CPD Glossary

Accreditation

The formal process by which an independent body assesses whether a training course or organisation meets defined quality standards. Accreditation is renewable; it is not a one-time award.

Accreditation Body

An organisation that issues accreditation. VeritasCPD is one example. Accreditation bodies are independent of the training providers whose work they assess.

Active Learning

Learning that involves direct engagement — exercises, discussion, reflection, application — rather than passive consumption of content.

Approved Provider

A training provider whose application to an accreditation body has been approved, allowing them to submit individual courses for accreditation.

Audit (CPD Audit)

A check by a professional body of a registrant's CPD records. Some bodies audit randomly each year; others audit at specific points in the revalidation cycle.

Blended Learning

A course that combines online (asynchronous or synchronous) elements with face-to-face delivery. Both VeritasCPD and most professional bodies treat blended courses on the same basis as fully online or fully in-person ones, provided learning outcomes are clearly defined.

Competency Framework

A defined set of skills, knowledge and behaviours that a profession expects its members to develop and maintain. CPD activities should map back to a competency framework.

CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

The structured process by which professionals maintain, develop and enhance their skills, knowledge and capabilities throughout their careers. CPD is required by most UK regulated professions.

CPD Hours

The most common unit of CPD measurement. One CPD hour equals one hour of structured, recordable learning.

CPD Plan

A forward-looking document a professional creates outlining their planned learning activities for the year, often required as part of revalidation.

CPD Points

A weighted unit of CPD measurement used by some professional bodies. Points are profession-specific — there is no universal conversion to hours.

CPD Record

A retrospective log of CPD activities completed, including evidence of attendance, learning outcomes, and reflection. Essential for revalidation.

Formative Assessment

Assessment built into learning to identify gaps and adjust delivery — quizzes, knowledge checks, in-module reflections. Distinct from summative assessment.

GMC

The General Medical Council, the UK regulator for doctors. Sets revalidation requirements based around appraisal and CPD evidence.

GPhC

The General Pharmaceutical Council, the UK regulator for pharmacists. Requires four CPD records per year, plus peer discussion and reflective account.

HCPC

The Health and Care Professions Council, the UK regulator for 15 allied health professions including physiotherapists, paramedics and occupational therapists.

Hours-Based CPD

A CPD model that measures development by hours of activity completed. Most common; contrasts with output-based CPD.

Independent Accreditation

Accreditation issued by a body with no commercial stake in the outcome. VeritasCPD is independent — we do not sell training, only quality assurance for training.

Learning Objectives

Specific statements describing what learners will know, understand or be able to do after completing a course. Must be measurable and assessable for the course to be accreditable.

NMC

The Nursing and Midwifery Council, the UK regulator for nurses and midwives. Requires 35 hours of CPD per three-year revalidation cycle.

Output-Based CPD

A CPD model that measures development by demonstrated capability or impact rather than hours spent. Less common in the UK but used by some specialist bodies.

Participatory Learning

Learning that involves interaction with others — workshops, group discussions, supervised practice. Distinct from self-directed reading.

Reflection / Reflective Account

A written account of how a learning activity has changed practice or understanding. Most regulators require reflection as part of CPD records, not just attendance evidence.

Revalidation

The periodic process by which a regulated professional confirms they remain fit to practise. Different professions have different revalidation cycles (typically 3 or 5 years).

SRA

The Solicitors Regulation Authority, the UK regulator for solicitors. Uses a competence-based rather than hours-based CPD model since 2016.

Structured CPD

CPD that has defined learning outcomes, planned content, and some form of assessment. Distinct from unstructured/informal learning. Most regulators favour structured CPD heavily.

Summative Assessment

Final assessment used to determine whether a learner has met course objectives. Pass/fail-style. Distinct from formative assessment.

Verifiable CPD

CPD that is documented with evidence — certificate, assessment record, reflection — sufficient to satisfy a regulator's audit. Distinct from informal CPD that has no documentary record.