International Professional Learning Standards Organisation

Commercial Identification and Contactability

The organisation trades as International Professional Learning Standards Organisation (IPLSO) and operates the website iplso.com. No legal entity is disclosed anywhere on the website. No company registration number, country of incorporation, or registered legal name is stated. The organisation does not identify the individual or individuals responsible for its operation or accreditation decisions.

The Contact page states the organisation's corporate location as "Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa" and confirms that it "operates a fully digital accreditation and communication system." No physical street address is provided. No telephone number is published. The sole point of contact is an email address ([email protected]) and a web-based contact form.

A search of the UK Companies House register (conducted 18 May 2026) returned no result for "IPLSO", "International Professional Learning Standards Organisation", or "CPD Accreditors International" (an alternative name that appears within the organisation's own published documentation — see Section 11 below). The organisation does not appear to be incorporated in the United Kingdom.

The organisation's Privacy Policy (https://iplso.com/privacy-policy/) states in its contact information section: "CPD Accreditors International — Email. Website: https://iplso.com";. This name is distinct from the trading name used throughout the remainder of the site. The Accreditation Requirements page (https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/) also refers to "CPD Accreditors International" in describing the periodic review process. No explanation of the relationship between "IPLSO" and "CPD Accreditors International" is provided anywhere on the site.

There is no disclosure of the legal entity behind the trading name, no physical address at which legal correspondence can be reliably served, and no named responsible individual. This represents a significant failure of commercial identification under The CPD Register's criteria and is inconsistent with the transparency obligations applicable to commercial operators under the Companies Act 2006 (sections 1200–1206) in so far as UK-facing commercial activity is conducted.
Sources:

https://iplso.com/contact-us/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/privacy-policy/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=IPLSO — accessed 18 May 2026
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=International+Professional+Learning+Standards — accessed 18 May 2026
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=CPD+Accreditors+International — accessed 18 May 2026

Transparency of Assessment Framework

IPLSO publishes an assessment framework across several pages of its website. The Standards and Review page (https://iplso.com/standards-and-review/) sets out five core standards against which all programmes are assessed: (1) Content Accuracy and Professional Integrity; (2) Educational Design and Learning Value; (3) Provider and Facilitator Competence; (4) Assessment and Learning Evaluation; and (5) Ethical and Professional Practice. The review process is described in six stages, from Provider Approval through to Annual Review.

The Accreditation Requirements page (https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/) sets out detailed requirements for both providers and individual courses, including governance policies, trainer qualifications, course structure, assessment design, and certification standards. The Course Approval Standards page (https://iplso.com/course-approval-standards/) sets out a competence-based framework for the allocation of IPLSO Learning Levels (see Section 14 for concerns regarding this terminology).

The Policies and Quality Standards page (https://iplso.com/policies-and-quality-standards/) sets out mandatory provider policies and minimum quality standards.

All of this content is publicly accessible without login or payment. Assessment criteria are described at a reasonable level of specificity for a prospective applicant to understand the basis on which decisions are made. The framework distinguishes between Provider Approval (organisational-level) and Course Approval (course-level), which provides clarity regarding the scope of each assessment.

The framework does not state whether assessors are independent external professionals or internal to the organisation, beyond noting that programmes are reviewed by "subject-matter professionals" and "education and learning-design specialists." No named individuals or panels are identified. No versioning or publication dates are provided for the standards documents, meaning prospective applicants cannot determine whether criteria have changed since a previous application.

Sources:

https://iplso.com/standards-and-review/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/course-approval-standards/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/policies-and-quality-standards/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Pricing Transparency

IPLSO publishes its approval fees at https://iplso.com/approval-fees/. The published fee schedule is as follows:

- Pre-Review Consultation (optional): USD 125 (non-refundable; deductible from Provider Approval Fee if approval is subsequently granted)
- Provider Approval Fee: USD 195
- Course Approval Fee: USD 95 for the first course; USD 45 for each additional course from the same approved provider
- Annual Renewal Fee: USD 95

All fees are stated in US Dollars. The organisation does not publish any equivalent GBP pricing, despite actively marketing its services to UK-based training providers. The use of USD pricing without currency conversion information may create ambiguity for UK applicants regarding the actual cost of accreditation.

The fees page notes that fees are non-refundable once a review has commenced, and that "organisations submitting multiple courses may qualify for further discounted rates, subject to approval." No indication is given of the basis on which such discounts are assessed or the rate applicable.

All fees and inclusions are otherwise clearly set out and distinguish between one-off and recurring charges.
Sources:

https://iplso.com/approval-fees/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Terms and Conditions

No terms and conditions governing the accreditation service are published on the IPLSO website. Attempts to access /terms/, /terms-and-conditions/, and /fees/ (referenced in the Application page as "Pricing page") all returned 404 errors (accessed 18 May 2026).

The Privacy Policy (https://iplso.com/privacy-policy/) references "Terms and Conditions" in its consent declaration ("I consent to International Professional Learning Standards Organisation processing my personal information... in accordance with the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy") but no Terms and Conditions document is accessible anywhere on the site. The Contact page form similarly includes a terms and conditions reference without a functional link.

The Accreditation Requirements page and the Approval Fees page note that all fees are non-refundable once a review has commenced. Beyond this, no formal terms governing the duration of accreditation, rights of use, withdrawal conditions, intellectual property provisions, complaints procedures, or dispute resolution are published.

This is a significant transparency failure. Training providers applying for accreditation have no means of understanding the contractual framework that will govern their relationship with IPLSO prior to submitting an application or payment.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/contact-us/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/privacy-policy/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/approval-fees/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accreditation-application/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Individual Course Assessment

IPLSO's published framework requires that each course is assessed individually. The Accreditation Requirements page (https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/) states that "each course submitted for IPLSO accreditation or endorsement must individually meet all academic, structural, and quality criteria listed below." The Application page (https://iplso.com/accreditation-application/) confirms a two-stage process in which Provider Approval must be obtained before individual courses are submitted for separate Course Approval.

A public Approved Providers Register is maintained at https://iplso.com/accredited-providers-register/, and individual endorsed course listings are published on provider-specific pages (e.g., https://iplso.com/international-skills-evolution-endorsed-courses/). Each endorsed course is listed with an individual Endorsement ID, confirming that endorsement is granted at course level rather than by blanket provider approval.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accreditation-application/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accredited-providers-register/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/international-skills-evolution-endorsed-courses/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Review and Renewal

IPLSO publishes a defined review and renewal cycle. The Annual Renewal Fee (USD 95) is described on the Approval Fees page as maintaining "Approved Provider status, active course approvals and listings, continued use of IPLSO approval seals, and ongoing standards monitoring and compliance review."

The Accreditation Requirements page sets out a periodic quality review framework (sections 2.8 through 2.8.7), including an annual review for all accredited providers, mid-cycle reviews for providers with high course volumes or recent expansion, and ad-hoc reviews triggered by complaints or quality concerns. The review process involves submission of documentation through a secure upload system. Providers must retain learner records for a minimum of five years.

The review framework is described at reasonable detail. Review cycles are defined and the trigger criteria for additional reviews are stated.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/approval-fees/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Sale of Training Courses or Materials

IPLSO states on its homepage and About page that it does not provide training, deliver courses, or operate as a learning provider: "We do not provide training. We do not sell courses." This statement is made explicitly and repeatedly across the site.

No training courses or learning materials produced by IPLSO are offered for sale on the website.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/about-iplso/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Financial Relationships with Third-Party Service Providers

No disclosure of financial relationships with third-party service providers, referral arrangements, or affiliate partnerships is made on the IPLSO website. No such relationships are apparent from the publicly available content reviewed.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Ownership or Control Relationships with Aligned Commercial Interests

A significant structural concern arises from the relationship between IPLSO and International Skills Evolution Corporation SA (ISEC), which is the sole accredited provider listed in the IPLSO Approved Providers Register as of 18 May 2026.

The ISEC provider page (https://iplso.com/international-skills-evolution-corporation/) identifies the "Responsible Person" for ISEC as "Dr Francois Meyer (DTh, DDiv, PhD)". The legal entity behind IPLSO itself is not disclosed (see Section 1), and no named individuals responsible for IPLSO's governance or accreditation decisions are identified anywhere on the IPLSO website.

The contact address for IPLSO is stated as Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ISEC is a South African entity (the name "Corporation SA" is consistent with a South African incorporation). Both organisations share a South African operational base.

The IPLSO Accreditation Requirements page (https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/) refers internally to "CPD Accreditors International" as the body conducting periodic reviews under the IPLSO framework, without any explanation of the legal relationship between CPD Accreditors International, IPLSO, and ISEC.

The combination of: (a) IPLSO's failure to disclose its legal entity or responsible individuals; (b) the sole accredited provider being an entity sharing geographic and operational characteristics with IPLSO; and (c) the appearance of a third undisclosed entity name ("CPD Accreditors International") in internal documentation, raises a material concern regarding whether an appropriate separation exists between IPLSO's accreditation function and the commercial interests of entities connected to it. This concern cannot be resolved on the basis of publicly available information, precisely because the legal and governance structures are not disclosed.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/international-skills-evolution-corporation/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accredited-providers-register/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accreditation-requirements/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/contact-us/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Consistency of Filings with Advertised Activity

No UK company registration exists for IPLSO, International Professional Learning Standards Organisation, or CPD Accreditors International. It is therefore not possible to assess consistency between Companies House filings and advertised activity in the manner applied to UK-registered entities.

The organisation presents itself as an "independent international body" operating "globally and across sectors." Its contact page states a South African location. The website is in English and is clearly directed at English-speaking markets, including the United Kingdom, as evidenced by the explicit reference to CPD in its blog and marketing content (https://iplso.com/what-true-cpd-accreditation-is/).

The Privacy Policy references data processing obligations by reference to "applicable data protection legislation" and "relevant legislation," without specifying whether IPLSO treats UK GDPR, the South African Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), or another framework as applicable. This creates ambiguity for UK-based applicants regarding their data protection rights.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/about-iplso/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/contact-us/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/privacy-policy/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/what-true-cpd-accreditation-is/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Companies House Status

IPLSO is not registered at Companies House. A search of the UK Companies House register (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/) conducted on 18 May 2026 returned no result for "IPLSO", "International Professional Learning Standards Organisation", or "CPD Accreditors International."

The organisation states its corporate location as Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and does not claim to be a UK-registered entity. However, the organisation actively markets its services in the United Kingdom (including by publishing blog content specifically addressing "true CPD accreditation" and directing UK training providers and consumers to its accreditation services), without disclosing the legal framework under which it operates, its country of incorporation, or its registration details in any jurisdiction.

Sources:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=IPLSO — accessed 18 May 2026
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=International+Professional+Learning+Standards — accessed 18 May 2026
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=CPD+Accreditors+International — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/contact-us/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Website Status

The IPLSO website (https://iplso.com/) is live and functional as of 18 May 2026. The domain resolves correctly and all primary content pages are accessible. The site is hosted on WordPress and uses a professional visual design.

Several internal links referenced in the site's own content return 404 errors, including:

/terms/ — 404 (Terms and Conditions referenced in Privacy Policy and contact form)
/terms-and-conditions/ — 404
/fees/ — 404 (referenced as "Pricing page" in the Accreditation Application page)
/pricing/ — 404
/apply/ — 404
/approval-requirements/ — 404 (referenced in multiple pages; the functional equivalent is /accreditation-requirements/)

The Privacy Policy references an effective date of "2025" and a last updated date of "2025," without specific dates. The Standards and Review pages carry no publication or version dates.

The sitemap (https://iplso.com/page-sitemap.xml) indicates the most recent page update was 10 March 2026. The website contains four blog posts, the most recent dated February 2026.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/page-sitemap.xml — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/privacy-policy/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Regulatory Rulings and Public Enforcement Records

No ASA rulings or other UK regulatory enforcement records were identified for IPLSO, International Professional Learning Standards Organisation, or CPD Accreditors International as at 18 May 2026. Searches were conducted on the ASA adjudications database. The organisation does not appear to have been the subject of any published regulatory ruling in the UK.

As a non-UK entity, IPLSO would not be subject to Companies House enforcement or UK regulatory oversight in the same manner as a UK-registered organisation.

Sources:
https://www.asa.org.uk/ — searched 18 May 2026

Distinguishing CPD from Regulated Qualifications

IPLSO publishes a course-level framework referred to as "IPLSO Learning Levels," set out at https://iplso.com/course-approval-standards/. The framework allocates levels from Level 1 (Foundation) to Level 4 (Specialist). The page states that "IPLSO Learning Levels" are competence-based and are allocated on the basis of assessed outcomes rather than course duration.

The use of numbered level terminology (Level 1 through Level 4) in the context of professional learning carries a risk of consumer confusion with regulated qualification levels used in the Ofqual Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), where levels carry a specific statutory meaning (Level 1 through Level 8). IPLSO's website does not include a clear statement distinguishing its learning levels from regulated qualification levels on the levels page itself. The About page states that IPLSO is "not a statutory regulator or licensing authority," and the course-level page notes that "Level 4 does not imply licensure, statutory authority, or professional registration," but no explicit comparison with or distinction from Ofqual-regulated levels is made.

Additionally, the endorsed courses register for International Skills Evolution Corporation (https://iplso.com/international-skills-evolution-endorsed-courses/) lists course titles including "Accredited Therapist Certificate: Memory Coach Masterclass" and "International Health & Safety Representative (Internationally Endorsed)." The term "Accredited Therapist Certificate" in particular may create a misleading impression regarding the regulatory or professional standing of the qualification obtained.

The blog post at https://iplso.com/what-true-cpd-accreditation-is/ addresses CPD accreditation directly and makes appropriate distinctions between CPD accreditation and statutory qualifications, which is positive.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/course-approval-standards/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/about-iplso/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/international-skills-evolution-endorsed-courses/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/what-true-cpd-accreditation-is/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Unsubstantiated Claims

The following claims made on the IPLSO website are noted as unsubstantiated or not verifiable from publicly available sources:

1. "Independent international body"
IPLSO describes itself as "an independent international body" (https://iplso.com/, https://iplso.com/about-iplso/). No disclosure of its legal entity, governance structure, or the basis for the claim of independence is provided. Without knowledge of who owns and controls IPLSO, the claim of independence cannot be assessed or verified by a prospective applicant. The concern is compounded by the apparent relationship between IPLSO and International Skills Evolution Corporation SA (see Section 9).

2. "Trusted signal of quality"
The homepage and standards pages describe IPLSO approval as "a clear, trusted signal of quality" (https://iplso.com/). The basis for this claim is not established. As of 18 May 2026, only one accredited provider appears in the IPLSO register. IPLSO has no known recognition from any professional body, government body, or sector authority. The claim of being a "trusted" standard is not currently substantiated by evidence of sector adoption or independent recognition.

3. "International" scope
IPLSO repeatedly describes itself as an "international" body "approving professional learning providers and courses worldwide." No evidence of international recognition, multi-country operation, independent governance, or recognition by any international organisation is provided.
4. "Building Professional Excellence Through Trusted Learning Standards"

This tagline appears in the website navigation. No evidence is provided on the site that IPLSO approval is associated with measurable professional outcomes, employer recognition, or professional body endorsement.

Sources:
https://iplso.com/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/about-iplso/ — accessed 18 May 2026
https://iplso.com/accredited-providers-register/ — accessed 18 May 2026

Further Information about this organisation

Website

https://iplso.com/

Companies House Number

No UK company registration found on Companies House. Corporate location stated as Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Companies House Incorporation Date

Not Available

ICO Number

Not Available

ICO Registration Date

Not Available

Physical Office Published

Telephone

Yes

Live Chat

Pricing Published

Yes (in USD)

Accreditation Criteria Published

Yes

Activities Individually Accredited

Stated

Review Frequency

Stated

Last Updated

18th May 2026

Disclaimer

We do our best to ensure that all information is accurate and up to date. If you are part of the above-mentioned organisation and some of the information, we have found is inaccurate please contact us at [email protected] so we can rectify this for you.

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