A CPD certificate needs the learner's name, the course title, the provider, the completion date and the number of CPD hours. If the course is accredited, add the accreditation reference and where it can be checked. What it must never do is suggest the course is a qualification, or carries a level it does not have.
The details that must be there
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Learner's full name | Ties the record to one person |
| Course title, as advertised | Lets a body match it to the course content |
| Provider name | Shows who delivered and stands behind it |
| Date of completion | Places it in the right CPD year |
| CPD hours or points | The figure the learner logs |
| Format | Live, online or eLearning, since some bodies treat these differently |
| Accreditation reference | Lets anyone check the course is accredited, and by whom |
We also like to see a unique certificate number. It makes it quick to confirm a certificate is genuine if a learner's employer ever asks.
Wording to avoid
Certificates are where overclaiming tends to creep in. Watch for wording that makes the course sound like something it is not:
- Calling a CPD course a qualification, a diploma or a degree when it is not one.
- Quoting a framework level, such as RQF Level 3 or EQF Level 5, that the course does not hold.
- Describing the accreditation as official, government approved or regulated. No CPD scheme in the UK is.
- Using an accreditation mark on a course other than the one accredited.
Plain, modest wording also persuades better. When a buyer spots exaggeration on a certificate, they start doubting everything else.
Digital certificates
Most providers now send certificates out from their learning platform, which is fine, and often better, because the details fill in automatically and the date is right. Check the template once, carefully, before you go live. One wrong course title or a missing hours figure will repeat on every certificate the platform sends.
Certificates for events and multi-session courses
Events need slightly different certificates, because people attend different sessions. We suggest listing the sessions attended, or at least the total hours for that delegate, rather than printing the full programme value on everyone's certificate. For a course run over several weeks, the completion date should be the date the learner finished, not the start date.
How long to keep records
Keep a record of who completed what, when, and for how many hours, for as long as your learners might need to prove it. Some professional bodies audit members' CPD, and members do come back to providers for copies. Hold the data in line with your privacy notice and data protection law, and keep no more personal data than you need.
Getting the certificate right before certification
CPD bodies nearly always ask to see a sample certificate, and a poor one is a common reason for a course to come back with questions. When we prepare a course for CPD certification, we check the template against the body's rules, including where its mark and reference go. Once the course is certified, we look at a sample of issued certificates again at each yearly review.
Common questions
What should be on a CPD certificate?
The learner's name, the course title, the provider, the completion date, the CPD hours and the format, plus the accreditation reference if the course is accredited.
Can a CPD certificate say the course is a qualification?
No, unless it genuinely is one. A CPD course is not a qualification and should not quote a framework level it does not hold.
How long should a provider keep CPD records?
For as long as your learners might need to prove their CPD, within the limits of your privacy notice and data protection law.
Does a CPD certificate need a signature?
Not always. A named provider, a unique certificate number and an accreditation reference that can be checked do more to show it is genuine than a scanned signature.
Can I issue a certificate before the learner finishes?
No. Issue it on completion, dated the day the learner finished, so it matches the CPD year they log it in.
What if a learner loses their certificate?
Reissue it from your records with the original completion date. This is one reason to keep good records in the first place.
Want a course CPD certified?
Book a 30 minute scoping call. We will look at the course and tell you honestly whether CPD certification is the right fit, and which CPD body might suit it. No preparation needed.
Book a 30 minute scoping callApollo Accreditation is not a regulator or an awarding organisation, and CPD accreditation is not a regulated qualification.
FreeCourse diagnostic
Send us one course. We'll tell you what it needs, free.
Share one course or programme you already run, or the slides and notes behind it. After a short first call, we review it at no charge and send you a written note on what it needs and which package fits, within a few working days.
- One course or programme, reviewed by a named person
- A written note on what it needs
- The package that fits, so you know where to start
- No charge and no obligation