New director training programme opens in Singapore.
The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop the Company Director Fundamentals (CDF) programme, a refreshed training curriculum aimed at strengthening director capability and corporate governance standards across Singapore.
Announced by Second Minister for Finance Ms Indranee Rajah at the SID Directors Conference 2026, the programme opens for registration in October 2026. For directors and the companies they serve, it signals a renewed push to raise governance standards across boards.
What the CDF programme covers
The CDF is structured around two phases. CDF 101 comprises six complimentary modules covering the legal, fiduciary and governance responsibilities directors are expected to discharge, giving newer directors a practical foundation before taking on board duties. CDF 201 builds on this with four paid modules covering areas increasingly relevant to board stewardship, organisational resilience and long-term business performance.
Both phases are jointly developed by ACRA and SID with support from RSM Singapore and Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, while a multi-agency working group comprising the CPF Board, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and the Workplace Safety and Health Council will support its ongoing review. SID will deliver the programme, and directors completing all ten modules will receive a joint Certificate of Completion from ACRA and SID, with a pathway to additional SID accreditation for those who wish to go further.
A more flexible approach to director training
Boards in Singapore face growing expectations to navigate legal, technological and business challenges more complex than in previous years. By making practical governance training more accessible and bite-sized, ACRA and SID intend the CDF programme to lift baseline governance competencies among directors regardless of company size, ownership structure or stage of growth. The emphasis on modular, self-paced modules reflects a deliberate move away from lengthy one-off courses towards training that busy directors can realistically complete alongside their board duties.
Preparing for the CDF rollout
Companies reviewing board composition or onboarding new directors should factor the October 2026 registration opening into their planning. The programme may be particularly relevant for foreign-owned Singapore companies and groups with directors based overseas, as directors of Singapore companies are expected to understand and discharge their duties under Singapore law wherever they are based. Existing directors may also use the programme to refresh their understanding of statutory duties.
While the CDF does not introduce a mandatory training requirement, it gives companies a clearer, structured resource for supporting directors as governance responsibilities become more complex, and a common foundation that can be applied across boards of different sizes and structures.
