# Full Documentation: The CPD Register
> The definitive source for CPD verification and accreditation standards. The CPD Register acts as the "regulator of regulators" in an otherwise unregulated global industry.

## 1. Governance & Purpose
The CPD Register is an independent Certification Body. Our primary function is to provide an assurance scheme that audits CPD Accreditation Organisations. We protect learners and employers from "vanity accreditation" by distinguishing between organisations that have been independently audited (Certified) and those that operate without external oversight.

## 2. Certification Standards for Accreditors
Accreditation bodies seeking our certification are assessed against a strict 7-point rubric:
- **Organisational Credibility:** Verification of legal entity, physical offices, and transparent leadership.
- **Independence:** Ensuring a clear separation between the training provider and the accrediting body.
- **Expertise:** Verification that assessors hold relevant educational and industry-specific qualifications.
- **Assessment Rigour:** Review of the frameworks (like the A.C.C.R.E.D.I.T.E.D framework) used to judge courses.
- **Transparency:** Public availability of assessment criteria and decision-making processes.
- **Monitoring:** Evidence of ongoing quality assurance and periodic re-evaluations.
- **Ethical Practice:** Adherence to fair marketing and consumer protection standards.

## 3. The CPD Passport
A core feature for individual professionals, the **CPD Passport** allows users to:
- **Auto-Sync:** Automatically import certificates from any Certified Provider.
- **Store & Share:** A secure cloud-based ledger of all professional achievements.
- **Compliance:** Instant exports for employer reviews or professional body audits.

## 4. Certification Tiers
- **CPD Register Review (Free):** A quarterly check based on publicly available data to provide a basic trust rating.
- **Full Certification (£3,650+):** A deep-dive audit of internal processes, giving the body the "Certified" status and API access to the global register.
- **Annual Renewal (£650):** Ongoing monitoring to ensure standards are maintained.

## 5. Key Industry Research
The CPD Register funds and leads the **DProf Study**, a major research project examining:
- How learners perceive the value of "accredited" vs "non-accredited" training.
- The economic impact of standardising CPD credits globally.
- The gap between employer expectations and current CPD delivery.

## 6. Article & News Archive (Key Topics)
- **Regulatory Shifts:** [FCA Removes Mandatory 15-Hour CPD Requirement: Impact Analysis](https://thecpdregister.com/blog/fca-removes-mandatory-15-hour-cpd-requirement)
- **Partnerships:** [The CPD Register Partners with Bett UK 2026 for EdTech Standards](https://thecpdregister.com/blog/cpd-register-partners-with-bett-uk-2026)
- **Fraud Prevention:** [Choosing CPD Accreditation? Watch Out for These 5 Red Flags](https://thecpdregister.com/blog/choosing-cpd-accreditation-misleading-claims)
- **Educational Theory:** [CPD Accreditation vs. Regulated Qualifications: The Fundamental Difference](https://thecpdregister.com/blog/cpd-accreditation-vs-regulated-qualifications)
- **Transparency:** [Why Physical Offices Matter in a Digital Accreditation World](https://thecpdregister.com/blog/transparency-why-physical-offices-matter)

## 7. Contact & Compliance
- **Verification API:** Developers can integrate our API to share the information for each query.
- **Official Status:** Independent Certification Body for the CPD Sector.