Frequently asked questions

CPD self-accreditation allows training providers to issue CPD-accredited certificates independently, without relying on third-party accreditation bodies. Open CPD's platform makes this process simple, giving you full control over course accreditation, certificate issuance, and compliance with CPD standards. You can create professional, tamper-proof certificates quickly and easily.

Yes — Open CPD is designed to be accessible to all training providers, regardless of size or industry. Whether you're a solo provider or a large organisation, you can use Open CPD to create cost-effective and credible CPD certificates with ease.

You can share it — on social media, on your CV, or in your email signature — or simply keep it as a permanent, checkable record of the training. See the next question for how sharing works.

You can easily share your Open CPD certificate to showcase your achievement — on social media, on your CV, or in your email signature.

Send them our website link (open-cpd.com) and explain how self-accreditation simplifies CPD accreditation, invite them to join a weekly Q&A to see the platform in action, or point them to our support team, who can book a demo or answer specific questions.

Self-accreditation gives you control over your courses and removes the need to pay for external approval for every course. Open CPD charges only for certificates issued, not for each course you create. Traditional CPD providers often require upfront payments and reviews for each new course, making the process slower and more expensive.

A course or event is suitable for CPD accreditation if it provides valuable learning, meets professional development objectives, and has clear learning outcomes. Open CPD offers guidance on structuring your training to ensure it meets these criteria.

As an Open CPD member, you'll receive a membership certificate that demonstrates your organisation's commitment to providing accredited CPD, plus a media pack including logos, templates, and digital badges to help you promote your CPD-accredited training across your website, emails, and social media.

CPD points are typically calculated based on the time spent on structured learning activities — as a general guideline, one CPD point per hour of active learning. You should also factor in the course's complexity, practical application, and the time required for reflection. Open CPD gives you the flexibility to assign points that align with your learning objectives and outcomes.

Learning outcomes describe what participants should be able to achieve or understand by the end of your training. Effective learning outcomes are specific (clearly state what the participant will achieve), measurable (can be evaluated after the session), and relevant (aligned with professional growth) — defining them clearly makes it easier for participants and employers to assess the impact of the training.

Yes — Open CPD supports accreditation for various training formats, including live webinars, in-person workshops, and large conferences. Whether it's a one-hour virtual session or a multi-day event, you can issue CPD-accredited certificates for any learning experience.

Focus on these key elements: Aims (what is the purpose of the course), Learning Outcomes (what will participants be able to do afterwards), Content and Delivery (materials and teaching methods aligned with your outcomes), Assessment and Feedback, and Duration (clearly defined structured-learning time).

If your course includes independent activities like reading or practical exercises, you can include this time in the overall CPD hours if the activity is clearly related to the learning outcomes, and the time required is realistic and measurable (e.g. 30 minutes to read an article, 1 hour to complete a reflective journal).

Getting started with Open CPD is quick and straightforward. Once you create an account, you can begin setting up your courses immediately, with a step-by-step process for adding course details, assigning CPD points, and issuing certificates. Many training providers issue their first CPD-accredited certificates within a single day.

No — Open CPD is designed to be user-friendly and doesn't require any technical expertise. If you're familiar with basic online forms and uploading documents, you'll have no trouble navigating the system.

In a single transaction: professional CPD certificates (with your name, logo, course details, contact and social media details, and a unique verification ID), and digital badges that can be shared on LinkedIn and other platforms — both tamper-proof and easily verifiable.

Yes — Open CPD allows you to issue certificates for both ongoing courses and one-off events. There's no long-term commitment required; you can simply add top-up credits if you have a major event, and no need to reconfigure the system for one-off formats.

Open CPD's certificates are built to hold up wherever CPD evidence is reviewed. Each certificate includes a unique ID and a tamper-proof verification link, so an employer or professional body can check what was issued in seconds — the record speaks for itself, rather than relying on a third party's endorsement.

Yes. You can start with a simple upload, or use automation tools like Zapier or a direct API integration, so Open CPD sits behind whatever you've already built.

No — all certificates must be issued by Open CPD to be verifiable. We can, however, install your existing certificate design and badge so everything still fits your branding.

Yes, Open CPD works from any browser. Issuing certificates is best done on a computer for accuracy.

Open CPD offers a 7-day free trial so you can explore the platform without any upfront commitment. After the trial, you can choose a plan that suits your needs, with options to top up credits as required. There's no long-term contract, and credits are valid for 12 months. See the Pricing page for current plans.

No — Open CPD does not charge for adding or editing courses or events. You only pay for the certificates you issue, so you can create as many courses as you like and issue certificates based on demand.

Yes — Open CPD offers a 7-day free trial, and runs special promotions such as bonus credits when you sign up during specific periods. UK-registered charities can take advantage of a special matching-credits offer, doubling their initial certificate credits.

Open CPD offers a flexible, no-contract model with Pay-as-you-Go credits — top up when needed, no subscription required. If you'd prefer a package with more benefits or discounts, you can upgrade to larger plans at any time.

Yes — estimate based on the number of participants you expect. For example, issuing to 50 participants every quarter, a 100-credit package would cover six months. Our team is happy to help you assess your requirements.

Self-help resources (step-by-step guides, video tutorials, FAQs), free webinars to see the platform in action, and personalised support via email or chat for one-on-one guidance.

Choose from 20 professional templates, with your organisation's logo and name added automatically to every certificate, plus digital badges to enhance shareability. Bespoke templates (including multilingual options, with English always present) are included at no extra cost in the Professional package, or can be added for a small fee on other plans.

Yes — useful if you're delivering training or hosting events on behalf of another organisation, or collaborating with a partner. The platform makes it easy to incorporate these details alongside your own branding.

Yes, your data is fully secure on Open CPD. Certificates are tamper-proof once issued, and we use industry-standard encryption to protect your data and ensure only authorised users have access.

Yes — upload participant details in batches and issue multiple certificates at once, for large events, conferences, or multi-session courses.