In this month’s blog, I want to address a question that I get asked a lot – what do accreditation and certification actually mean and how important are they? I will also address the subject of regulated qualifications.
To start, please watch this video, which will set the scene. It explains what accreditation is, what certification is, and what a regulated qualification is.
Understanding the difference between the three areas is the starting point for answering the next question that I get asked: “What do I actually need?”
Of course, the answer is going to depend on the sort of training. Here are some examples:
First aid training
For first aid training, most people choose a regulated qualification. They do this sometimes because it is a requirement of their insurance, sometimes because their first aid risk assessment has highlighted that requirement, or simply because they want to know that everybody throughout an organisation has been trained and assessed to the same level. If you decide not to choose a regulated qualification for first aid training, make sure you check very carefully what is included in the course and that it is the right course for your requirements.
Safeguarding training
For safeguarding, the range of regulated qualification options is not as wide as it is for first aid, so many people choose an accredited course – and one that is accredited at a certain level. A Level 2 safeguarding course is usually about recognising that there is a risk of harm, responding appropriately, making a record, and understanding how to refer the issue. In a Level 2 course, you might look at the signs and symptoms of abuse and how processes work, and you might cover managing allegations.
A Level 3 course is aimed at those who are going to take the learning further and use it to manage the referral process. At Level 3, we cover what to do and what skills are needed. Of course, all the courses will explore the law that underpins safeguarding.
Leadership and management training
For some course types, a certificate is the required outcome of the training. I provide a lot of leadership and management training and, in these areas, many people say: “We’d just like a certificate to say how many hours of training we’ve done.” The number of hours of training completed is really useful for people who have CPD requirements for their role, as they can keep a log of it over the year.
Hopefully, the above has answered some of your questions and you now have a better understanding of the difference between accreditation, certification, and regulated qualifications.
At Jill Webb Training, we invest a lot of time and money in providing the right range of courses, but, at the end of the day, the thing I am most passionate about is providing excellent training that has a real impact, helps people and organisations improve, and leaves delegates feeling that they have had a worthwhile, interesting, challenging, and enjoyable experience.