1. www.cpdstandards.com 1 | P a g e
Getting CPD Ready:
Preparing training and learning activities for Independent CPD
Accreditation
The CPD Standards Office has been launched with the support of an increasing number of
universities, professional bodies, institutes and employers. Its mission is to improve the quality
of CPD activities in the market place, and increase individual professional’s experiences of CPD
activities.
The specific remit of the Office is to independently accredit training and learning activities for
CPD purposes. Each activity submitted to the CPD Standards Office for formal assessment is
carefully reviewed by our assessment team.
The assessment process considers the educational structure, learning value and design of
content for each activity, and ensures it adheres to the CPD guidelines and criteria that have
emerged from our comprehensive research into CPD.
By answering the following questions, and preparing your CPD activity accordingly, you will
become “CPD Ready” and ensure the activity is suitable for formal CPD assessment.
Define your activity:
When designing your activity, make sure the following points have been considered:
Value Gap: What skills, knowledge, market or technical specialist ‘gap’ does your
activity address?
Audience: Specific identify and communicate who your training activity is targeted at.
This could be by profession, role, industry, level of seniority,
Title: Ensure the title is concise and fully describing the activity. Not too short and
not too much waffle!
Learning State a minimum of five points that delegates will know, or be able to do
objectives: differently, on completing your activity.

2. www.cpdstandards.com 2 | P a g e
Be Authoritative and Educational:
Professionals undertaking CPD activities want to learn from others who are credible and
knowledgeable. In addition, they need the activity to be ‘educationally sound’, in terms of
structure and design. Hence you need to be authoritative and educational in your delivery:
Author / Instructor: Who are they? What are their credentials? How are they qualified to
teach this particular subject or topic?
Keeping up to date: How do you ensure the content does not become outdated?
Collaboration: The extent the activity is collaborative – individuals learn best through
sharing their learning with others
If networking opportunities are included, do these contribute to the
CPD element of the activity?
Consolidating What opportunities there are for delegates to reflect on their
knowledge: knowledge or skills developed e.g. through a quiz
Thinking beyond the activity:
The ‘Continuing’ within the term CPD is one of the most important aspects for training and
learning providers, but is often overlooked. Individual professionals are not looking for a short
one off experience, rather an activity that assists them with ongoing development. Hence, as a
provider, we need to see that you have thought about steps delegates may take after the
activity in terms of impact on their role and mapping their learning into their CPD record. Key
points to include are:
 Demonstrating that clear consideration has been given to ‘future learning’
beyond the course or activity.
Feedback How do you capture delegates overall experiences of the course or
mechanisms: activity, and does this contribute to future developments or revisions?
Evaluation: Do you measure impact of the delegates learning post-activity? In term
of behavioural change, benefits to colleagues, cultural change, ROI
calculations, or any other evaluation models.
CPD Recording: Do you provide any assistance or support for delegates to map their
learning onto their CPD record?

3. www.cpdstandards.com 3 | P a g e
Required Information and Documentation:
For each activity, the submission and assessment process requires you to complete one of our
assessment forms, and copies of the following information. We need to see copies of all
documentation that are used in the creation, promotion, delivery and evaluation of your
course, event of activity. These will include:
 Full agenda and programme of the activity or course with a clear indication of how the
content fulfils the proposed time frame.
 All publicity materials i.e. copies of marketing documents or URLs so that we have a full
understanding of how the activity is promoted to potential delegates
 CVs or biographies describing the qualifications and experience of your authors,
instructors or developers.
 The welcome and joining instructions received by the delegates once they have booked
or purchased the activity.
 Copies of any PowerPoint slides or visuals used
 Copies of handouts or workbooks distributed to delegates before, during or after the
activity.
 Copies of evaluation and/ or feedback form.
 An understanding of all key written communications to potential or current delegates.
Next Steps
Once you have your course or activity ready, you will need to complete one of our assessment
forms, and then submit all of the information and documentation along with the completed
form. The assessment can take up to 30 days to complete, and we may contact you for further
information.
Please note, CPD assessments can only be completed once your organisation is registered with
the CPD Standards Office as a formal provider
Not registered? Please contact us for a registration form, if necessary, this can be processed
within 48 hours.
Got a question?
If you have any further questions regarding the CPD assessment process or preparing your
activity, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0845 862 1386.
Good luck with becoming CPD Ready!