VeriCPD Accreditation Terms & Conditions

1. About VeriCPD

VeriCPD provides independent assessment of courses, training programmes, workshops, webinars, events and other learning activities for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes.

Submitted learning activities are assessed against defined criteria developed and maintained by VeriCPD, referred to in these Terms as the “VeriCPD Criteria”.

Where VeriCPD is satisfied that a submitted learning activity meets the applicable VeriCPD Criteria, VeriCPD may grant VeriCPD accreditation for that learning activity for the stated accreditation period.

3. What VeriCPD Accreditation Means

Where a course or learning activity is granted VeriCPD accreditation, this means that the materials, evidence and information submitted by the provider have been assessed against the VeriCPD Criteria applicable at the time of assessment and, in VeriCPD’s professional judgement, have satisfied those criteria.

The assessment may consider, where applicable:

• the stated purpose of the learning activity;
• clear learning objectives;
• intended learning outcomes;
• structure and organisation of the learning;
• relevance to the stated target audience;
• educational and professional development value;
• quality and suitability of learning materials;
• method of delivery;
• duration and genuine learning time;
• assessment or knowledge-checking arrangements where applicable; and
• the overall suitability of the activity for CPD purposes.

Accreditation represents VeriCPD’s independent assessment against its own published or defined VeriCPD Criteria. It must not be represented as assessment against a government, statutory, Ofqual, UKAS or universal CPD standard.

4. What VeriCPD Accreditation Does Not Mean

Unless expressly stated otherwise in writing, VeriCPD accreditation does not:

• constitute approval or endorsement by the UK Government;
• constitute Ofqual recognition, approval or accreditation;
• constitute UKAS accreditation;
• constitute statutory or regulatory approval;
• constitute approval by a professional or industry body;
• turn a course into a regulated qualification;
• constitute the award of a regulated qualification;
• confer a licence to practise;
• confer professional registration or regulated professional status;
• confirm that a provider is a regulated awarding organisation;
• constitute accreditation of the provider’s entire organisation;
• certify the professional competence of a provider, trainer or learner;
• guarantee the accuracy of every technical or factual statement contained within a course;
• guarantee that a particular employer, regulator or professional body will accept the course for its own CPD requirements;
• guarantee employment, membership, registration, promotion, insurance or professional status;
• guarantee a particular educational, professional or commercial outcome; or
• transfer responsibility for the content or delivery of a course from the provider to VeriCPD.

Providers and learners remain responsible for determining whether an accredited learning activity is suitable for their individual requirements and whether it will be accepted by any particular employer, professional organisation, membership body, regulator or other third party.

5. Scope of the VeriCPD Assessment

VeriCPD’s assessment is carried out for the purpose of deciding whether a submitted learning activity satisfies the VeriCPD Criteria.

The assessment is based upon the materials, evidence, information and representations supplied to VeriCPD by the applicant.

Unless specifically agreed otherwise in writing, VeriCPD does not undertake an independent technical audit, legal review or specialist verification of every factual statement, reference, calculation, procedure, recommendation or professional opinion contained within a course.

VeriCPD accreditation must therefore not be represented as a guarantee that every statement contained within an accredited course is factually, technically, legally or professionally correct.

This distinction is particularly important where learning relates to technical, regulated, safety-critical, legal, medical, financial or other specialist subject matter.

6. Provider Responsibility for Course Content

The provider remains responsible for the course or learning activity submitted to VeriCPD.

This includes responsibility for:

• the accuracy of course content;
• technical and factual information;
• compliance with applicable laws, regulations and guidance;
• keeping course material current and appropriately reviewed;
• obtaining suitable professional or specialist input where necessary;
• the competence and suitability of trainers, tutors and assessors;
• the manner in which training is delivered;
• learner assessment and decisions about learner competence;
• health and safety associated with delivery;
• accessibility and reasonable adjustments where applicable;
• intellectual property rights;
• advertising and promotional claims;
• certificates issued to learners; and
• professional, technical or other advice provided as part of the learning activity.

Granting VeriCPD accreditation does not transfer these responsibilities to VeriCPD.

7. Information and Materials Supplied to VeriCPD

Applicants must provide information and materials that are accurate, complete and not misleading.

VeriCPD is entitled to rely upon information supplied by an applicant when conducting an assessment.

Applicants must inform VeriCPD if they become aware that information supplied during the accreditation process was materially inaccurate, incomplete or misleading.

VeriCPD may request further information, clarification, course materials or evidence where reasonably required in order to complete an assessment.

Failure to provide information reasonably required may result in the application being delayed, declined or closed.

8. Accreditation Decisions

Accreditation decisions are made by VeriCPD through assessment against the applicable VeriCPD Criteria and the application of professional judgement.

VeriCPD may:

• approve an application;
• request amendments;
• request further information or evidence;
• defer a decision while further information is obtained; or
• decline accreditation.

Submission of an application and payment of an assessment fee do not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

Where appropriate, VeriCPD may provide an applicant with an opportunity to make reasonable amendments before a final accreditation decision is made.

A decision not to grant accreditation does not necessarily mean that the course is of poor quality. It means that VeriCPD was not satisfied, on the materials and evidence available, that the learning activity met the applicable VeriCPD Criteria at that time.

9. Accreditation Applies to the Assessed Course or Learning Activity

Unless VeriCPD expressly agrees otherwise in writing, accreditation applies only to the specific course, programme, event or learning activity that has been assessed and approved.

Accreditation of one learning activity does not automatically accredit:

• other courses offered by the same provider;
• the provider’s organisation as a whole;
• different or substantially altered versions of the course;
• courses delivered under another organisation’s name; or
• other learning activities containing similar material.

Providers must not represent themselves as an accredited organisation, or imply that all of their activities are VeriCPD accredited, solely because one or more individual learning activities have received accreditation.

10. Changes to an Accredited Course

VeriCPD accreditation is granted on the basis of the course and supporting information assessed.

Providers must notify VeriCPD of material changes which could affect the basis upon which accreditation was granted.

Material changes may include significant changes to:

• course content;
• learning objectives;
• learning outcomes;
• duration;
• assessment arrangements;
• target audience;
• delivery method; or
• the nature or purpose of the learning activity.

VeriCPD may determine whether the amended activity remains within the scope of the original accreditation or whether reassessment is required.

Minor routine updates which do not materially alter the learning activity will not normally require full reassessment.

11. Accreditation Period and Renewal

VeriCPD accreditation is valid only for the accreditation period stated in the accreditation confirmation, certificate or VeriCPD register.

Accreditation does not continue indefinitely.

Where a provider wishes accreditation to continue beyond its expiry date, renewal or reassessment may be required in accordance with the procedures and fees applicable at that time.

Providers must not represent accreditation as current after it has expired, lapsed, been suspended or been withdrawn.

12. The VeriCPD Accreditation Mark

Where accreditation is granted, VeriCPD may permit the provider to use the applicable VeriCPD accreditation mark in connection with the accredited learning activity.

Permission to use the mark is limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable.

The VeriCPD mark must:

• only be used in relation to learning for which accreditation has been granted;
• not be altered other than proportionate resizing;
• not be used in a misleading manner;
• not imply accreditation of unrelated courses or services;
• not imply accreditation of the provider’s entire organisation unless expressly approved;
• not imply government, statutory, Ofqual, UKAS or regulatory approval;
• not be transferred or licensed to another organisation without written permission; and
• cease to be used when the applicable accreditation expires, lapses, is suspended or is withdrawn.

VeriCPD may require misleading, unauthorised or inappropriate use of its name, accreditation number, certificate or accreditation mark to be corrected or removed.

13. How Providers May Describe VeriCPD Accreditation

While accreditation remains current, providers may describe the relevant learning activity as “VeriCPD Accredited”.

Providers must not state or imply that VeriCPD accreditation constitutes:

• Government accreditation or approval;
• Ofqual accreditation, recognition or approval;
• UKAS accreditation;
• statutory accreditation;
• approval by a regulator;
• approval by a professional body unless separately obtained from that body;
• a regulated qualification;
• a licence to practise; or
• professional registration or regulated professional status.

Providers must take reasonable steps to ensure that their staff, trainers, agents, contractors and marketing partners do not make misleading claims concerning the nature or status of VeriCPD accreditation.

14. CPD Hours

Where VeriCPD recognises or records a number of CPD hours for an accredited activity, those hours represent the learning time accepted by VeriCPD as part of its assessment against the VeriCPD Criteria.

They do not guarantee that a particular employer, regulator, membership organisation or professional body will accept the same number of hours towards its own CPD requirements.

Learners and providers should check the requirements of any relevant third party where necessary.

15. Certificates Issued by Training Providers

Where a provider issues attendance or completion certificates carrying the VeriCPD mark or accreditation details, the provider is responsible for ensuring that certificates are issued only in accordance with its stated attendance, participation, completion or assessment requirements.

A certificate relating to a VeriCPD-accredited activity records the relevant participation, attendance or completion status.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, such a certificate is not a regulated qualification and must not be represented as one.

16. Monitoring and Quality Assurance

VeriCPD may undertake proportionate checks during an accreditation period to protect the integrity of VeriCPD accreditation.

VeriCPD may request information or evidence where reasonably necessary to investigate:

• a complaint;
• potentially misleading advertising;
• misuse of the VeriCPD mark;
• material changes to an accredited course;
• concerns about the integrity of an accredited learning activity; or
• a possible breach of these Terms.

Providers agree to cooperate reasonably with such enquiries.

17. Suspension or Withdrawal of Accreditation

VeriCPD may suspend or withdraw accreditation where it reasonably believes that:

• accreditation was obtained using materially inaccurate or misleading information;
• an accredited learning activity no longer satisfies the applicable VeriCPD Criteria;
• material changes have been made without appropriate notification;
• the VeriCPD name, certificate or accreditation mark is being misused;
• misleading claims are being made regarding the nature or scope of accreditation;
• the provider has acted in a manner that materially undermines the integrity of the accreditation;
• fees properly due remain unpaid; or
• the provider has materially breached these Terms.

Where reasonably practicable, VeriCPD will give the provider an opportunity to respond to concerns before a final withdrawal decision is made.

VeriCPD may take immediate action where it reasonably considers this necessary to prevent misleading use of its accreditation or to protect learners, customers or the integrity of the VeriCPD mark.

Following expiry, suspension or withdrawal, the provider must cease representing the affected learning activity as currently VeriCPD accredited and cease using the VeriCPD accreditation mark in connection with it.

18. Complaints and Review of Accreditation Decisions

Providers may raise a complaint regarding the service received or request a review of an accreditation decision.

A request for review should identify the decision concerned and explain why the provider believes relevant information was overlooked or the VeriCPD Criteria were incorrectly applied.

A review does not guarantee that the original decision will be changed.

VeriCPD may establish reasonable procedures and timescales for complaints and reviews and may update those procedures from time to time.

19. Intellectual Property and Course Materials

Applicants must have the necessary rights, licences or permissions to submit course materials to VeriCPD for assessment.

The applicant retains ownership of its own course materials.

Submission of materials gives VeriCPD permission to access, review, store and use those materials to the extent reasonably necessary to provide the accreditation service, retain appropriate assessment records, undertake quality assurance and respond to complaints or accreditation enquiries.

VeriCPD does not acquire ownership of an applicant’s course merely because the materials have been submitted for accreditation.

The VeriCPD name, logos, accreditation marks, assessment materials, assessment methods and proprietary VeriCPD Criteria remain the intellectual property of their respective owner.

20. Confidentiality

VeriCPD will take reasonable steps to protect confidential course materials and other confidential information supplied for assessment.

Information may nevertheless be retained, processed or disclosed where reasonably necessary for administration of the accreditation service, record keeping, quality assurance, protection of VeriCPD’s rights, obtaining professional or insurance advice, compliance with legal obligations or responding to lawful requests from competent authorities.

Nothing in these Terms prevents VeriCPD from publishing information reasonably required to allow third parties to verify accreditation, including the provider name, course title, accreditation reference, accreditation status, issue date and expiry date.

21. Fees and Payment

Applicable assessment and accreditation fees will be communicated to the applicant before or during the application process.

Fees relate to the assessment service undertaken by VeriCPD and not to a guaranteed successful accreditation outcome.

Payment of a fee does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

Where assessment work has commenced, fees may be non-refundable except where otherwise agreed by VeriCPD or where applicable law provides a right to a refund.

Renewal, reassessment, substantial amendments or additional services may attract further fees.

22. No Guarantee of Third-Party Acceptance

VeriCPD cannot guarantee that an employer, regulator, professional association, educational institution, insurer, membership body or other third party will accept a VeriCPD-accredited learning activity for its own purposes.

Different organisations may operate their own CPD requirements and remain responsible for determining the learning and evidence that they will accept.

Providers must not make guarantees of third-party recognition or acceptance on behalf of VeriCPD.

23. Reasonable Care and Responsibility

VeriCPD will exercise reasonable care and skill when providing its assessment and accreditation services.

VeriCPD accreditation is an assessment against the applicable VeriCPD Criteria based upon the information, evidence and materials available to VeriCPD at the time of assessment.

VeriCPD is not responsible for the subsequent delivery of an accredited learning activity or for the acts, omissions, advice, representations or conduct of the provider, its trainers, employees, contractors, delegates or learners.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

24. Limitation of Liability

Subject always to any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, VeriCPD will not be liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity, loss of anticipated savings or reputational loss arising from the provider’s use or misuse of VeriCPD accreditation.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.

Any liability arising directly from the provision of VeriCPD assessment or accreditation services will be determined in accordance with applicable law and the particular circumstances of the matter concerned.

25. Misuse of Accreditation

Providers are responsible for claims, representations and promotional material they publish concerning their courses and their VeriCPD accreditation.

To the extent permitted by law, the provider will be responsible for losses, claims, costs or liabilities arising from its unauthorised or misleading use of the VeriCPD name, accreditation status, certificate or accreditation mark, or from course content and representations for which the provider is responsible.

This does not apply to the extent that loss results from VeriCPD’s own breach of contract, negligence or another liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.

26. Data Protection

Personal information supplied to VeriCPD will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection law and VeriCPD’s Privacy Policy.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they have an appropriate lawful basis for supplying personal information to VeriCPD where information about trainers, learners, employees or other individuals forms part of an accreditation submission.

27. Changes to the VeriCPD Criteria

VeriCPD may review and amend the VeriCPD Criteria periodically in order to maintain the quality, consistency and relevance of its accreditation process.

An accreditation already granted will normally continue under the criteria applicable when it was granted until its next renewal, unless an earlier change is reasonably required because of legal requirements, safety considerations, serious quality concerns or another material circumstance.

New applications and renewals will normally be assessed against the VeriCPD Criteria applicable at the time of assessment.

28. Changes to These Terms

VeriCPD may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time.

The version applicable to an application will normally be the version in force at the time the application is made, subject to changes required by law or otherwise expressly agreed with the applicant.

The current version of these Terms will be published on the VeriCPD website.

29. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

30. No Waiver

A failure or delay by VeriCPD in exercising a right under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right.

31. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms & Conditions and any dispute or claim arising from them are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

The courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory legal rights which may apply.