How to Assign CPD Points to a Course

How to Assign CPD Points to a Course

CPD points are one of the most visible aspects of a CPD-accredited course — they appear on certificates, in professional records, and in the marketing materials that influence whether a professional will enrol. Yet the logic behind CPD point allocation is poorly understood by many training providers, leading to inflated claims, inconsistent practices, and occasionally sceptical responses from employers and professional bodies.

This guide explains how CPD points work, how accrediting bodies calculate allocations, and what you need to know as a training provider.

What Are CPD Points?

CPD points (also referred to as CPD hours, CPD credits, or CPD units depending on the professional context) are a quantified measure of the learning activity a practitioner has undertaken for their continuing professional development records. Most professional bodies in the UK require members to accumulate a defined number of CPD points or hours per year to maintain their membership or professional standing.

CPD points are not regulated at a national level — different professional bodies use different systems, and the same course can be worth different numbers of points depending on which professional body is recognising it. This is a source of frequent confusion for both providers and learners.

The Main CPD Measurement Systems

Time-Based CPD (CPD Hours)

The most common system. One CPD hour equals one hour of structured learning activity. A course with 6 guided learning hours earns 6 CPD hours. This is used by the majority of UK professional associations and CPD endorsement bodies.

Points-Based CPD

Some organisations use a points system where points are assigned based on hours but may be weighted by the type or level of activity. Common weighting approaches include:

• Assessed learning activities scoring higher than attendance-only events
• Activities relevant to the core scope of practice scoring higher than peripheral topics
• Activities with practical application components scoring higher than theory-only content

Credits-Based CPD

A smaller number of bodies use a credit system tied to the RQF credit value framework. RQF credits represent 10 notional hours of learning (which includes guided and independent learning time). Credits-based systems are more common in regulated qualification contexts than in CPD accreditation.

How Accrediting Bodies Assign CPD Points

When you submit a course for CPD accreditation, the accrediting body assesses your declared guided learning hours and assigns a CPD point or hour allocation. The process typically works as follows:

1. You declare your guided learning hours in your submission
2. The assessor reviews your course content and determines whether the declared hours are plausible
3. The assessor assigns a CPD hour or point allocation, which may equal your declared hours or may differ if they have queries about your calculation
4. The allocation is stated on your accreditation certificate and authorises you to issue CPD certificates to learners with that point or hour value

You cannot assign your own CPD point value to an accredited course without the accrediting body confirming it. Using a CPD value that differs from the accrediting body allocation — particularly a higher one — is misleading and could compromise your accreditation status.

Calculating Your Course GLH for Submission

The starting point for CPD point allocation is your guided learning hours figure. To calculate this accurately:

• List all structured learning activities and their durations
• Remove breaks, administrative time, and non-learning periods
• Include assessment time at a realistic estimate
• Include directed reading time at a standard reading speed
• Total the remaining activity time

Present a clear breakdown in your accreditation submission — do not just state a total figure without supporting it with a component-level breakdown.

What CPD Point Value Should You Claim?

You should claim the value confirmed by your accrediting body — no more. If your accrediting body confirms that your course merits 6 CPD hours, your certificates should state 6 CPD hours.

Some providers are tempted to state higher values to make their courses appear more substantial. This is a short-term tactic that creates long-term reputational risk. Professional bodies and employers increasingly scrutinise CPD records, and an obviously inflated CPD value on a certificate is a credibility problem — for the learner and for you as the provider.

Different Professional Bodies, Different Points

Because CPD systems are not nationally standardised, the same course may have different values for members of different professional bodies. A 6-hour course accredited by body A for 6 CPD hours may be worth 6 CPD hours to members of body A and their partners — but a member of an unrelated professional body using a different CPD framework may need to convert this to their own system.

This is normal and not a problem with your course. When marketing, focus on the specific accrediting body or bodies that recognise your course rather than making generic CPD claims that may not be accurate for all professional contexts.

Presenting CPD Points on Certificates and Marketing

On learner certificates, state clearly:

• The number of CPD hours or points
• The accrediting body that confirmed the value
• The date of completion
• The course title

In your marketing, use precise language. "6 CPD hours accredited by [Body Name]" is accurate and useful. "Earn CPD points" without further specification is vague and may create unrealistic expectations for learners whose professional body uses a different system.

CPD.me.uk and CPD Point Verification

CPD.me.uk provides independent verification of course accreditation status and CPD point values. When your course is listed and verified, the CPD value confirmed by your accrediting body is displayed alongside the accreditation details, giving learners and employers a neutral reference point for the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I assign CPD points to my course before getting it accredited?

Technically you can assign an estimated value to unaccredited courses, but you should make clear that the course is not independently accredited. For credibility and commercial value, accreditation is strongly recommended. Using accreditation marks or claiming formal CPD recognition without actual accreditation is misleading.

Do CPD points expire?

CPD points themselves do not expire, but most professional bodies require CPD to be completed within a specific period (usually the current CPD year). Points earned outside the current period may not count towards the current year requirement.

Can a learner claim CPD points if they do not complete the assessment?

For most accredited courses, completion of the assessment is a requirement for certification. If a learner attends but does not complete the assessment, they cannot receive a CPD certificate. Some bodies allow attendance-only CPD for non-assessed events, but this is distinct from formal course CPD.