Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can be described as a process of life-long learning whereby designated professional marketers registered with the Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA), engage in activities that develop and maintain the applied knowledge and skills required to provide greater professionalism within the South African marketing industry.

How CPD Works

Designated professional marketers are required to accumulate a specific number of CPD points within a two (2) year CPD cycle depending on his/her registered professional designation as awarded by the professional body - MASA. Successful compliance with the requirements of a particular CPD cycle will lead to renewal of that designated member’s Professional Status for the next CPD cycle.

Professional Designations and Requirements

AMSA: Associate Marketer (SA)

Associate Marketer SA is an entry level designation awarded to practicing marketers with limited marketing experience and an NQF 5 or higher qualification in Marketing.

All  practicing AMSAs, need to participate in relevant CPD activities to accumulate a total of 50 CPD points within each 24-month CPD cycle.

CPD requirements for Associate Marketer SA:
  • Sign the MASA Code of Conduct and pay the relevant membership fees.
  • Accumulate a minimum of 50 CPD points, consisting of: 35 CPD points for marketing, and 15 CPD points for non-marketing, as per the MASA CPD Guide.

MPSA: Marketing Practitioner SA

Marketing Practitioner SA is a designation awarded to marketers with at least five (5) years of practicing experience and an NQF 7 or equivalent qualification in Marketing.

All practicing MPSAs need to participate in relevant CPD activities to accumulate a total of 75 CPD points within each 24-month CPD cycle. 

CPD requirements for Marketing Practitioner SA:
  • Sign the MASA Code of Conduct and pay the relevant membership fees.
  • Accumulate a minimum of 75 CPD points, consisting of: 45 CPD points for marketing, 20 CPD points for non-marketing, and 10 CPD points for mentoring an up and coming marketer, as per the MASA CPD Guide.

CMSA: Chartered Marketer SA

Chartered Marketer SA is a designation awarded to marketers with ten (10) years of practicing experience, with no less than three (3) years at senior executive level, and  an NQF 8 or equivalent qualification in Marketing.

All  practicing CMSAs need to participate in relevant CPD activities to accumulate a total of 100 CPD points within each 24-month CPD cycle..

CPD requirements for Chartered Marketer SA:
  • Sign the MASA Code of Conduct and pay the relevant membership fees.
  • Accumulate a minimum of 100 CPD points, consisting of: 60 CPD points for marketing, 30 CPD points for non-marketing, and 10 CPD points for mentoring an up and coming marketer, as per the MASA CPD Guide.

When Audited

Mandatory CPD compliance audits are conducted by MASA to ensure the CPD compliance of all designated professional marketers.

CPD Record

It remains the responsibility of each professional marketer to report on all their CPD activities within their CPD Report Cards for every 24-months cycle, in order to maintain a valid professional designation with MASA.

A CPD Report Card is a form that summarizes all the CPD activities completed by a designated professional marketer (MASA member). All members are provided with a CPD Tracker document to assist them in logging their activities throughout the cycle.

Failure to comply

Any designated marketer who is found to be in non-compliance when audited, are given three to six months to comply after which they are audited again. If there is still non-compliance with the CPD requirements, that marketer’s professional status will not be renewed for the next CPD cycle or until all re-instatement requirements are met as defined by the Professional Designation Board of MASA.