For education training providers
CPD accreditation for education and teaching training
Last reviewed 23 October 2026 · 7 min read
Schools buy a great deal of training — for teachers, teaching assistants, designated leads and support staff — and much of it comes from external providers. Unlike some professions, teaching has no single centrally-mandated number of CPD hours; schools set their own expectations, and statutory requirements sit in specific areas like safeguarding. If you deliver training for schools, independent CPD accreditation is a way to show a course was assessed against a published standard. Knowing where it fits matters, because education mixes statutory duties with professional judgement.
The short answer: CPD accreditation confirms that a specific course was independently assessed against a published standard, with stated outcomes and verifiable certificates. It sits alongside statutory requirements such as safeguarding under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), the Teachers' Standards, and each school's own CPD expectations — it is not DfE approval, and it does not replace statutory training.
The systems in UK education training — and where CPD accreditation fits
| What it is | What it does |
|---|---|
| KCSIE and statutory duties | Statutory safeguarding and related requirements schools must meet, including training for designated safeguarding leads and all staff. Driven by the duty. |
| Teachers' Standards | The professional standards teachers are expected to meet. A benchmark, not a CPD-hours scheme. |
| School-set CPD | Each school decides its own CPD expectations, INSET and development priorities. There is no national mandatory hours figure for teachers. |
| CPD accreditation | Independent assessment that a specific course meets a published quality standard. Applies across the training schools buy in. |
Most of what schools purchase — safeguarding updates, SEND and inclusion, behaviour, mental health and wellbeing, subject and pedagogy training, TA development — is CPD. Accreditation gives school leaders and governors evidence that a course was independently reviewed, which matters when training budgets and quality are both under scrutiny.
Why CPD accreditation matters in education training
Schools account for their spending and their staff development to governors, trust boards and inspection. A CPD certificate that states learning outcomes, hours and a verification code is stronger evidence of quality than one confirming attendance alone. For a provider selling into schools and multi-academy trusts — where procurement is increasingly careful — independent accreditation is a clear quality signal that helps a course compete.
What AssuredCPD assesses on an education course specifically
Each course is reviewed by a person against our published Standards Framework. For education we look closely at:
- Currency. Guidance such as KCSIE is updated regularly. We check content reflects current statutory guidance and that you have a plan to keep it current.
- Outcomes that change practice. Outcomes a teacher or TA can apply in the classroom, not general awareness.
- Proportionate hours, honestly claimed.
- A credible check of learning.
Who this is for — and who it isn't
This is for providers of education and teaching training — e-learning companies, trainers, and schools or trusts running their own in-house CPD who want independent assurance of quality. It fits the broad range of professional development schools buy.
It is not DfE approval, not a teaching qualification such as QTS, and not a substitute for statutory safeguarding training, which has its own requirements. Designated safeguarding lead training in particular must meet specific expectations that a general CPD accreditation does not replace.
Common education courses we accredit
These are typical of what training providers for schools submit. The list is indicative, not exhaustive:
- Safeguarding and child protection updates (all-staff level)
- Designated safeguarding lead knowledge modules
- SEND, inclusion and supporting learning needs
- Behaviour management and managing challenging behaviour
- Child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing
- Prevent duty and online safety awareness
- Teaching assistant development and classroom practice
- Data protection in schools and professional standards
- Subject and pedagogy continuing development
Statutory safeguarding training, and designated safeguarding lead training in particular, has its own requirements; CPD accreditation assures course quality but does not replace those requirements.
Where education courses commonly fall short
The reasons an education course is sent back are consistent, and all are avoidable:
- Content behind current guidance. KCSIE and related guidance are updated regularly; a course that does not track those changes dates quickly.
- Vague outcomes. Outcomes a teacher or TA cannot actually apply in the classroom.
- Inflated hours relative to the depth of the material.
- No real check of learning beyond confirming the content was opened.
How it works, practically
Submit the course — outline, materials, assessment method, claimed hours and review policy. A named assessor reviews it against the six domains and returns a written decision within five working days of a complete submission. Once accredited, you display the AssuredCPD mark on that course and issue certificates with a verification code schools can check.
Pricing
A single course is £350 for the first year (£245 renewal). Annual membership covering multiple courses starts at £975, usually cheaper from around three courses upward — which suits most education-training catalogues. Prices exclude VAT, with no per-certificate fees. See the pricing page.
What we're honest about
CPD accreditation is not DfE approval, and no CPD body can grant it — the DfE does not approve external training. It does not replace statutory safeguarding training or confer a teaching qualification, and it accredits the course rather than the individual learner. We state those limits clearly — see what you can and can't claim.
Common questions
How many CPD hours do teachers have to do?
There is no single national mandatory number of CPD hours for teachers. Schools set their own CPD expectations and priorities, and statutory requirements apply in specific areas such as safeguarding. CPD accreditation is about the quality of a course, not a required hours total.
Is CPD accreditation the same as DfE approval?
No. The Department for Education does not approve or endorse external training courses, and no CPD accreditation body can grant DfE approval. CPD accreditation confirms a course was independently assessed against a published standard, which can support a school's evidence of quality but is not government approval.
Does accredited training meet KCSIE safeguarding requirements?
Not automatically. Statutory safeguarding duties under Keeping Children Safe in Education have their own requirements, and designated safeguarding lead training in particular must meet specific expectations. CPD accreditation is quality assurance of a course; it does not by itself discharge statutory safeguarding obligations.
Can AssuredCPD accredit a school's or trust's in-house CPD?
Yes. Schools and multi-academy trusts running their own courses can submit them for accreditation like any provider. Each course is assessed against the published Standards Framework and, if it meets the standard, carries the mark and verifiable certificates.
How much does it cost to accredit an education course?
A single course is £350 for the first year and £245 on renewal, excluding VAT. Annual membership for multiple courses starts at £975, usually cheaper from around three courses upward. There are no per-certificate fees.
Apply for accreditation See pricing
AssuredCPD is an independent CPD accreditation body. We are not a government or regulatory body and do not award regulated qualifications. CPD accreditation confirms that a course was independently assessed against our published standard; it is not a licence to practise and does not replace any mandatory, regulated or statutory training a role requires.