Open CPD Platform — What It Does and How It Works

Open CPD is a browser-based SaaS platform built for independent training providers who need a straightforward way to self-accredit CPD courses and issue verifiable certificates. There is no installation required — providers access everything through a browser. The platform has been live since April 2023, went through a major rebuild in 2024, and the current version went live in mid-2025.

This post explains what the platform does, how it is built, and what happens at each stage of the process from course creation through to certificate issuance.

The Technical Foundation

The platform is built on C# and Angular, and hosted on AWS. An AWS Well-Architected Review has been completed, which means the infrastructure has been evaluated against Amazon’s own framework for reliability, security, and operational performance. Payments are handled through Stripe, with payment required upfront before any certificates are issued — there is no issuing on credit or deferred billing.

Because Open CPD is a browser-based SaaS platform, providers are not tied to a specific device or operating system. The platform is maintained and updated centrally, so providers always access the current version without managing updates themselves.

Setting Up as a Provider

Before creating courses, a provider sets up their profile with their logo and branding. This matters because the certificates issued through the platform carry the provider’s identity, not Open CPD’s. The branding configuration feeds directly into the custom branded certificate templates that learners receive.

Custom branded certificate templates mean that a learner’s certificate looks like it has come from the training organisation, which is appropriate given that the provider is the one accrediting and delivering the course. The Open CPD platform handles the generation and verification infrastructure in the background.

Creating a Course and Structuring Learning Outcomes

Each course is built using the course structuring workflow, which requires providers to define Aims, Skills, and Outcomes. This is not optional formatting — it is the structural backbone of the course record on the platform. Defining these three elements forces a level of rigour that makes the CPD claim defensible.

For providers who find this process difficult, there is CPD Genie, an AI-assisted course structuring tool built into the platform. CPD Genie does not write the course content itself, but it helps providers articulate their Aims, Skills, and Outcomes in a form that meets the expected standard. It reduces the time spent on this step and makes the process accessible to providers who are not experienced in writing formal learning frameworks.

Once a course is created with defined learning outcomes, it becomes the basis on which certificates are issued. The course record sits permanently on the platform and can be used repeatedly for ongoing delivery.

Issuing Certificates and Badges

Certificates can be issued individually or in bulk. For bulk issuance, the platform supports CSV bulk upload, which allows providers to upload a file containing learner details and generate multiple certificates in a single action. This is particularly useful for organisations running cohort-based training, where processing learners one at a time would be impractical.

Each certificate has a unique verification URL. This is a direct link that anyone — an employer, a regulatory body, or a learner themselves — can use to confirm that the certificate is genuine and was issued through the platform. There is no need to contact the training provider or Open CPD directly; the instant verification links resolve the question immediately.

In addition to certificates, the platform includes digital badge generation. Digital badges follow a different use pattern to certificates — they are designed to be shared on platforms like LinkedIn or embedded in email signatures. Both are generated from the same course and learner record, so there is no duplication of data entry.

What the Platform Does Not Do

Open CPD does not deliver courses. It does not host video, run assessments, or function as a learning management system. Its scope is specific: course structuring, accreditation record-keeping, certificate generation, digital badge generation, and verification. Providers use their own tools to deliver training and come to Open CPD to handle the credentialling side.

This distinction is worth stating plainly because it affects how providers should think about integrating the platform into their operations. Open CPD sits at the point after delivery — when a learner has completed a course and needs evidence of that completion that can be independently verified.

The combination of a defined course structuring workflow with Aims Skills Outcomes, Stripe-secured payments, AWS hosting with a completed Well-Architected Review, and per-certificate unique verification URLs means the platform is built around producing records that hold up to scrutiny — which is what CPD credentialling ultimately requires.