Become accredited
Get Your Certification Programme CPD Accredited
To get your certification programme CPD accredited, book a free consultation call, submit your programme's modules and materials to the Assessments Team, and a CPDSO assessor evaluates the programme within 30 days. Once it meets the criteria you receive CPD-approved status, a certificate and a trustmark to display, plus a listing in the CPD Directory. A certification programme is a structured, multi-module pathway that leads to a certificate, and it is accredited as one programme. CPD accreditation is independent quality recognition, not a regulated qualification.
Book a free consultation to accredit your programme
Last updated: 24 August 2026
- A certification programme is a structured, multi-module pathway that awards a certificate; it is assessed as one programme, not one course in isolation
- Book a free consultation, submit your programme's modules and materials, and it is assessed within 30 days (14-day Fast Track option)
- You receive CPD-approved status, a certificate, a trustmark and a listing in the CPD Directory
- Independent CPD accreditation is not a regulated qualification: it gives your programme recognised, third-party quality recognition
- A single standalone course, or a whole portfolio, each has its own route: accredit a course, or become a CPD Centre
What counts as a certification programme
A certification programme is a structured set of modules or activities that a learner completes as one pathway, ending in a certificate for the whole programme. It is more than a single course, and it is assessed as one programme rather than one course in isolation.
The distinction matters when you come to accredit it. CPD accreditation recognises learning activities, so a programme is accredited by submitting the modules and materials that make it up and having them assessed together, in the same way a wider portfolio of activities can be accredited together (CPD Centre). You submit the activities you want assessed to the Assessments Team, whether courses, workshops or online modules, along with the materials that support them (Get Your Course Accredited).
If instead you have a single standalone course, or a whole mixed portfolio of unrelated activities, there is a route for each of those too. This page is about accrediting one structured programme; the section further down helps you pick the right route if your situation is different.
How to get your certification programme CPD accredited
You get your certification programme CPD accredited in four steps: book a free consultation call, submit the programme's modules and materials, have them assessed within 30 days, and receive CPD-approved status with a certificate and trustmark (Get Your Course Accredited).
- 1
Book a free consultation call
Book a free consultation call with a CPD adviser. On the call your adviser talks through the assessment criteria and how the process works, and helps you decide how best to present a multi-module programme for assessment (Become Accredited).
- 2
Submit your programme's modules and materials
Submit the programme's modules and supporting materials to the Assessments Team. The assessment begins once your completed submission is received, and the team is on hand to guide you at any point (Get Your Course Accredited).
- 3
The programme is assessed within 30 days
A CPDSO assessor evaluates the educational value of the programme against the criteria and standards set, working with you collaboratively throughout. Standard assessment takes up to 30 days from a full submission; if you need a decision sooner, a paid Fast Track option offers approved status within 14 days (Become Accredited).
- 4
Receive your accredited status and trustmark
Once the programme meets the standard, you receive CPD-approved status, a certificate and a trustmark to display, and a listing in the CPD Directory (Get Your Course Accredited).
What your accredited programme receives
Accreditation gives your programme independent, third-party recognition and a set of things you can put to work straight away.
- CPD-approved status and an accredited-provider logo and trustmark to display on the programme and your marketing (Accredited Speaker)
- Learner certificates, unlimited under one annual subscription and issued instantly, so every learner who completes the programme can be certificated the moment they finish (Become Accredited booking page)
- A listing in the CPD Directory, with the functionality to receive enquiries directly from it (Exclusive Member Benefits)
- Access to CPDSO's exclusive member benefits and research (Accredited Speaker)
- International recognition: CPDSO has members in 72 countries
You would be in good company. Accredited providers that run certificate and certification programmes, from academies and training institutes to certification councils, are already listed in our public CPD Directory, and your programme joins them once it is approved.
Put together, that is what accreditation is really for. CPDSO describes the goal as “establishing you as a true expert in your field”, and providing value to your learners, and independent accreditation is the proof behind it (Become Accredited).
Programme, single course, or whole portfolio: which route fits
CPDSO accredits training at three different scales, and picking the right one keeps the process simple. If you are not sure which describes your training, your adviser helps you decide on the free consultation call (how the process works).
Which accreditation route fits your training
| Route | Best for | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Accredit a single course | One standalone course, conference or webinar | accredit a single course |
| Accredit a certification programme | One structured, multi-module pathway that leads to a certificate | You are in the right place |
| Become an accredited CPD Centre | Many different courses, events and activities, accredited together under one umbrella | become an accredited CPD Centre |
Swipe to see the full table.
How long it takes, and how you are protected
Standard assessment takes up to 30 days from a full submission, with a paid 14-day Fast Track option if you need approved status sooner (Become Accredited). The initial consultation call is free, so you can understand exactly what to submit before you commit to anything (the accreditation process). Accreditation then runs on an annual subscription, with a minimum two-year membership and annual rolling renewal after that (Become Accredited).
You are protected at the point you sign up. The Customer Guarantee commits CPDSO to clear, easy-to-understand fee and invoice information (Customer Guarantee). And you can always end your contract with CPDSO. What you are entitled to depends on the circumstances, and on whether you are buying as a business customer or as a consumer. The membership terms set out both, including when a refund is due and how it is paid (Membership Terms). Most training providers buy as business customers. If you are buying as an individual, and not for your trade or business, you also have a 14-day statutory right to change your mind, which ends once the work is complete (legislation.gov.uk).
When you are ready, your adviser confirms exactly what to submit for your programme and walks you through the options with no obligation: book a free consultation to accredit your programme.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my certification programme CPD accredited?
Book a free consultation call with a CPD adviser, then submit your programme's modules and materials to the Assessments Team. A CPDSO assessor evaluates the programme against the criteria within 30 days, and once it meets the standard you receive CPD-approved status, a certificate and a trustmark to display, plus a listing in the CPD Directory. A paid Fast Track option gives approved status within 14 days if you need it sooner.
Sources: How to Get Your Course CPD Accredited in 30 Days, Become Accredited - The CPD Standards Office
What is the difference between a certificate and a certification programme?
A single course leads to one certificate. A certification programme is a structured set of modules or activities that a learner completes as one pathway, ending in a certificate for the whole programme. With CPDSO you submit the activities that make up the programme and they are assessed together, rather than one course in isolation.
Can a multi-module programme be accredited as one?
Yes. You submit the modules and materials that make up the programme to the Assessments Team and they are assessed together as one pathway, in the same way a portfolio of activities is accredited together. If instead you run many unrelated courses and events across your organisation, becoming an accredited CPD Centre covers the whole portfolio under one umbrella.
Sources: How to Get Your Course CPD Accredited in 30 Days, CPD Centre - The CPD Standards Office
Is CPD accreditation the same as a regulated qualification?
No. CPD accreditation is independent, third-party recognition that your programme meets a recognised CPD quality standard. It is not a regulated qualification and does not replace one, and it does not carry Ofqual or RQF status. It gives your programme and its certificates independent credibility and a trustmark, which is what CPD-seeking learners and their professional bodies look for.
How long does certification programme accreditation take?
Standard assessment takes up to 30 days from a full submission. If you need a decision sooner, a paid Fast Track option offers approved status within 14 days. Your adviser confirms exactly what to submit on the free consultation call so the assessment can start without delay.
Should I accredit a programme, a single course, or my whole portfolio?
Accredit a single course if you have one standalone course, conference or webinar. Accredit a programme if you have one structured, multi-module pathway that leads to a certificate. Become an accredited CPD Centre if you run many different courses and activities and want them all accredited together under one umbrella. Your adviser helps you pick the right route on the free call.
Sources: Get Your Course Accredited, CPD Centre - The CPD Standards Office
Accredit your certification programme
Your adviser confirms exactly what to submit for your programme and walks you through the options with no obligation.
Book a free consultation to accredit your programme