Get CPD accredited for FREE - does it really exist?
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development and describes learning activities that a professional completes to develop and enhance their capabilities. CPD enables learning to become conscious and proactive, rather than passive and reactive.
CPD combines different types of training such as eLearning, workshops, seminars, conferences and events all focused for professionals to improve their work abilities.
The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation to organisations across all industries. Our background and experience enables us to provide the highest level of training course and event CPD accreditation.
Our thoughts on 'FREE' CPD accreditation
This article provides some simple guidance on the possible risks and concerns surrounding getting accredited for free CPD accreditation.
Cheap and easy is not often considered a sustainable suitable alternative for quality and reliability. When it comes to training course accreditation, the process should be thoroughly tested against industry recognised benchmarks and standards. It takes time and effort to assess a training course and to make sure value-add is provided to the learner.
If your training courses have free CPD accreditation, has it really been assessed or did you just get a free logo? How will this attitude reflect on your business by your potential clients?
We do not want organisations not be fooled by marketing spin that claims to provide free CPD accreditation. There is a view there is no such thing as getting accredited for 'free' CPD accreditation, and you should be dubious of such free offers. There is a common saying; “you get what you pay for”.
Industry recognised CPD accreditation gives organisations and learners peace of mind when investing their time and money into training resources.
Is “Get CPD Accredited for FREE” just marketing?
There has been a minor surge of new companies using marketing terminology such as “FREE CPD Accreditation” and “Get CPD Accredited for FREE”.
In many instances where there is advertising of ‘free accreditation’ you will find later hidden fees when you actually need to accredit your courses or events. Possibly you maybe spending more than when you originally joined, or are buying a relatively new logo that may not even have industry trademarks in place.
Furthermore, we have noticed some new ‘free accreditation’ websites copying and pasting content from our main CPD website. It is always worth doing some due diligence as your business brand is important. Do you know how much value you are adding to your company by marketing your free CPD accreditation?
The CPD Certification Service has more than 27 years experience providing recognised CPD accreditation for organisations ranging from small consultancy firms to large training providers, multi-national corporations, conference & events organisers, universities, further education colleges, local authorities, councils and Government departments.
Thousands of CPD training providers are sharing their skills with the world
CPD accreditation process
The CPD accreditation process is simple and helps organisations formalise their knowledge into a recognised approach to learning.
Step one
Contact our team
Use our simple form to contact our friendly team and tell us about your organisation, training courses and events.
Step two
Discuss your CPD
Our professional team can provide information on the steps to get courses accredited and become a CPD training provider.
Step three
Become CPD accredited
As a CPD provider you can submit your training and events directly to the Assessments team for accreditation.
Does 'FREE' accreditation risk your business?
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of free CPD accreditation.
Has free CPD accreditation obtained recognised validation? How can you get CPD accredited for free if training courses and events need to be assessed to the highest standards of learning? Who is paying for the quality assessments and further support? Are courses and events being approved without review?
Align your business to the best support you can get. What message are you portraying to your target audience if you charge them for training and events but use free CPD accreditation.
The risks involved aligning to cheap and free alternatives sometimes do not outweigh the benefits. Quality standards can decrease, service and support may fall aside, and trustworthiness can be questioned at times.
About The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service is a key driving force in the promotion of Continuing Professional Development, with CPD providers in over 100 countries across the world.
Why get your training CPD accredited?
Continuing Professional Development is a powerful learning tool that professionals from across all industries can apply to their lives to remain focused on improving skills and take an empowering approach to career progression.
Continuing Professional Development is a commitment to ongoing lifelong learning. CPD encourages looking forward and identifying opportunities to learn something new, refresh existing knowledge, and improve skills.
Working with The CPD Service
We have over 35,000 CPD providers, courses and events in over 100 countries, and more than 27 years' experience advising organisations on how to get courses accredited for Continuing Professional Development.
CPD accreditation benchmarks training courses and events to the highest recognised industry standards. Our Assessments team provide feedback and support to help improve the quality of learning where suitable. CPD accreditation offers reassurance and peace of mind to individuals undertaking the learning for their Continuing Professional Development requirements.
What activities can be CPD accredited?
Continuing Professional Development accreditation covers a whole range of different learning methods. Our Assessments team review thousands of CPD courses, workshops seminars and events every year.
TRAINING COURSES
CPD training courses are the most well-known method of completing Continuing Professional Development. They vary in length and will often be specific to one subject or offer skills in a particular area of an industry.
SEMINARS
Seminars are a type of short course and are typically a few hours long, but sometimes last up to one day. CPD seminars provide an opportunity to focus on a particular subject matter in detail and they are usually conducted in group settings with interactive discussion allowing individuals to contribute.
WORKSHOPS
CPD workshops are interactive educational group sessions which are similar to seminars but with a few differences. CPD workshops are less theoretical and tend to offer a more hands-on, practical skills approach to learning.
WEBINARS
Webinars are a method of online learning which is held virtually and attended by an online audience. Often, the main objective of a CPD webinar is to educate and inform professionals in a short and concise manner about new and relevant information.
EVENTS
There are a number of different forms of learning that can be considered a CPD event. CPD events include conferences held at venues, often with keynote sessions and breakout learning by topic. Seminars and workshops may also feature as part of wider CPD events.
ONLINE COURSES
Online CPD courses are an increasingly popular method of learning that offer convenience and affordability. As in-person event and course materials can be shared free online, there is no need to attend.
Apply for CPD accreditation today
Next Steps - Talk to our team
Find out how CPD accreditation can add value to your training and events. Support the millions of people who complete Continuing Professional Development each year.
