IQN CPD Certification
LEAD Standards
IQN’s Proprietary LEAD Standards for CPD Certification include: (1) Legal Compliance, (2) Educational Excellence, (3) Accountability & Transparency, and (4) Development & Impact
LEAD - Legal Compliance
1.1 Registered Entity
The CPD provider must be a legally registered entity, such as a sole proprietorship, non-profit organisation, company, partnership, government body, or another recognised legal form.
Indicative Evidence: The provider must submit proof of business registration, such as a certificate of incorporation or an equivalent registration or license document. If the document is in a language other than English, a translated version must be provided along with digital copies of the original document.
1.2 Regulatory Permissions
The provider must have the necessary permissions from relevant local authorities to offer the CPD.
Indicative Evidence: The provider should submit approval documents from the relevant authority. If government approval is not required, the provider must submit a signed declaration confirming that the CPD activity or programme is not regulated by the local authority and that no approval is required to offer the CPD.
1.3 Compliance with Applicable Laws
The provider must identify all legal requirements relevant to their CPD in the local context. They must demonstrate compliance with applicable laws and local regulations, such as health and safety, data protection, and employment laws, where applicable.
Indicative Evidence: The provider should submit a full list of local rules and regulations that they need to comply with in order to offer the CPD. They may also submit a written statement explaining how they ensure compliance with these requirements. If available, supporting documents such as the provider's Health and Safety Policy or Data Protection Policy can also be provided.
LEAD - Educational Excellence
2.1 Design & Development
The CPD must have a well-structured outline or specification with clearly defined learning outcomes. It should align with current industry standards and best practices.
Indicative Evidence: The provider should submit the activity or programme outline (or a similar document) that includes a description and the specified learning outcomes. Additionally, the provider may submit notes or documentation explaining the rationale for launching the CPD and how it aligns with current industry standards or practices.
2.2 Learning Resources
The provider must ensure that appropriate and necessary learning resources are available for the programme or activity.
Indicative Evidence: The provider should submit a detailed list of the learning resources available for the CPD. These resources may include books, online learning materials, e-materials, lab facilities, specialised software, simulation tools, case studies, presentation slides, or access to an LMS, depending on the nature and scope of the CPD.
2.3 Delivery Method
The CPD provider must use appropriate delivery methods that effectively support the achievement of the learning outcomes of the CPD.
Indicative Evidence: The provider should submit documentation or explanatory notes describing the delivery methods used, such as blended learning, e-learning modules, in-person lectures, hands-on workshops, or seminars. The submission should explain how the chosen delivery method(s) contribute to achieving the intended learning outcomes of the CPD.
LEAD - Accountability & Transparency
3.1 Target Audience
The CPD provider must clearly state the requirements for joining the programme. The provider should ensure that learners or participants have the right background or skills to benefit from the CPD.
Indicative Evidence: The provider may submit documents, marketing materials, or a website link explaining the participation requirements. Additionally, the provider should provide explanatory notes or documentation on how the target audience was assessed to be suitable for the CPD.
3.2 Information for Prospective Learners
The provider must ensure that clear, accurate, and reliable information about the CPD is easily accessible to prospective learners or participants. This information should comprehensively cover the CPD’s objectives, structure, costs, duration, and other key details. All marketing or communication materials must avoid any misleading claims, focusing on the genuine value of the CPD.
Indicative Evidence: The provider may submit marketing materials, such as a prospectus, flyers, brochures, sample advertisements, sample social media posts, or live website content (URL).
3.3 Guidelines for Registered Learners
Registered learners or participants of the CPD must receive the necessary guidelines to ensure a smooth and successful learning experience.
Indicative Evidence: If available, the provider may submit a digital copy of a student handbook, brochure, or similar document prepared for the registered learners or participants. Alternatively, evidence may include one or more of the following: orientation materials, comprehensive FAQs, access instructions for learners' platforms (e.g., LMS), instructional videos or slides from orientation sessions, or website screenshots.
LEAD - Development & Impact
4.1 Learner Feedback System
The CPD provider must have a structured system for collecting feedback from learners or participants. The feedback should be analysed to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement in the CPD.
Indicative Evidence: The provider may submit examples of feedback forms (PDF/Word file/URL), along with documentation or explanatory notes that show changes made or planned based on the feedback. For newly developed CPD, the provider should submit documentation or explanatory notes explaining how feedback will be used to improve the CPD in the future.
4.2 Learner Progress
The CPD provider must have a process in place to track the progress, completion, or drop-out rates of learners or participants.
Indicative Evidence: The provider may submit explanatory notes or documentation detailing the methods used to track the progress, completion, or drop-out rates of learners. This may include attendance records, participation tracking, or any system used to monitor learners' engagement with the programme or activity.
4.3 Evaluation of Learning Outcomes
There must be a system in place to measure whether learners or participants have achieved the intended learning outcomes of the CPD programme. This could involve formal or informal assessment methods, depending on the structure of the CPD.
Indicative Evidence: For CPDs with formal assessments, the provider may submit a sample assessment to demonstrate how learning outcomes are measured. For CPDs without formal assessments, the provider may submit explanatory notes outlining how they ensure, or plan to ensure, that learners or participants have achieved the intended learning outcomes.