Open CPD providers are not a demographic. They are a way of thinking. They are the training providers who, when a learner finishes a course, think about what that learner does next — not just whether they turned up. They care about the outcome, not only the completion.
They want their learners to get somewhere
The training provider who uses Open CPD is not satisfied with a tick in a box. They want their learner to be able to show what they achieved — to a new employer, to a professional body, to a LinkedIn connection who asks about their background. A certificate with a verification link, a badge that travels, an achievement page that stays live long after the email is buried: these are the things that let a learner do something with their training. Open CPD providers want to give them that.
They are proud of what they deliver
There is a specific kind of training provider who knows their subject deeply and cares that the credential reflects the quality of the training. Not a generic template with a name dropped in, but something structured — Aims, Skills, Outcomes — that shows what the learning actually covered and what the learner can now do. The certificate is the last impression the training makes. These providers want it to be a good one.
They are thinking ahead — without wanting to become technology experts
Open CPD providers are open to doing things better. They are not sceptical of new approaches; they just had not found the right one yet. When they find it, they do not need to become platform administrators or credentialing specialists. The framework is there. The technology is handled. There is a thing for this, and it fits into what they already do. That is exactly the point.
They do not want to do this alone
Working out what a professional record of learning should contain — what belongs on a certificate, how CPD hours are allocated honestly, what structured evidence of learning actually looks like — is a project in itself. Open CPD providers do not have to solve that from scratch. The standards have been worked out. The framework exists. They are joining something that has already figured out what good looks like, and they are happy to be shown.
They trust that they are in good hands
Choosing a credentialing platform is a decision that affects every certificate you issue and every learner who receives one. Open CPD providers choose it partly because of what comes with membership: one-to-one support when they need it, onboarding that gets them issuing quickly, and a platform that does not leave them guessing. They are not just buying a tool. They are joining a network that has done the work so they do not have to.
Where they come from
Open CPD is used by training providers across the UK, US, Canada, and Europe — at all stages of growth and across many different subjects. Some run training full-time. Some do it alongside other work. Some are established providers moving from PDF certificates to something more credible. Some are newer providers who want to start as they mean to go on. The subjects vary. The scale varies. The instinct — to give their learners something worth having — does not.
FAQ
Do I need to be an established training company to join?
No. Open CPD is used by sole traders, small training businesses, and larger providers alike. The only requirement is that you are the legitimate provider of the training you certify and that you sign the Declaration committing to the platform’s five principles.
What if I am not confident with technology?
The platform is designed to be used without technical expertise. Onboarding support is included with membership, and one-to-one support is available at any point during the year. You do not need to be a platform expert — you need to know your training.
Can I use Open CPD if I also hold external accreditation?
Yes. Some providers use Open CPD for credential infrastructure — verifiable certificates, digital badges, the achievement page, the verification layer — while also holding an external accreditation mark for its signal value in their specific sector. The two are not mutually exclusive.
What do my learners actually receive?
A professionally designed certificate with a secure verification link. A digital badge ready to share on LinkedIn or in an email signature — issued automatically at the same time as the certificate. And a dedicated achievement page — publicly accessible to anyone they share the link with, not indexed or searchable — with guidance on how to share their achievement on social media. Everything they need to do something with what they have learned.
