CPD Accredited Activities
How different types of professional learning are assessed for CPD accreditation.
What Types of Learning Can Be CPD Accredited?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can apply to a wide range of professional learning activities. For learning to be suitable for CPD accreditation, it must be structured, purposeful, and relevant to professional practice.
CPD Signature Service accredits learning based on how learning is designed, delivered, and assessed, rather than on delivery format alone. This means that different types of learning activities may be suitable for CPD accreditation when they demonstrate clear learning intent, outcomes, and professional value.
This page outlines common types of learning that may be suitable for CPD accreditation and explains how each contributes to professional development.
1. Online Courses
Online courses are one of the most common formats for CPD-accredited learning. They typically allow learners to progress through structured content at their own pace while engaging with defined learning material.
For online learning to be suitable for CPD accreditation, courses should be clearly structured and designed to support professional development. This usually includes defined learning objectives, a logical progression through content, and identifiable learning outcomes that support professional knowledge or skills.
When designed appropriately, CPD-accredited online courses provide flexibility while maintaining learning integrity and professional value.
2. Training Programmes
Planned Development Over Time
Online courses are one of the most common formats for CPD-accredited learning. They typically allow learners to progress through structured content at their own pace while engaging with defined learning material.
For online learning to be suitable for CPD accreditation, courses should be clearly structured and designed to support professional development. This usually includes defined learning objectives, a logical progression through content, and identifiable learning outcomes that support professional knowledge or skills.
When designed appropriately, CPD-accredited online courses provide flexibility while maintaining learning integrity and professional value.
3. Workshops and Seminars
Interactive, Focused Learning
Workshops and seminars are typically short, focused learning events that encourage interaction, discussion, and practical engagement within a professional context.
For workshops and seminars to be suitable for CPD accreditation, they should have a clearly defined learning focus and be designed to support meaningful participation. Learning outcomes should be identifiable and relevant to professional practice, rather than informal or discussion-only sessions.
These formats are particularly effective for applied learning, skills development, and targeted professional updates.
4. Webinars
Live or Virtual Knowledge Sharing
Webinars deliver learning through virtual platforms and may be delivered live or as recorded sessions. They allow professionals to access structured learning remotely while engaging with specific topics or areas of practice.
CPD-accredited webinars are typically designed around a defined subject area and supported by stated learning objectives. Content should be planned and purposeful, rather than informal discussion, and should deliver clear professional learning outcomes.
When learning intent and outcomes are clearly defined, both live and recorded webinars can contribute meaningfully to CPD.
4. Provider Accreditation
Organisational Learning Delivery
Provider accreditation applies to organisations that deliver CPD-accredited learning across one or more formats. Rather than assessing individual learning activities alone, provider accreditation focuses on the overall quality, consistency, and responsibility of learning delivery.
Accredited providers demonstrate alignment with CPD principles and standards, consistent learning quality across activities, and responsible, ethical delivery of professional learning.
Provider accreditation supports organisations in demonstrating credibility, consistency, and long-term commitment to professional development.
Choosing the Right CPD Accreditation Path
Not all learning activities are the same, and CPD accreditation is applied based on learning design, professional relevance, and intended outcomes — not simply on the format used to deliver learning.
If you deliver structured professional learning and believe your activities align with recognised CPD principles, accreditation may be suitable. Depending on your learning model, this may involve accrediting individual learning activities or applying for provider accreditation.
Understanding how accreditation is assessed can help you determine the most appropriate route and ensure your learning activities are aligned with CPD expectations.
CPD Accreditation Process & Standards Become an Accredited Provider
These pages provide further detail on assessment criteria, standards, and application steps to help you determine the most appropriate accreditation pathway.