Is CPD a Qualification?

Introduction

We often get asked if a CPD Course is a qualification? The simple answer is no.

Continual Professional Development is aimed at enhancing knowledge you have already gained through Academic qualifications, such as A-Levels, GCSE's, B-Tecs, T-Levels, Apprenticeships, NVQ's, Foundation Degrees, HNC's, HND's, Bachelor Degrees, Masters, Post Graduate Certificates and Diplomas and PhD's. These are all what we class as Regulated Qualifications, which require a formal assessment to gain the Qualification.

CPD is often shorter courses and will enhance the individual's knowledge in their professional capacity. For example, Employers will often enrol their staff on CPD to enhance their current skills in a new area where a formal qualification is not available.

I have bought a course which says I will be 'Qualified', is this a Qualification?

In order to answer this question, you will need to clarify this with the training provider who is offering the course. We will cover this in more detail below with guidance on what questions to ask.

Over the years, we have seen an explosion of learning, particularly online, where Training Company's advertise Courses where they state you will be 'Qualified', however, this is not always the case.

The only courses which offer a Qualification are the ones that have already been discussed above in this article and in order for the Training Provider to offer and advertise a 'Qualification' they must be registered (generally relating to CPD), by an OfQual Regulated Awarding Organisation (England), SQA (Scotland), Qualifications Wales (Wales) or The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) (Northern Ireland), to prove that they have the expertise, experience, necessary policies and steps in place to limit malpractice (cheating).

What Questions should I ask the Training Provider to make sure I am purchasing a Qualification?

We advise all CPD Consumers to check with the training provider first if the course is being advertised as a 'Qualification'. Often, Training Providers are using the terms below to advertise and promote their CPD Training Courses to make them appeal to the CPD Consumer, which is unfortunately misleading, as these terms are associated with Regulated Qualifications only*:

• Qualification
• Qualified
• Level
• Entry Level
• Diploma
• Certificate
• Award

If you a considering purchasing a course with these terms used in the advertising materials, we suggest asking the Training Provider to clarify the below, which will give you confidence that the course is a genuine ‘Qualification’ that is recognised at an Academic Level:

• Name of the Regulated Awarding Organisation they are approved by to deliver the Qualification.
• Qualification Number for the course they are approved to deliver.
• Certificate of approval by the Awarding Organisation to deliver the Qualification.
• If the training provider is advertising ‘Degree’ level courses, ask them to provide the name of the university or academic institute it works with in conjunction to the course and then clarify with them that they work with the Training Provider.

If the Training Provider cannot provide this information, the course is most probably a CPD course. You can then search the CPD Register to find out if this course has been CPD Accredited by a reputable, CPD Accreditation Service Provider, which will give you confidence that the course has been through a third-party review, ensuring that the learning content is of a high standard, created by a Training Provider with the appropriate skills, knowledge and expertise in the course.

Conclusion

CPD and Qualifications can often be confused, essentially one complements the other and both play a major part in your professional and academic life.

It is the role of the Training Provider to properly distinguish between CPD and Qualifications when adverting their courses. By asking the questions above, it will help you choose the right course for you.

There are many subjects which do not offer a formal qualification due to the nature of the subject, so this is when a CPD course is the best option. Employers will commonly enrol their staff on a CPD Course rather than a Qualification due to the cost or not having the need for their staff to be 'Qualified' in the actual subject and rather them needing the information only and not having to take a formal exam. In this instance, a Training Provider will often create the CPD Course based around the 'learning outcomes' of the qualification in the same subject but they will need to explain that this 'mapping' has taken place and then advertise the course as e.g. 'Level 2 Equivalent'*.

Generally, Qualifications are more expensive due to the regulations involved and the time it takes to create a qualification which is one of the reasons why CPD exists, as not every subject needs to be an academic qualification and learning can be achieved and evidenced through CPD.

Some Useful Links

OfQual Register of Awarding Organisations (Used for England and Northern Ireland)

Use to search for the Awarding Organisation that the Training Provider has been approved to deliver qualifications through with.
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OfQual Register of Regulated Qualifications (Used for England and Northern Ireland)

Use to search for a qualification. The Training Provider should be able to provide a qualification number for the course they have been approved to deliver.
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SQA Register of Regulated Qualifications and Awarding Organisations

Use to search for a qualification and/ or Awarding Organisation. The Training Provider should be able to provide a qualification number for the course they have been approved to deliver and their certificate of Accrediation from the Awarding organisation.
Learn More

Qualifications Wales Register of Regulated Qualifications and Awarding Organisations

Use to search for a qualification and/ or Awarding Organisation. The Training Provider should be able to provide a qualification number for the course they have been approved to deliver and their certificate of Accrediation from the Awarding organisation.
Learn More