For providers
How to design a CPD assessment that passes accreditation
Published 2 October 2026 · 6 min read
Every CPD course needs some way of confirming that learners actually learned what it promised. This is the domain providers most often treat as an afterthought: a few quick questions bolted on at the end. Here's what the standard actually asks for, and how to design a check that does its job.
The short version: our framework asks for “a defined, appropriate check of learning with a clear pass condition,” using a method that “matches the outcomes it tests.” It doesn't fix a pass mark or prescribe a method. A quiz, an assignment, a reflective task or a practical demonstration can all work, as long as each one genuinely tests the outcomes it's attached to.
What the standard says
Domain D4 of the Standards Framework, Assessment of learning: “A credible method confirms the learner has met the outcomes — a quiz with a pass threshold, an assignment, a reflective task, or a practical demonstration. The method matches the outcomes it tests. Met when: there is a defined, appropriate check of learning with a clear pass condition.”
Three requirements sit inside that: there must be a check, it must suit the outcomes, and there must be a clear line between pass and not-yet-passed.
Match the method to the outcome
The assessment is only as good as its fit with your learning outcomes. A practical rule of thumb:
| If the outcome asks the learner to… | Methods that can evidence it |
|---|---|
| Identify, recognise or recall | Scenario-based multiple-choice questions with a pass threshold |
| Explain, describe or compare | Short written answers or an assignment |
| Apply learning to their own work | A reflective task or workplace action plan with set criteria |
| Perform a physical or practical skill | A practical demonstration observed by a competent assessor |
The mismatch to avoid is testing one kind of outcome with the wrong kind of method — for example, “demonstrate safe manual handling technique” checked only with an online quiz. That's why our first aid guide is explicit that online assessment can confirm recognition and procedure but not hands-on skill.
Set a clear pass condition
The framework doesn't set a pass mark. You choose it — but you have to state it, and it has to make sense for the content. “80% on a 15-question scenario quiz” is a clear condition. “Completion of the module” isn't, because it measures attendance rather than learning. For reflective tasks and assignments, state the criteria the response is judged against.
Design mistakes that get marked down
- Attendance as assessment. Watching to the end of a video or staying until the end of a webinar shows presence, not learning.
- Questions that test trivia, not outcomes. If a question isn't tied to a stated outcome, it isn't evidence for one.
- Answers that are easy to guess. Questions where the right option is obvious from its wording don't check anything.
- Unlimited instant retakes of the same questions. Retakes are reasonable; a design where a learner can cycle the same questions until they pass by elimination undermines the pass condition. A larger question bank or a short wait between attempts helps.
Keep it proportionate
The framework's proportionality principle applies here too: a one-hour micro-course is assessed less heavily than a 40-hour programme. A short course needs a short, well-targeted check, not an exam.
Why it matters after accreditation
Section 8 of the framework requires accredited providers to “issue certificates only for learners who have genuinely met the assessment.” Your pass condition is what makes every certificate you issue honest.
FAQ
Does a CPD course need an assessment to be accredited?
Under AssuredCPD's Standards Framework, yes. Domain D4 requires a defined, appropriate check of learning with a clear pass condition. It can be a quiz with a pass threshold, an assignment, a reflective task or a practical demonstration, provided the method matches the outcomes it tests.
What pass mark does a CPD assessment need?
AssuredCPD's framework doesn't set a fixed pass mark. The provider sets and states a clear pass condition that makes sense for the content and the outcomes being tested.
Is watching a webinar to the end enough for CPD?
Not for accreditation under AssuredCPD's framework. Attendance shows presence, not learning. An accredited webinar needs a check on understanding, such as a short quiz or reflective task tied to its learning outcomes.
Can practical skills be assessed online?
Online assessment can confirm that a learner recognises the right procedure, but it cannot confirm they can physically perform a skill. Outcomes that require practical competence need a practical demonstration observed by a competent assessor.