Advice to organisations seeking recognition of their CPD events

Companies and other organisations seeking recognition of courses, seminars or similar events that they run should first approach the relevant specialist professional body to find out whether that body can undertake accreditation. If no such accreditation is provided the CPD Institute recommends that the company issue its own certificates of attendance to participants in the event concerned, indicating the number of CPD hours awarded.

The company is also advised to become a Corporate Affiliate of the CPD Institute as an additional way of demonstrating its commitment to CPD. No charge is made for this, but the Institute expects Corporate Affiliates to promote Membership or Fellowship to their staff and requires at least one person from the company to join as a Member or Fellow once Corporate Affiliateship has been granted. These grades entitle the holder to use the designatory letters MInstCPD or FInstCPD respectively.

The number of hours of CPD shown on a certificate of attendance awarded to an individual by a Corporate Affiliate of the Institute will count towards the 40 hours of CPD required of the individual for admission to the class of Fellow.

Corporate Affiliates are also permitted to add the Institute's logo to their websites, certificates of attendance and other relevant literature. They should not however imply that their event has been accredited by the CPD Institute, since such accreditation is not part of the Institute's remit.

For further information or advice, including a sample CPD certificate, please email the Institute.