For training providers
CPD accreditation for freelance and independent trainers
Published 27 October 2026 · 7 min read
Short answer: yes. An independent trainer or one-person training business can apply for CPD accreditation: our terms define a provider as an “organisation or individual”. You submit the same evidence as any provider, you are assessed against the same published framework, and you get a decision within five working days of a complete submission. A single course costs £350 in the first year and renews at £245; from three courses, annual membership is cheaper.
If you train for a living on your own, credibility is the thing you cannot buy with a bigger office or a larger team. A buyer who has never met you has to decide, from a web page, whether your course is worth sending staff on. Independent accreditation is one of the few signals that is not self-declared. This guide covers what a sole trader needs to know: what you can accredit, what to prepare, what it costs, and how to use it honestly.
What a solo trainer can accredit
Accreditation applies to a course, not to a person or a business. That is a feature for independent trainers: you are not asked to prove you are an organisation of a certain size, only that the course is well built. Typical candidates include a workshop you run in person, a webinar series, an online course, or a programme you deliver inside client organisations. Our guides on online and e-learning courses, webinars and events and in-house and bespoke training cover the format-specific points.
What accreditation will not do is vouch for you personally. It says the course met a published standard; it is not a licence to practise or an endorsement of the trainer.
Why it matters more when you are small
- It answers the “who are you?” question. A buyer cannot verify your CV in the time they have. They can verify an accreditation reference in seconds on a public page.
- It forces a discipline most solo courses lack. Written learning outcomes, a justified hours figure and a real check of learning are the things that separate a course people remember from a day out. Our guide to why courses fail accreditation lists the common gaps.
- It helps with the learner’s own CPD record. Delegates in regulated professions need evidence of what they did and for how long. A certificate with outcomes, hours and a reference gives them that. See what a CPD certificate should show.
- It supports your pricing. Our guide on whether CPD accreditation is worth it sets out when it pays and when it doesn’t.
What to prepare
The application asks for what any assessor would. For each course:
- An outline and structure, with the duration.
- The learning outcomes, written as things a learner can do afterwards, not topics you cover. See writing learning outcomes that pass.
- Sample materials, such as slides, workbooks or exercises. On the application form you can upload files, share a link, or paste an outline.
- Your assessment method: how you know learning took place, from a short quiz to a practical task. See how to design a CPD assessment.
- The CPD hours claimed and how you worked them out, including breaks you have excluded. See CPD hours explained.
If you already deliver the course, you probably have most of this. The most common gap for solo trainers is that the course exists in your head and on the day, but not on paper, so allow time to write it down. The guide to what to include in a CPD application goes through it in order.
What it costs, and when membership pays
Prices are published on the pricing page, with no application fee and no per-certificate fees however many delegates you train:
| Option | Courses | Year one | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single course | 1 | £350 | £245 |
| Member-5 | Up to 5 | £975 | £685 |
| Member-10 | Up to 10 | £1,380 | £965 |
For most solo trainers the decision is straightforward. One or two courses: single-course accreditation costs less. Three or more: Member-5 is cheaper in year one (three singles would be £1,050) and at renewal (three singles renew at £735 against £685). The full working is in single course or annual membership?. Accreditation runs for 12 months and renews at 30% below the first-year price.
Using it honestly
The claim you can make is about the course: “this course is CPD accredited by AssuredCPD”, with the reference. Do not describe yourself as an accredited trainer or your business as accredited, and do not imply approval by a regulator or professional body. Put the accreditation mark where buyers decide — the course page, the booking page, the certificate — and keep the reference visible. Our guides on displaying the badge and marketing your accreditation go further.
The next step
Pick the course you are proudest of and best documented, not the one you want to sell most. A well-prepared first application teaches you what to fix across the rest. Our how it works page shows the process from application to decision, and the application form takes around ten minutes.
Common questions
Can a freelance trainer get CPD accreditation?
Yes. AssuredCPD's terms define a provider as an organisation or individual, so sole traders and independent trainers can apply. Accreditation applies to the course, not to the person.
How much does CPD accreditation cost for one course?
A single course is £350 for the first year and £245 to renew. There are no application fees and no per-certificate fees. From three courses, annual membership works out cheaper.
How long does the assessment take?
You receive a written decision within five working days of a complete submission. Every decision comes with reasons, and if anything needs strengthening you are told exactly what.
What do I need to submit?
A course outline and structure with duration, the learning outcomes, sample materials, your assessment method, and the CPD hours claimed with how they were calculated. On the application form you can upload files, share a link, or paste an outline.
Can I say I am an accredited trainer?
No. The accreditation applies to the individual course, so the accurate claim is that the course is CPD accredited by AssuredCPD. Do not imply that you or your business are accredited, or that a regulator or professional body has approved the course.
Is it worth it for a one-person business?
It can be, particularly where buyers cannot easily judge you in advance. It adds an independent, verifiable quality signal and forces useful discipline on outcomes, assessment and hours. It will not generate demand on its own, so it works best alongside clear positioning.