Accreditation vs Qualification

What is the difference between a qualification and accreditation?

The simple explanation is that qualifications are developed and issued by Awarding Organisations (such as our sister company CIBTAC) and often listed on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which is the national framework of UK qualifications.
An accredited course is often shorter in length and has been approved by a professional body such as BABTAC. These bodies should carry out quality assurance of training manuals to ensure the content of the course is fit for purpose and covers sufficient hours and knowledge to enable someone to gain insurance to practice. An accredited course should be viewed as a CPD (continued professional development) or an introduction to certain techniques and treatments and not as a stand-alone “qualification” as it generally is by some in the industry. Ideally short courses should be seen as a ‘top up’ to your existing qualifications or a stepping stone to a full qualification.

For more details on qualifications or becoming a CIBTAC Centre please visit our sister organisation www.cibtac.com