Our standard
The Accreditation Standard
The criteria every activity must meet to carry our mark, published in full so providers, learners and employers all know exactly what accreditation means.
Version 1.0. Updated October 2026.
About the standard
One standard for everyone
Every provider, whatever its size or country, is assessed against the same criteria by the same method. The standard is reviewed each year by our Independent Advisory Panel, and every version is published with a number and date.
Must and should
“Must” is a requirement. An activity that does not meet it cannot be approved. “Should” is good practice that assessors take into account.
Evidence
For each criterion, the standard lists the evidence to send so the assessor can confirm it is met.
What it covers
Courses, workshops, eLearning, webinars, events, podcasts, publications and blended programmes. See what we accredit.
What it confirms
That learning is structured, accurate and well delivered, that it is checked, and that the CPD hours are honest. It is not a regulated qualification.
The criteria
Eight criteria, all required
An activity must meet every requirement of every criterion to be approved. These are the key requirements. The full standard adds the evidence to submit, examples of good practice and the most common reasons for changes.
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C1
Clear learning outcomes
Learners know what they will gain.
- Two to eight outcomes, each using an observable verb such as explain, apply or evaluate
- Achievable within the CPD hours claimed
- Shared with learners before or at the start
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C2
Accurate, current content
The material is correct and up to date.
- Consistent with current law, regulation and good practice
- Facts, statistics and regulatory statements referenced
- Reviewed within the last twelve months
- Free of sales or promotional content
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C3
Suitable delivery
Methods fit the format, audience and outcomes.
- Includes active learning, not only passive content
- Intended audience and prerequisites stated
- Accessible, for example captions on all video
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C4
Evidence of learning
The activity checks that learning took place.
- A quiz, task, case study or reflection mapped to the outcomes
- A pass mark and a chance to retake where a quiz is used
- Certificates issued only on completion
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C5
Competent trainers and authors
The people behind it know the subject.
- Relevant qualifications, experience or both
- Experience in teaching adults for live trainers
- A way of monitoring trainer quality
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C6
Honest CPD hours
Hours are calculated by our method.
- Calculated as set out in the standard
- Always rounded down to the nearest half hour
- The same hours in all marketing and on certificates
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C7
Learner support
Learners can ask, comment and complain.
- A clear way to ask questions about the content
- Feedback collected and reviewed at least once a year
- A learner complaints procedure
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C8
Truthful marketing
Claims about the activity are accurate.
- Hours and format described accurately
- Called accredited only once approved and while valid
- Never presented as a qualification or regulatory approval
CPD hours
How hours are calculated
CPD hours are what learners record and what employers rely on, so every provider calculates them the same way.
- One CPD hour is sixty minutes of active, structured learning
- Hours are shown in half-hour steps, always rounded down
- The minimum is half an hour
- Breaks, meals, registration, networking and sponsor content never count
- Compulsory pre-work counts only if it is needed to meet the outcomes
By format
- Courses and workshops
- Scheduled learning time, minus breaks.
- eLearning
- The median completion time from a pilot with at least five learners.
- Webinars, video and podcasts
- The learning content’s running time, plus any learning check.
- Conferences and events
- Hours per session, claimed only for sessions attended.
- Publications
- Reading time at 200 words per minute, plus any learning check.
Worked example
A workshop runs from 9:00 to 17:00 with two 15-minute breaks and a 45-minute lunch. That is 6 hours 45 minutes of learning, so it carries 6.5 CPD hours.
Certificates and the mark
Protecting what accreditation means
Every certificate shows
- The learner’s full name
- The activity title
- The provider’s name
- The completion date
- The CPD hours earned
- The accreditation number
- A unique certificate number
- Our mark
- A QR code to verify it
Using the mark
The mark may only appear on activities that are currently accredited, always next to the accreditation number and exactly as supplied. It must never suggest that a whole organisation is approved, or that accreditation is a qualification or a licence. It is removed within 30 days if accreditation ends.
After approval
Keeping accreditation current
Decisions, appeals and timescales are explained step by step in how accreditation works.
Twelve months, renewed each year
Renewal is part of your membership and does not use your plan’s allowance for new activities.
Telling us about changes
Changes to the outcomes, more than a quarter of the content, the hours, the format or the lead trainer must be reported within ten working days.
Records
Providers keep each learner’s completion, hours and certificate number for at least three years.
Spot checks
We may review any accredited activity at any time. Accreditation can be suspended or withdrawn if the standard is no longer met, always with the right to respond and to appeal.
Downloads
Read it in full
Accreditation Standard
The complete standard, with the evidence required for each criterion, worked examples and both checklists. Version 1.0, 18 pages.
Download PDFSelf-assessment and submission checklists
Work through these before you apply to check your activity is ready and you have everything to send. 3 pages.
DownloadDoes your training meet the standard?
Send us a question and we will help you check which of your activities qualify.