A CPD certified course is structured, current professional development that delivers a stated number of CPD hours. CPD certification is voluntary, non-regulated recognition from a CPD certification service, not a government regulator, and it carries no RQF, SCQF or MQF level by itself. That makes it right for short, practical development, and wrong if a buyer needs a qualification with a framework level.
What CPD certification is
CPD certification is voluntary, non-regulated recognition that a course is structured, current and delivers a stated number of CPD hours or points. It is provided by CPD certification and accreditation services, not by a regulator such as Ofqual or the MFHEA, and it does not place a course on a qualifications framework. A CPD certified course therefore carries no RQF, SCQF or MQF level on its own. That is not a weakness but a different purpose, and you should never market it as a regulated qualification.
When CPD certification is the right route
CPD certification is the right route when the learning is short, current and aimed at keeping professionals up to date, rather than awarding a formal qualification. Think webinars, half day workshops and professional updates, where the buyer wants recognised, countable development and a full qualification would be overkill. If your learners already hold their core qualifications and simply need to stay current, CPD fits.
It is the wrong route when a buyer needs a qualification with a framework level, wants credit towards something larger, or is entering a field where a regulated award is expected. In those cases you want accreditation services, not CPD.
What a CPD certified course needs
A CPD certified course needs clear objectives, current content, a stated number of CPD hours and evidence that each learner completed it. A certification service checks that the learning is well structured and genuinely developmental before it certifies, so the design has to stand up before you submit. Thin content with an inflated hour count will not pass and should not.
- Clear learning objectives stated in plain, testable terms
- Content that is current and accurate at the point of delivery
- A stated number of CPD hours based on real learning time
- Evidence of completion for each learner, kept and retrievable
- A named person responsible for keeping the content up to date
How CPD hours are counted
CPD hours are counted from the notional learning time a course genuinely takes, meaning the time a typical learner spends engaging with the material and any activity around it. If a webinar runs for ninety minutes and asks for no further work, it is not a five hour course, and a certification service will not accept that it is. There is no single official formula, so estimate the real time the learning takes, count it honestly, and be ready to explain the figure.
CPD certification versus a regulated qualification
CPD certification and a regulated qualification are different products for different needs. A regulated qualification carries a framework level and sits under a named regulator, while CPD certification carries neither and is voluntary. Choosing between them is really a question about what your buyers need to be able to prove.
| Feature | CPD certification | Regulated qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Framework level | None by itself | Carries an RQF, SCQF or MQF level |
| Recognised by | A CPD certification service | A regulator such as Ofqual or the MFHEA |
| Best for | Short, current professional development | Formal, portable awards |
| Portability | Countable as CPD across a profession | Level readable within its framework |
How to get a course CPD certified
To get a course CPD certified, structure it around clear objectives, document the CPD hours honestly, make sure the content is current, and submit it to a CPD certification service for review. The service assesses the design and, if it meets the standard, certifies the course and states the CPD hours it carries. From there you can market it as CPD certified, with the hour figure stated.
The work that matters happens before submission: a course built with testable objectives, real learning time and current content will pass, and it also helps if you later take it down a course development route towards a regulated qualification.
Common questions
Is CPD certification a qualification?
No. CPD certification is voluntary, non-regulated recognition that a course is structured, current and delivers a stated number of CPD hours, and it does not carry a framework level. A regulated qualification sits under a named regulator and carries an RQF, SCQF or MQF level, so the two are different products and a CPD certified course should never be marketed as a regulated qualification.
Who certifies CPD?
CPD certification is provided by CPD certification and accreditation services, not by a government regulator. These services review a course for structure, currency and honest CPD hours, then certify it if it meets their standard. Because CPD is voluntary and non-regulated, no state body oversees it the way a regulator oversees a qualification.
How many CPD hours should a course give?
A course should give the number of CPD hours that matches the genuine learning time it takes, and no more. Estimate the real time a typical learner spends on the material and any activity around it, count that honestly, and be ready to explain the figure. There is no official formula to borrow.
Is CPD recognised across the UK and EU?
CPD certification is generally recognised as countable professional development within a profession, but it is not a regulated qualification and carries no framework level, so it is not portable the way a levelled qualification is. Recognition depends on the profession and the employer rather than on a regulator. If you need a level that reads across the EU, a Malta-accredited qualification is the route.
Should we choose CPD or a regulated qualification?
Choose CPD when the learning is short, current and aimed at keeping professionals up to date, and choose a regulated qualification when the buyer needs a formal, portable award with a framework level. Apollo Accreditation can map the right route to your case before you build.
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