CPD international group’s Standards
Our CPD standards define how learning activities are reviewed, recognized, and maintained under our Continuing Professional Development framework.
They are designed to ensure that CPD recognition reflects meaningful learning, professional relevance, and educational integrity, rather than attendance alone.
Our standards apply consistently across all sectors, learning formats, and geographic regions.
Principles Guiding Our Standards
Our CPD framework is built on the following core principles:
Relevance to Professional Practice
Learning activities must clearly relate to professional roles, responsibilities, or skills.Educational Quality
Content must be structured, purposeful, and designed to support learning and development.Clarity and Transparency
Learning objectives, outcomes, and duration must be clearly defined.Ethical and Responsible Learning
CPD recognition must not misrepresent authority, scope of practice, or regulatory status.Consistency and Fairness
All applications are assessed using the same criteria, regardless of sector or applicant size.
Core CPD international assessment Criteria
1. Learning Objectives
The activity must include clear and appropriate learning objectives that describe what participants are expected to learn or develop.
2. Structure and Content
The learning activity must be:
Structured and organized
Educational in nature
Appropriate to the target professional audience
Content may be theoretical, practical, reflective, or applied.
3. Learning Outcomes
Activities should define expected learning outcomes, demonstrating how the learning contributes to professional development or competence.
4. Duration and CPD Time Value
Each activity must clearly state its duration.
CPD hours or points are allocated based on actual learning time, not marketing claims.
5. Delivery Method
CPD recognition applies to:
In-person learning
Online and e-learning
Blended or hybrid formats
The delivery method must support effective learning and engagement.
6. Professional Relevance
Learning must be relevant to the intended professional group and aligned with current practice, standards, or methodologies within the field.
Review and Quality Assurance
CPD recognition is granted following an independent review based on the standards outlined above.
To maintain quality:
Recognition may be subject to periodic review
Updates may be required if learning content changes significantly
Recognition may be withdrawn if standards are no longer met
The review journey
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You submit your course materials outline, objectives, delivery format, and duration through our application form.
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Your course is matched to a reviewer with experience in the relevant field or sector.recognition applies to both in-person and online learning.
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Learning outcomes are assessed for clarity, measurability, and professional relevance against CPD standards.
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Course structure, pacing, and delivery method are evaluated for coherence and consistency with declared CPD hours.
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You receive a formal written decision with reviewer commentary. Conditional approvals include clear revision guidance.
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Approved courses receive their certificate, CPD mark assets, and a listing in the CPD International directory.
WHO REVIEWS YOUR COURSE
Domain expertise
Reviewers are selected based on direct experience in the subject area of the course being assessed; not generic evaluators.
Professional or academic background
All assessors hold relevant qualifications or demonstrable professional track records in education design, their sector, or both.
Structured against clear standards
Reviews follow a defined assessment framework; ensuring consistency, fairness, and transparency regardless of course type.
Written feedback provided
Every decision comes with reviewer commentary; not just a pass or fail. Conditional approvals include specific guidance for improvement.
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