What does CPD accreditation mean?

CPD accreditation means that a training programme or activity has been formally approved by a recognised professional body to count towards continuing professional development requirements. It confirms that the learning meets quality standards for professional maintenance.

Is CPD accreditation the same as SETA accreditation?

No. CPD accreditation is granted by professional bodies for short-course and professional development activities. SETA accreditation is granted for sector-linked qualifications, learnerships, and skills programmes. A provider can hold both, but they serve different purposes.

Can any training provider offer CPD-accredited courses?

Only providers that have applied for and been granted CPD accreditation by the relevant professional body can claim their courses carry CPD points. Offering unaccredited courses as 'CPD' is misleading and can damage credibility.

How many CPD points do professionals need?

This varies by profession and professional body. Some require a fixed number of hours per year, others work on multi-year cycles with minimum point thresholds. Check the specific professional body's requirements.

Do CPD courses carry NQF credits?

Not necessarily. CPD accreditation and NQF registration are separate systems. Some CPD programmes may align with NQF-registered short courses, but CPD points and NQF credits are different things.

How does CPD accreditation benefit training providers?

CPD accreditation gives providers access to a large, recurring market of professionals who must complete CPD to maintain their registration. It adds credibility and commercial value to short-course offerings.

CPD Authority Guide

CPD accreditation in South Africa

CPD accreditation confirms that a training programme meets the standards set by a professional body for continuing professional development. This guide explains what CPD accreditation means, who needs it, and how training providers can get accredited.

Explore All Accreditation Routes What Is Accreditation?

Understanding CPD accreditation

CPD accreditation sits at the intersection of professional regulation and provider quality.

What CPD means

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It refers to the ongoing learning that professionals undertake to maintain, update, and extend their knowledge and skills after initial qualification.

Why CPD accreditation matters

CPD accreditation confirms that a training programme or activity has been evaluated and approved by a recognised body to count towards a professional's CPD requirements.

Who requires CPD

Professional councils and bodies in South Africa — including SAICA, HPCSA, ECSA, SACAP, the Law Society, and many others — require their registered members to accumulate CPD points.

The provider opportunity

Training providers that achieve CPD accreditation can offer programmes that carry formal CPD value, making their courses more attractive to professionals who need to maintain registration.

Professional bodies that require CPD in South Africa

These are some of the major professional bodies whose members need CPD-accredited learning.

Body	Full Name	CPD Requirement
SAICA	South African Institute of Chartered Accountants	Chartered Accountants must complete a minimum number of verifiable CPD hours annually.
HPCSA	Health Professions Council of South Africa	Registered health professionals must accumulate CEU (Continuing Education Units) points per cycle.
ECSA	Engineering Council of South Africa	Registered engineers must demonstrate ongoing competence through CPD activities and credits.
SACAP	South African Council for the Architectural Profession	Architects must earn CPD credits covering professional practice and technical development.
LSSA	Law Society of South Africa	Legal practitioners are expected to maintain competence through ongoing professional development.
SACPCMP	SA Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions	Registered professionals must demonstrate CPD through structured and informal learning activities.

CPD accreditation vs NQF accreditation

CPD and NQF accreditation serve different purposes. A provider can pursue one or both.

Area	CPD Accreditation	NQF Accreditation
Purpose	Maintain and extend professional competence after initial qualification.	Achieve a formal qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework.
Governed by	Professional bodies and councils (e.g., SAICA, HPCSA, ECSA, Law Society).	Quality councils (QCTO, CHE, Umalusi) via SAQA.
Outcome	CPD points or hours credited to the professional's record.	A formal qualification, certificate, or diploma at a defined NQF level.
Provider accreditation	Granted by the relevant professional body or a delegated CPD accreditor.	Granted by the QCTO, SETA, or relevant quality council.
Duration of learning	Usually short — workshops, seminars, webinars, short courses (hours to days).	Usually longer — learnerships, certificates, diplomas, degrees (months to years).

How to get CPD accreditation as a training provider

The process varies by professional body, but follows a consistent pattern.

Step 1

Identify the target professional body

Determine which professional body's members will benefit from your programme. Each body has its own CPD accreditation criteria and application process.

Step 2

Design the programme to CPD standards

Structure your course content, learning outcomes, duration, and assessment to meet the CPD criteria defined by the relevant body. Generic content rarely qualifies.

Step 3

Apply for CPD provider accreditation

Submit your application with programme details, facilitator credentials, content outline, and evidence of quality controls to the professional body or its CPD accreditor.

Step 4

Maintain CPD accreditation

CPD accreditation is not permanent. Providers must maintain quality, report on delivery, update content, and renew accreditation as required by the professional body.

Frequently asked questions

Explore other accreditation routes

CPD is one route. These pages cover the broader accreditation landscape for training providers.

What Is Accreditation?

Understand the broader meaning and types of accreditation in South Africa.

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SETA Accreditation Guide

Explore sector-linked accreditation for learnerships and skills programmes.

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Accreditation Hub

Compare QCTO, SETA, and other accreditation routes for providers.

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SAQA Guide

Learn how qualifications and providers connect to the NQF.

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