Seven things a CPD certificate should show

1. The learner's full name, as they are registered with their regulator.
2. The activity title, matching the title on the provider's website and register page.
3. CPD hours or points, as a number.
4. The completion date. Regulators count by period, so the date decides which year it falls in.
5. The provider's name, including the legal entity if the brand name is different.
6. A unique certificate number the provider can look up if asked.
7. The verification mark, linked to the provider's register page, if the activity is verified.

Useful extras

Learning outcomes on the back or second page save the learner writing them into a CPD log. The activity's review date tells an auditor the content was current when it was completed.

"Up to 3 hours" is not a figure. A certificate needs a number.

Common faults

• No date, or only a month
• "Up to 3 hours" instead of a figure
• A logo from a body that never reviewed the activity