CPD Accreditation

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Does anyone know much about CPD?

I'm looking at delivering some training events, based around IT/Cyber Security and possibly - if demand - through to GDPR. But initially aimed at Office Staff, SME Managers etc to introduce them to some concepts and nudge them in the right direction. Geared around the 5 key controls of Cyber Essentials for example.

It's not for IT Professionals, it's for businesses that have perhaps suffered breaches or downtime and would like their workforce to be slightly better educated about what to do/not do from a planning & managerial POV.

Half day to a day depending on numbers & complexity.

I was thinking it would be nice if people could claim attendance towards their CPD requirements - so... what do I need to do (& how much would it cost me?) to get a CPD Accreditation? Or myself certified as a speaker?

There seem to be several organisations all saying they can certify/accredit but none of them are keen on giving out prices which I never like!

Can anyone advise as to the best/cheapest way of achieving such?

Thanks - Dunc

[williaa68]

There are quite a few agencies out there who will accredit you, usually in exchange for a monthly fee (about £50). If, however, your target audience are all of a particular demographic (e.g. health & safety) then you may be able to get accredited by their professional association for free. A few organisations, e.g. my own (solicitors) have moved away from accrediting CPD providers so check quite carefully that your target audience really want / need it.

[rog007]

CPD is not in itself a protected title.

All regulated professions however, operating under protected titles (such as Doctor or Dentist), must conduct prescribed CPD to maintain their registration to practice.

Outside of that, CPD tends to mean just that, continuing professional development. From what you have described, I don’t think you need to worry to much about it other than to issue some form of self produced certificate outlining the objectives of the training and issue that to delegates as confirmation that they attended.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Thanks guys.

I've just had one outfit on the phone wanting best part of £1k to cover upto 5 courses and I couldn't really see that much value in their offering.

So am I right in now thinking that for Joe Bloggs (who wants some CPD), he can effectively self-certify that he's attended (hopefully with some supporting literature/feedback forms etc) for x hours and that's it? There's no need to have someone assess the course material to ensure it's at a certain lebel for example?

[anonymous-user]

Pot Bellied Fool said:

Thanks guys.

I've just had one outfit on the phone wanting best part of £1k to cover upto 5 courses and I couldn't really see that much value in their offering.

So am I right in now thinking that for Joe Bloggs (who wants some CPD), he can effectively self-certify that he's attended (hopefully with some supporting literature/feedback forms etc) for x hours and that's it? There's no need to have someone assess the course material to ensure it's at a certain lebel for example?

You could self certify your course, based on 1 CPD point = 1 Learning hour. Not sure official accreditation would benefit you, unless your learners are mandated to do a set amount of CPD a year. Take GPs they are mandated to do a set amount of CPD a year, they used to get away with stating that they read the Lancet for an hour a week, that is no longer good enough, and they need to gain accredited CPD.

Perhaps wrap up your face to face course with an hours e-learning and and assessment on the back end to offer a blended learning experience and bulk up the cpd hours to make it more attractive to learners.

Depending on your audience of Learners it may be beneficial to get CPD accreditation, if you ping me an email I can give you one of my contacts for commercial cpd projects, usually I get the CPD approval via Universitys.

The americans make it much easier to get learning content accredited, although as I am discovering its much harder to get a Mac degree I authored approved over there. Here it takes about a month over there its 6-9months!. But at least I can charge US students more.

[surveyor]

As yet the RICS has not jumped on the accredited bandwagon....

Please don't give them ideas though.

[rog007]

Pot Bellied Fool said:

So am I right in now thinking that for Joe Bloggs (who wants some CPD), he can effectively self-certify that he's attended (hopefully with some supporting literature/feedback forms etc) for x hours and that's it?

Yes.

Those who are so inclined will then place a copy of the certificate you produced in to their personal development files if they have one. Top tip; on the back of the certificate put a personal reflection layout on so that after the course they can consider its impact on their approach to things i.e. was the course worth attending.

For non-regulated professions that’s all that is required.

Happy to pass comment on your certificate if that would help.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Thanks guys, that's been really handy and helps de-mystify what some of the accreditation outfits are saying.

I'll start it nice & easy and see how feedback goes (there is a logical follow on for attendees to then seek help with getting their organisation certified in cyber security so to a degree it's also a selling opportunity as well as training in its own right).

Self-accredited CPD will probably be the order of the day as it's most likely to appeal to office/practice manger types rather than the Practice Principal in the case of Medics/legal etc.

Thanks all.