CPD activities are designed for professionals to maintain and develop skills and knowledge throughout their careers. These activities can include events and courses.
In this blog, What is CPD accreditation, how to get CPD accreditation, what does CPD accreditation recognised, continuing professional education, clearly explains the importance and relevance of this field in professional careers.
What is CPD?
A process that allows professionals to keep their skills, knowledge, and experience up to date is imperative for functioning at the highest level. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a lifelong commitment to maintaining and improving professional competence. CPD enables learners to acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses and to address areas for development in order to stay current with changes in both their professional arena and wider developments in the profession.
CPD is an essential element of career development as it empowers individuals to feel more equipped to deal with the changing demands of their chosen career and industry. This increased ability to cope with the ever-changing nature of vocational requirements allows individuals to feel more competent and effective. Consequently, they can progress in their careers, become more content with their chosen line of work, and perform their roles more satisfactorily.
Examples of CPD activities might include completing a course, attending a workshop or seminar, participating in a webinar, undertaking self-directed CPD such as reading a relevant industry journal, taking an online course, joining a professional network, and so on. CPD is a means by which professionals – and, indeed, hobbyists – ensure they can deliver their work to the best of their ability and remain competitive.
What is CPD Accreditation?
CPD accreditation is the formal recognition of a learning activity or course by an external, reputable accrediting body against approved CPD standards. This recognition helps individuals make informed choices about learning activities that are relevant to them and aligned with their professional development. It provides confidence that the CPD activity has been scrutinised and meets quality benchmarks.
The difference between CPD and CPD accreditation is that accreditation provides a guarantee of quality. If an activity has undergone the rigours of a CPD accreditation process, it has been reviewed and approved by an authoritative organisation.
Organisations that accredit CPD are highly relevant to my imaginary self who once assumed that my employer would provide opportunities for CPD (although I’ve since learned that accrediting organisations can work equally well for individual learners who might not have an employer offering such opportunities). In either case, the presence of a recognised accrediting body reviewing and certifying courses and programmes to ensure they meet certain standards is crucial. Accreditation by a credible organisation means that educational activities offered as CPD will meet a certain minimum quality. Those granted accreditation have to satisfy specific standards and rigorous criteria in assessment. This can motivate both learners and CPD training providers to strive for standards of professional excellence.
Why is CPD Accreditation Important?
CPD accreditation is important because it enables professionals to identify courses that will enhance their skills and knowledge, thereby improving their ability to assist others. A course that meets these standards has been evaluated and can be trusted to provide high-quality learning.
However, CPD accreditation offers professionals a range of benefits beyond this. The recognition it provides builds on their efforts towards lifelong learning. Accredited qualifications are more than just paper credentials; employers value seeing accredited training on a candidate’s CV when making promotion or hiring decisions. Ultimately, CPD accreditation helps professionals maintain high standards of work by keeping them updated on industry trends and developments.
Employers also benefit from CPD accreditation. It allows them to ensure that their staff are receiving training from external providers that meet industry standards and are of satisfactory quality. Accreditation periods often align with regulatory requirements, making CPD accreditation a valuable tool for organisations striving to demonstrate compliance with industry regulations. It’s a win-win situation, organisations enhance their reputations, and both learners and training providers gain recognition from accreditation.
However, these benefits come at a cost. Accreditation fees can increase course fees by 5-10% and up to 20% for online training. A literature review commissioned by the CPD Standards Office found that accreditation can be costly for smaller companies, potentially offsetting the benefits of government vouchers and credits, and emphasizing the vertical integration of the CPD industry. But let’s not be overly pessimistic. Accreditation is just one aspect of the thriving CPD industry.
How to Obtain CPD Accreditation
To achieve CPD accreditation in uk for a short course or program, you must first identify the accreditation body that fits your industry and needs. Research the body’s standards and essential criteria, and then align your program with these standards. This initial step is crucial in the accreditation process.
Once you have chosen the appropriate body, you need to prepare your programme or course for submission. This involves collecting and compiling necessary information such as course outlines, learning outcomes, methods of assessment, and more. Thoughtfully crafting and gathering these materials will facilitate the accreditation process.
The next step is presenting your course details for review against CPD accreditation criteria. This review determines if your program includes the essential elements for accreditation. Key considerations include: relevance and timeliness of content, balanced presentation, enthusiasm for the subject matter, course topic and length, delivery methods, practicality, quality control (e.g., peer review), and clear statement of practitioner obligations to clients.
Following the assessment, you may receive questions seeking clarification or requests for additional materials. Promptly and comprehensively responding to these inquiries is crucial to advancing your application. Once your course meets all criteria, CPD accreditation will be granted. Your CPD-endorsed program can then be marketed as accredited by a recognised CPD awarding body, enhancing its credibility and attracting more learners to your quality training brand.
Benefits of CPD Accreditation for Learners
Learners benefit greatly from having their professional development accredited through CPD. Participating in an accredited programme assures learners that the training they receive is of good quality and meets the standards of the profession. This increased assurance usually leads to a more effective and worthwhile learning experience.
Another key benefit of CPD accreditation for learners is enhanced job prospects. The value and credibility of accredited courses are widely recognised. Accredited courses allow learners to enhance their CVs, providing them with a competitive edge in the job market when seeking new opportunities or promotions within their current workplace.
CPD accreditation not only provides learners with access to relevant and structured professional development opportunities but also ensures that learning programmes are tailored to meet the needs of their profession. Training endorsed with the CPD seal guarantees that the content is applicable to their career trajectory. Accredited learning pathways help learners maintain organisation and commitment, offering a structured professional development pathway that aligns with their job and personal goals. This assurance enables learners to trust that their professional development efforts are purposeful and likely to yield success.
Benefits of CPD Accreditation for Providers
CPD accreditation offers significant benefits for course providers. One of the main advantages is increased credibility and trustworthiness. A CPD-accredited course signifies a high-quality programme, which encourages prospective learners to trust the provider and enrol in the course.
Another advantage is that accreditation gives providers a competitive edge in the education market. Potential learners, especially professionals needing to validate their training to employers, can distinguish between accredited and non-accredited courses. Accredited courses are perceived as more trustworthy and likely to be recognised, prompting learners to choose the accredited option, even if it costs more or requires more time. This results in higher enrolment for providers and greater income.
Finally, being CPD accredited enables providers to collaborate with professional associations and agencies. Internationally, many sectors have professional institutions and regulatory bodies served by training providers. Accreditation opens doors to building relationships with these organisations, potentially leading to endorsements, referrals of trainees, or direct orders for courses for their members.
CPD in Different Industries
CPD varies across sectors, but its relevance is universally important.
In hospital CPD, it ensures the use of the latest medical technologies and practices, ensuring the best care and treatment for patients. It is crucial for medical personnel to stay updated with new medications and share knowledge, enhancing patient management quality. Certain scheduled CPD activities are mandatory to maintain or obtain medical professional licenses.
In education, CPD keeps teachers updated with the latest teaching techniques and empowers them to navigate curriculum changes and educational technologies. This enhances the overall quality of education and fosters appropriate reading, listening, and learning skills.
In the IT sector, employers require both new and existing staff to undergo CPD annually. This professional development is crucial for IT professionals to stay current with evolving technologies and industry trends, ensuring they maintain updated certifications and skills.
CPD is also critical in finance, where new regulations significantly impact compliance and financial products. Financial specialists must stay informed about fintech advancements to provide clients with suitable advice.
Each industry or sector has specific CPD standards set by professional bodies or regulatory agencies. These requirements evolve annually to meet members’ needs and uphold industry standards for quality, relevance, and value.
How to Choose a CPD Accredited Course
It’s not always clear how to select a good CPD course, whether accredited or not. As a first step in the selection process, try to understand the reputation and standards of the accrediting body. A good accrediting body ensures that the course meets rigorous quality standards or at least a minimum level of quality that, in my experience, does not compromise thorough learning experiences.
Ensure there is a connection between the course you are considering and your career goals and development needs. Does the course cover areas of knowledge relevant to your career or professional development needs? Does it offer something useful to you? Are the topics meaningful and relevant? The course structure, delivery of learning materials, content organization, and how it addresses your career demands all influence your decision.
If the course includes testimonials or reviews from past participants, these can be helpful in deciding whether to pursue it further. Positive feedback about the impact and usefulness from previous participants adds weight to peer recommendations.
Lastly, consider the course structure and accessibility. An online course often offers more flexibility in terms of when and where you learn, making it more suitable for your schedule. An online course should also provide real opportunities and encouragement for interaction and engagement.
Reflecting on these factors can help you choose a CPD-accredited course that enhances your skills, advances your career, and provides a rewarding learning experience.
Promoting CPD Accredited Courses
Here are the best tactics that higher education companies or training providers can use to promote their CPD-accredited courses.
Firstly, it is important to keep the CPD Accreditation logo visible in all advertising materials. This logo often forms potential learners’ first impression of the course, so presenting it clearly boosts their confidence in its quality.
Using success stories and testimonials from past attendees of CPD-accredited courses illustrates the potential benefits for individuals. Real-world examples of how a course directly benefited past attendees can personalize the course for learners, adding realism to what can often be an abstract concept. Sharing testimonials on the course provider’s website, through social media, and in email marketing campaigns can all enhance the attractiveness of a CPD-accredited course.
Listicles or other types of content that explain how to start and complete a CPD activity provide relevant and engaging information to prospective candidates. Blog posts and videos on obtaining CPD accreditation for courses, details of self-directed CPD courses influencing career enhancement and skill improvement, and infographics on how CPD accredited courses enhance job prospects and professional recognition are effective resources for raising awareness about CPD.
Offering free webinars or sample lessons provides potential learners with a ‘taster’ of the course, serving as a lead magnet and establishing credibility as a CPD advisor. Additionally, providing special offers or early sign-up discounts can act as conversion incentives, potentially boosting sign-up rates.
Conclusion
CPD Accreditation serves as an important due diligence measure, ensuring that the professional developmental activities provided are robust. It also offers strategic advantages for both professionals and organisations, including enhanced marketability and strong compliance with industry guidelines.
Continuing professional education (CPE) is integral to maintaining and enhancing your professional skills, with CPD certification in the UK being a recognised standard for such educational activities. Therefore, participating in CPD-accredited courses is a strategic investment that will benefit you throughout your career, positioning you effectively in the competitive job market.