Is private study Category A or Category B CPD?

Category B. It cannot count toward the minimum 5 Category A points, so private study covers at most 5 of the 10 points in a standard year.

How long do I have to finish a private study activity?

Under LIN 26/001 a private study activity must be completed within 12 months of the date you enrol.

Can I do the mandatory ethics and Code of Conduct points by private study?

Yes. Both mandatory topics can be satisfied by Category A or Category B activities approved for that topic. Widen offers each as a self-paced module and within live sessions.

How many online CPD points can I do in one day?

No more than 6 points from online activities count in any continuous 24-hour period. That includes online private study and online live sessions together.

Widen CPD › CPD Guide › Private study CPD

CPD Guide

Private study CPD for migration agents: how Category B modules work

Private study with assessment is the self-paced half of a CPD year: study online when it suits you, pass an assessment, receive a certificate. It is also the half with the most rules attached since 1 April 2026. Here is how it works and how to use it without wasting points.

The short answer

Private study with assessment is a Category B activity. Because at least 5 of your 10 points must be Category A, private study can cover at most 5 points of a standard year. Each activity must be completed within 12 months of enrolment, and no more than 6 online points count in any 24-hour period. Both mandatory topics can be done by private study.

What counts as private study

Under LIN 26/001, Category B covers conferences, seminars, lectures and private study with assessment. A private study activity is structured learning material you work through on your own, followed by an assessment that tests it. A recording of a webinar with no assessment is not CPD; a recording with an approved assessment attached is private study. The provider and the activity must both be OMARA-approved. Category A vs B in full →

The rules in one table

Rule	Detail
Category	B. Does not count toward the 5-point Category A minimum.
Maximum useful points	5 of 10 in a standard year (the other 5 must be Category A).
Completion window	Must be completed within 12 months of the date you enrol.
Online cap	No more than 6 points from online activities count in any continuous 24-hour period. Online live sessions share the same cap.
Mandatory topics	Ethics and Code of Conduct can each be covered by a private study activity approved for that topic.
Repeat completions	The same activity cannot be claimed twice. Widen modules can be completed once per agent.

How a Widen module runs

Enrol with your MARN and surname. Payment is A$30 incl. GST, or one point from a Points Pass.
Study the material online. Each module is about 90 minutes of reading built around a real practice problem, with the legislation and policy it relies on linked.
Pass the assessment: 10 questions drawn from a larger pool, 80% to pass. You can re-sit.
Certificate. Issued on passing, dated, with the OMARA activity number, your MARN and the category. The completion is reported to the OMARA.

Every module page shows a free preview section and sample questions before you pay, so you can judge the depth first. Browse Category B modules →

Using private study well

Knock out the mandatory topics early. The ethics and Code of Conduct modules take an evening each and remove the two requirements the OMARA checks first.
Pick modules on the work you do. The 482 Nomination Preparation Series is three Category B points on genuine position statements, salary evidence and consistency auditing.
Mind the 24-hour cap. Five modules in a day is fine. Five modules plus two online live sessions in the same 24 hours is not: only 6 points count.
Do not enrol and park. The 12-month completion rule means an unfinished module quietly expires.
Do not expect it to replace Category A. Five is the ceiling. The other five points are live sessions, which run to a schedule.

Get your CPD done with Widen CPD

OMARA-approved provider PPA10000420. Live Category A sessions and self-paced Category B modules — including the mandatory ethics and Code of Conduct topics — at A$30 incl. GST each, or a 10-point CPD Points Pass for A$220 that covers the whole year.

See upcoming CPD sessions Points Pass — 10 points A$220

FAQ

Is private study Category A or Category B CPD?: Category B. It cannot count toward the minimum 5 Category A points, so private study covers at most 5 of the 10 points in a standard year.
How long do I have to finish a private study activity?: Under LIN 26/001 a private study activity must be completed within 12 months of the date you enrol.
Can I do the mandatory ethics and Code of Conduct points by private study?: Yes. Both mandatory topics can be satisfied by Category A or Category B activities approved for that topic. Widen offers each as a self-paced module and within live sessions.
How many online CPD points can I do in one day?: No more than 6 points from online activities count in any continuous 24-hour period. That includes online private study and online live sessions together.

← Back to the full CPD requirements guide

General information for registered migration agents, not legal advice. CPD requirements are set by the OMARA under the Migration Agents (CPD Activities, Approval of CPD Providers and CPD Provider Standards) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/001) — confirm your current obligations and renewal dates at mara.gov.au. Widen CPD is an OMARA-approved CPD provider.

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Running a migration practice? Widen also does nomination documents, GPS statements, AMSR reports and 407 training plans for agents — see agent services.