Purpose & Learning Outcomes
A legitimate CPD purpose, clearly identified audience and relevant learning outcomes proportionate to course scope and duration.
CPD Ireland Course Accreditation Standard
Every newly assessed course must demonstrate that it meets a defined quality standard before CPD Ireland accreditation can be awarded.
Version 1.0 Effective 21 August 2026
Accreditation is earned, not automatic
CPD Ireland accreditation is based on independent assessment of the course and its supporting evidence. Applying, submitting documents or paying a provider fee does not guarantee accreditation.
The Standard gives providers, buyers, learners and procurement teams a clear view of what sits behind the CPD Ireland badge.
What the badge represents
- Independent assessment against defined Standards
- Credible, course-specific CPD hours
- Evidence of genuine learning quality and governance
- Accreditation tied to an identified course version
The ten Standards
Assessors consider each Standard independently. An unresolved weakness in one area cannot simply be offset by strength somewhere else.
Content Quality & Professional Relevance
Accurate, sufficiently substantive and professionally relevant content, appropriate to the audience and current where currency matters.
Learning Design & Structure
Coherent sequencing, appropriate learning methods and materials, and reasonable timing aligned to the learning outcomes.
Trainer / Subject-Matter Credibility
Suitable knowledge, experience, qualifications where relevant, subject-matter credibility and delivery competence.
Learner Engagement & Application
Proportionate opportunities to engage, reflect, practise, apply, discuss or demonstrate understanding where appropriate.
Assessment, Verification & Evaluation
Credible and proportionate approaches to participation verification, learning assessment where relevant, learner evaluation and course effectiveness.
CPD Hours Integrity
Claimed CPD hours must represent genuine structured learning and exclude breaks, promotion, unrelated activity, administration and unsupported non-learning time.
Quality, Accessibility & Professional Presentation
Materials and delivery should be usable, understandable, appropriately accessible and professionally presented for the audience and format.
Governance, Evidence & Version Control
The accredited course version, supporting materials, responsibilities and evidence must be identifiable and capable of consistent governance.
Integrity & Accuracy of Claims
Claims about CPD Ireland accreditation, qualifications, learner certification, CPD hours and accreditation scope must be accurate and not misleading.
Practical provider guidance
Use the Standard to judge; use the Guide to prepare
This page is the formal, controlling accreditation Standard. Providers who are designing or improving a course can use the separate Accreditation-Ready Course Guide for plain-language guidance, examples and preparation templates.
The Guide does not change these Standards and does not guarantee accreditation.
Preparing a course pack?
Work through measurable learning outcomes, structure and CPD hours, trainer credibility, participation, evaluation, accessibility and version control before you submit.
How findings are handled
For each Standard, the assessor records whether the course meets the requirement, needs an action, or does not meet the Standard. Assessor working rationale remains internal to CPD Ireland.
Where changes are required, CPD Ireland controls the provider-facing feedback that is released and the provider can submit revised evidence through the established resubmission process.
Final authority remains with CPD Ireland
Assessors review and recommend. CPD Ireland Administration makes the final accreditation decision and determines final approved CPD hours. The CPD Register remains the authoritative public accreditation record.
Scope: CPD Ireland accredits providers and courses within the stated scope. It does not award qualifications, certify individual learners, or imply government or statutory approval. Badge use is governed by the Badge Use Policy.