Certification Conditions

Identity, Constitution and Governance

Identity

A.1 The Applicant is a clearly identifiable person (whether an individual or a body).

Constitution

A.2 The Applicant must ensure that it at all times:

1. is ordinarily resident in the UK, or
2. has a substantial presence in the UK

A.3 Unless the Applicant is an individual:

1. it is properly constituted in accordance with law, and
2. it holds all registrations, authorisations, or approvals required to be held by a person of its type

Governance

A.4 The Applicant is organised and governed in such a way that will provide appropriate support for its activities as a Certified CPD Accreditation Service Provider.

A.5 The Applicant has in place appropriate arrangements to secure that it will be able to:

1. identify and monitor any Conflict of Interest which exists in relation to it, and
2. manage any Conflict of Interest which relates to it, to ensure that the Conflict of Interest does not give rise to prejudice to its clients or their potential Learners or adversely affect:
   1. the ability of the Applicant to undertake the development, delivery of CPD Accreditation Services in accordance with its Conditions of Certification
   2. the standards of Accreditation Services which the Applicant may make available as a certified CPD Accreditation Service Provider, or
   3. public confidence in CPD Accreditation Service Provider

A.6 Where the Applicant is not an individual, it has in place appropriate arrangements to ensure that it will have continuing oversight of, and be directly accountable for:

1. the performance of its activities as a certified CPD Accreditation Service Provider, and
2. its compliance with its Conditions of Recognition

Integrity

Integrity of the Applicant

B.1 The Applicant must be a suitable person to be recognised for CPD Accreditation Services, having regard in particular to:

1. any finding by a court or any professional, regulatory, or government body that it has been in breach of any provision of Competition Law, Equalities Law, or Data Protection Law
2. any finding by a court or any professional, regulatory, or government body that it has been in breach of a provision of any legislation or any regulatory obligation to which it is subject, and
3. any instance of insolvency or corporate financial restructuring to which it is or has been subject

Resources and Financing

C.1 The Applicant has, or has appropriate arrangements in place to ensure that it will have:

1. the systems, processes and resources, and
2. the financial resources and facilities, to enable it to undertake, in accordance with its Conditions of Certification, the development, delivery of CPD Accreditation Services which it may make available as a certified CPD Accreditation Service Provider.

Competence

D.1 The Applicant’s understanding of, commitment to, and approach to the development, delivery of CPD Accreditation is sufficient, having regard to the need to ensure that:

1. it will be able to undertake, in accordance with its Conditions of Certification, the development, delivery of CPD Accreditation Services which it may make available as a certified CPD Accreditation Service Provider
2. any such CPD Accreditation Services must, as far as possible, be Valid, Reliable, Comparable, Manageable and Minimise Bias, and
3. any such CPD Accreditation Services must be compatible with the requirements of Equalities Law

We know a few of our members need extra support to stay on track. In some sectors we take a risk-based approach to applications, including unannounced spot check visits and/ or mystery shops. We adopt a fair and objective method of identifying high-risk members. This is an internal system which uses the nature and number of non-conformances to categorise each member according to reputational risk. We have found this is the best way to bring these members up to the required standards.

What if a Member isn't Fully Compliant?

If during an application and membership the CPD Organisation is found to be non-compliant against a standard due to a missed element of the requirements such as misplacing important documentation the assessor will raise a non-conformance. The member has 28 days to address the issue and provide evidence to us, the certification body, that they have taken steps to be fully compliant. If they do so, their certification will be continuous. A new member cannot be certified until they are able to show all standards can be complied with.

When is a Member Suspended or Withdrawn from the Scheme?

Non-conformance Suspension

If a non-conformance is not corrected within 28 days, as the certification body, we will suspend certification. If an assessment finds a major non-compliance, such as a false accreditation, the suspension is immediate until evidence has been provided to us that the CPD Accreditation Organisation is now complying with the requirements of the standard. While a certificate is suspended, the member cannot sell any CPD Accreditation as CPD Register Certified and Assured.

Non-conformance Withdrawal

The suspension can last up to 3 months. If within this time period the member fails to show that they are fully compliant, their certification will be withdrawn and their membership revoked. Alongside routine inspections, certification can be suspended or withdrawn if non-compliance issues raised by a third party can be fully substantiated. If a member fails to show that they are now fully compliant, their certification will be revoked.

Alongside routine inspections, we can suspend or withdraw certification if non-compliance issues raised by a third party can be fully substantiated.