How decisions are made and kept honest

The review panel

Reviews are carried out by a panel of reviewers with clinical, educational or healthcare-management backgrounds. Reviewers are appointed on the basis of relevant qualifications and practical experience of designing or delivering education, and each application is allocated to a reviewer whose background fits the subject matter.

Standards maintenance

The standards are reviewed at least annually and versioned. When a change is made, the version number changes and the previous version remains available so that decisions already issued can be read against the criteria in force at the time. Accreditations issued under an earlier version remain valid for their stated term.

Decision-making

A reviewer records findings against each of the eight standards and recommends one of four outcomes. Refusals and appeals are considered by a second reviewer who was not involved in the original assessment.

• Accredited. The activity meets the standards. An accreditation number, certificate, logo and register entry are issued.
• Accredited subject to minor changes. The activity meets the standards once a small number of specified changes are made. Accreditation is issued on confirmation.
• Further information required. The reviewer cannot reach a decision on the material supplied. Specific questions are sent to the provider.
• Not accredited. The activity does not meet one or more standards in a way that cannot be resolved by minor change. Written reasons are given and the decision can be appealed.

Conflicts of interest

Reviewers declare interests before accepting an allocation and must decline where they have a financial interest in the applicant, a personal relationship with faculty, or any competing commercial interest. Declarations are recorded against the application.

Complaints and appeals

Providers may appeal a decision within 28 days. Anyone may complain about an accredited activity or about CPD England itself. Both routes have published policies and defined response times, and both can result in accreditation being varied or withdrawn.

Withdrawal

Accreditation can be withdrawn where an activity is delivered materially differently from the application, where the mark or wording is misused, or where an upheld complaint shows the standards are no longer met. Withdrawn entries stay visible in the register and are marked as withdrawn.