Demystifying CPD: Hours, Points, and Certificates

Hello, and welcome to this week's Friday Fresh!

As a training provider, you know the importance of delivering high-quality training.

But when it comes to issuing certificates and calculating CPD hours and points, are you confident you’re ticking all the boxes?

In this week’s Friday Fresh, we’re covering the basis of everything you need to know about creating compliant CPD certificates and ensuring that your participants get the credit they deserve for completing your training activities.

How to Calculate CPD Hours & Points

CPD hours are at the heart of professional development, but calculating them correctly is key to making sure your participants get proper recognition. Here’s how it works:

• One CPD Hour = One Contact Hour: This can include content delivery, videos, assessments, and group activities, but it excludes networking and breaks.

• CPD Points/Credits: Think of these as a different “currency” for CPD hours. Many professional bodies use points to quantify CPD. For example, some medical bodies may award 2 points for every hour of training, while others, like accountants, require a set number of hours per year.

We recommend staying within the hours and minutes framework, but if you want to use CPD points, it’s essential to ensure you’re using the correct system for the professional bodies relevant to your audience.

Understanding CPD Policies Across Professions

CPD isn't governed by national laws, but rather by the professional bodies that oversee specific sectors. Each body sets its own CPD policies, and they can vary widely.

Here’s a quick guide to the three types of CPD policy structures:

• Input-Based CPD: Focuses on the number of hours or credits completed.
• Output-Based CPD: Focuses on setting learning goals and finding training to meet them.
• Outcome-Based CPD: A newer approach, mostly in the medical field, where the learner demonstrates how their CPD has improved their professional practice.

Whether you’re aligning with hours, points, or goals, understanding these structures helps you better serve your learners and meet industry expectations.

Issuing CPD Certificates with Confidence

If you join The CPD Standards Office as an accredited training provider, we’ll create your unique and personalised ‘CPD Certificate of Attendance’ template for each course you offer.

This two-sided certificate isn’t just about compliance; it’s a powerful tool that reinforces your training’s value to your learners.

• Front Page: This is where the essentials are displayed: your training provider name, provider number, the title of the activity, and the number of CPD hours awarded. Every delegate who attends the full session receives one.

• Back Page: Here’s where the real magic happens! We provide a learning tool, where participants can reflect on what they’ve learned before, during, and after the session. Many professional bodies require this reflection as part of their formal CPD records.

Remember: While you don’t need to notify The CPD Standards Office of each delegate’s details, it's crucial to keep an internal record for your own administration.

Quick Tips:

1. Certify with Ease: Use the templates provided by The CPD Standards Office, or if you design your own, ensure it meets our standards and includes the essential details.
2. CPD Points or Hours: Always check with relevant professional bodies to ensure compliance.
3. Tracking Learners: Keep internal records of delegate details, but you don’t need to report them to us.

Finally, a Tool to Make It Easier!

We understand that managing certificates and tracking CPD hours can be a time-consuming task.

That’s why we recommend using Certifier.io, an easy-to-use tool that helps you automate the issuance of CPD certificates and keep track of delegate details seamlessly.

Certifier has partnered up with The CPD Standards Office to provide exclusive access to accredited training providers, and we'll be delighted to welcome you on board and tell you more about this opportunity.

Check it out and see how it can simplify your process!

Final Thoughts

Consistency and accuracy are key when it comes to issuing CPD certificates and calculating CPD hours.

By following the guidance provided, you can ensure compliance with CPD standards and reinforce the value of your training to your learners.

Whether you’re issuing certificates for hours or points, using templates or custom designs, maintaining clarity and professionalism elevates your credibility as an accredited provider.

Make the most of CPD Accreditation

If your training isn't accredited yet, you may want to consider how CPD accreditation can help you:

• Sell more training
• Increase your reputation
• Grow your business

If this sounds appealing to you, our 30-minute phone consultations are a free, no-obligation way to talk to someone about YOUR individual needs.

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