Check a certificate

Find the accreditation reference
It appears on the certificate, usually near the mark, in the form CPDA followed by a year and a number. A mark with no reference cannot be checked, and that in itself is a problem worth reporting.
Look the reference up
Search for it below. The entry shows the provider, the exact learning activity that was accredited, the CPD hours, the accreditation period and the current status.
Check the three details match
The provider name, the activity title and the date on your certificate should all sit inside the accreditation period shown on the register. A certificate dated outside the period was issued when the activity was not accredited.

If it does not match

There are a few reasons a reference might not match, and only some of them are a problem.

What you see	What it usually means
No entry for the reference	Either the reference has been mistyped, or no accreditation was ever granted. Check the characters, then report it.
Entry exists but names a different activity	The provider may be reusing one accreditation across several courses. That is outside the rules, because accreditation attaches to a specific activity.
Your certificate date falls outside the period	The activity was not accredited on the day you took it, even though the provider holds or held an accreditation at another time.
Status shows withdrawn	The accreditation has since been withdrawn. That does not invalidate a certificate issued while it was live, but the mark should no longer be in use.

If something looks wrong, tell us. Reports can be made confidentially or anonymously, and we check every one.