30/08/2026
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CPD COURSE AND A REGULATED QUALIFICATION ?
CPD COURSES
CPD - Continuing Professional Development.
These courses are designed to keep your standards and practice current. They are in addition to and should complement your initial underpinning qualifications. They are purely certificates of attendance. CPD accreditation hopefully endorses some oversight but not that in any way regulates the training provider.
Qualifications - look for the OFQUAL LOGO
A qualification is gained by an awarding body
· VTCT
PROQUAL
· City and guilds
· CIBTAC
· ITEC
FOCUS AWARDS
GATEHOUSE AWARDS
Being the most common ones
Awarding bodies are regulated by ofqual
What is OFQUAL?
They are the government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England.
OFQUAL regulated courses will give you a level of education ranging from level 1-8 and are nationally recognised
Please see the link for a full break down https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
If you plan to go into advanced skincare such as microneedling , chemical peels, skin booster or aesthetics for example, then you seriously consider an OFQUAL qualification.
https://mesoandmoretraining.co.uk/?product_cat=vtct-
The Office of Qualifications and Exams Regulation (Ofqual) is a regulatory body that oversees qualifications, examinations, and assessments. They are the governing organisation to which Awarding
Organisations including VTCT, TQUK, CIBTAC, ITEC, Gatehouse, Qualifi, Focus Awards and FAA must report
As part of the Health and care Act 2022, the government intends to enforce a NEW licensing scheme that covers all cosmetic procedures including micropigmentation, skin needling, lasers and all of the injectable procedures. It will require those people who offer these procedures to be suitably trained and qualified to the occupational standards.
