What is CPD accreditation, and why does every Course Plus course carry it?
A plain-English guide to Continuing Professional Development, how it's verified, and what it actually does for your career.
What is CPD?
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development — the ongoing process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge, and experience you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond any initial qualification or training.
In practice, CPD is measured in CPD points/hours. Many professional bodies, employers, and regulated industries (health & safety, finance, healthcare, HR, and more) require professionals to log a certain number of CPD points per year to maintain their standing, licence, or professional membership.
A CPD accredited course means an independent accreditation body has reviewed the course content and confirmed it meets a recognised standard for professional learning — so the time you spend on it counts toward your CPD requirement, and the certificate you receive is something employers and professional bodies actually recognise.
Why CPD accreditation matters
It’s recognised, not just a certificate
Employers and professional bodies specifically look for CPD accreditation — it signals the course meets an external quality standard, not just the provider's own claim.
It counts toward compliance
If your role or industry body requires annual CPD hours, accredited courses are often the only ones that count — non-accredited training may not be accepted.
It strengthens your CV
A verifiable, accredited certificate carries more weight in job applications and internal promotions than an unverifiable "certificate of completion."
How accreditation works on Course Plus
Every course on Course Plus goes through the same process before it's certified:
Content is structured to meet CPD QC's learning outcome and assessment requirements.
CPD QC reviews the course structure, content depth, and assessment method.
The course is assigned a verified CPD point value based on learning hours.
On completion, you receive a certificate with a unique ID that can be publicly verified.
Course Plus courses are accredited by the CPD Quality Certification (CPD QC) service. This means our course content, structure, and assessments have been independently reviewed against recognised CPD standards — you're not just taking our word for it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CPD accredited certificate the same as a university qualification?
How many CPD points do I need per year?
Are Course Plus certificates recognised outside the UK?
Can my employer verify my certificate is genuine?
Can my employer verify my certificate is genuine?
Already have a certificate?
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Frequently Asked Questions
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