how to run an effective women’s parliamentary caucus, with lessons on structuring caucuses, setting clear goals, establishing partnerships, remaining viable and engaging with male allies.
Course Level: Moderate
Course Length: 8 modules
Course Time (approx.): 4-5 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
CPA CPwD Network: Making Parliaments Accessible Certificate
Course 501
501 - Making Parliaments Accessible to Persons with Disabilities
This course is designed for elected or appointed parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. Throughout the course you will explore how to make your parliament accessible. It will focus on accessible communication strategies, unmasking misconceptions around disability and the importance of international frameworks. In addition it will look at Equality and Inclusion Departments as well as the social benefits of increased accessibility. By the end of this Course, you will be able to ensure your Parliament is accessible for persons with disabilities.
Course Level: Moderate
Course Length: 5 modules
Course Time (approx.): 4-5 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
CPA Sustainable Development Goals Certificate
Course 601
601 - Sustainable Development Goals: A Parliament's Role
This course is designed for elected or appointed parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. Throughout the course you will explore how to progress the SDG agenda through your role as a Parliamentarian. It will focus on key SDG engagement as well as SDG Financing, as we hear from experts in the field. By the end of this Course, you will be able to ensure you know what the SDGs are and how you can help achieve them ahead of the 2030 deadline.
Course Level: Moderate
Course Length: 5 modules
Course Time (approx.): 4-5 hours
Course Price: From £75 GBP (free to CPA members and staff)
Terms and Conditions
Find out more about how to access the course and our policies
Payment processing
Once you have been given access to the Academy portal, students, when applicable, can pay for access to any individual course. Payment can only be made via PayPal using an account or via credit or debit cards. Payment will be required in GBP only.
In some circumstances, payments can also be accepted via bank transfer on request.
Access to discounts
To be entitled to any of the discount rates, the CPA team will require certain proofs. These can be email addresses, scanned business cards, scanned student cards, etc. Fail to comply to such requests may result in discounts not being applied.
As indicated, certain groups are entitled to a discounted rate to access the online courses. These groups are listed below:
CPA Member (Discount Rate 3 - 100%)
All current parliamentarians and parliamentary officials based within Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Parliaments and Legislatures (CPA Branches) are entitled to access the courses for free (100% discount). Members of this group must contact the CPA providing proof of membership, namely a designated parliamentary email address (suspended CPA Branches are only able to access Discount Rate 2 - see below).
Alumni, Partner Organisations, Candidates and Youth Parliamentarians (Discount Rate 2 - 50%)
All former parliamentarians and parliamentary officials based within CPA Parliaments and Legislatures are entitled to access the 50% discount. CPA Branches may be asked to verify that those claiming the discount are applicable to access this discount. The rate is also available to parliamentary electoral candidates in Commonwealth countries and youth parliamentarians. The discount is also available to CPA partner organisations. These will be Commonwealth Accredited and Associated organisations, UN agencies, secretariats of international, regional and national organisations working in the Commonwealth alongside the CPA, in particular NGOs and certain CSOs. To enquire if the organisation you work for is entitled to this rate, please contact the CPA Headquarters Secretariat. As stated above, Commonwealth Parliaments that are suspended, in abeyance or awaiting membership ratification are also entitled to access this rate.
Non-Commonwealth Parliaments and Academia (Discount Rate 1 - 25%)
Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from national or sub-national parliaments outside of the Commonwealth can access this discounted rate. This rate is also open to academics and students studying politics or related subjects who are based in Commonwealth universities, colleges or other educational institutions. Those wishing to access this discounted rate will be asked to show proof of study (student cards, etc.).
Negotiated group rates
Membership-based organisations or academic institutions that cannot access the above discounts, organisations who wish to negotiate a larger group discount or those that wish to have access to all courses can contact the CPA Headquarters Secretariat to discuss rates via academy@cpahq.org.
Refund and other related policies
Please review the terms and conditions page for more information.