Ten transparent quality criteria. The published standard every course, webinar, event, podcast, and edutorial is assessed against before it can carry our accreditation mark.
10 Criteria
Every Submission
Published
& Transparent
Individual
Assessment Only
Certified by
The CPD Register
Every CPD activity submitted to The CPD Group for accreditation is assessed against the A.C.C.R.E.D.I.T.E.D Framework. This is The CPD Group's published, transparent quality assessment framework — the set of standards against which every course, webinar, event, podcast, edutorial, and other learning activity is evaluated before it can carry our accreditation mark.
Publishing this framework openly is a deliberate choice. It means training providers know exactly what standard they are working to before they submit an activity. It means learners and employers can understand the criteria any accredited activity has been assessed against. And it means the CPD sector as a whole benefits from a clear, independently certified standard for what professional development quality looks like.
Click any letter to jump to its criterion
The content of the learning activity must be factually accurate and current. This is particularly critical in fast-moving fields such as healthcare, law, financial services, and technology, where outdated information can have serious professional consequences. The CPD Group's assessors check content accuracy as part of every assessment, with particular rigour applied to regulated and specialist subjects.
The trainer, presenter, or content author must have appropriate credentials, qualifications, and professional experience to deliver the subject matter. Credibility is assessed through the submission of trainer biographies, qualifications, and professional background. The standard required varies by subject — a course on healthcare regulation needs a qualified healthcare or legal professional; a course on digital marketing needs demonstrable industry expertise.
Learning objectives must be clearly and specifically stated. They must describe what learners will be able to do, know, or demonstrate after completing the activity — not simply list the topics covered. Clear learning objectives are the foundation of a quality CPD activity because they define the learning outcomes, guide the content structure, and allow learners to assess whether the activity meets their development needs.
The activity must be directly relevant to its stated professional audience. A course marketed to HR professionals must address HR-relevant content. A webinar for healthcare practitioners must focus on healthcare-applicable learning. Activities that are too generic, or that claim broad professional relevance without substance, will not meet the relevance standard.
The activity must support active engagement with the learning material. This does not mean every activity must include interactive elements, but it does mean the delivery approach must facilitate genuine learning rather than passive consumption. Engagement is assessed differently across formats — a course might evidence engagement through interactive exercises; a webinar through live Q&A; a podcast through structured discussion and reflection prompts.
The structure and delivery of the activity must be appropriate for the content and the audience. This covers the logical organisation of content, the appropriateness of the delivery format for the subject matter, the clarity of presentation, and the overall quality of the learning experience. Poor delivery — unclear structure, inappropriate pace, or content that does not align with the stated objectives — will not meet this standard.
The activity must deliver measurable professional learning impact. Learners must leave with something they can apply to their professional role — new knowledge, a practical skill, updated awareness, or changed behaviour. Activities that are informative but do not have clear professional application fall short of the impact standard.
The activity must be transparent about its content, duration, objectives, and the qualifications required to deliver it. Providers must not misrepresent what a course covers, how long it takes, or who delivers it. Transparency also extends to the accreditation itself — The CPD Group's accreditation numbers are publicly verifiable, and providers must not use our marks in ways that misrepresent the scope or status of their accreditation.
The activity must include a mechanism for evidencing completion. For courses and webinars, this typically means a certificate of completion. For events, attendance records. For podcasts and edutorials, a QR code that generates a personalised certificate. Evidence of completion is what allows learners to include the activity in their CPD record and present it to their professional body or employer.
Ultimately, every activity must contribute to the genuine professional development of its participants. The framework's final criterion asks whether the activity meaningfully develops the professional competence, knowledge, or capability of the people who undertake it. This is the overarching purpose of CPD and the standard against which every submission is ultimately judged.
Build your activity to all ten criteria from the start. Provider registration is free and our team will guide you through the assessment.
When a training provider submits an activity to The CPD Group, the accreditation team reviews it against all ten dimensions of the A.C.C.R.E.D.I.T.E.D Framework. If an activity meets all ten criteria, it is approved and accredited. If an assessor identifies areas where the activity falls short, they provide specific, constructive feedback on exactly which criteria need addressing and how. The CPD Group works collaboratively with providers to help them reach the required standard.
No activity receives a blanket approval. Every submission is assessed individually, regardless of how many other activities the provider has previously had accredited. This consistency is one of the reasons The CPD Group was certified by The CPD Register and named the most trusted CPD accreditation service in the sector. Read why we don't do blanket accreditation.
Ten criteria. Every activity. Independently verified by The CPD Register. The transparent standard the sector deserves.