Difference Between a CPD and Ofqual Regulated Qualifications

# Updates on Our Courses and Training at Bella Mai Academy

We will post any updates regarding our courses and training on this blog. I thought it would be helpful for students enquiring about courses.

Recent Changes in the Industry:

As we all know, there have been many changes in our industry. Regulations are frequently discussed, but no deadline has been disclosed yet. The latest change involves insurance; some companies now require Ofqual-regulated qualifications.

As a training academy, we have always advised our CPD students to complete an Ofqual-regulated Level 3 course as a minimum requirement during/after any CPD course.

We recommend our ProQual Level 3 Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology or our ProQual Level 3 Pathway to Aesthetic Practice qualification, both of which are Ofqual-regulated.

ProQual Ofqual Regulated Level 3 Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology

ProQual Ofqual Regulated Level 3 Pathway to Aesthetic Practice

Deciding which course is completely your decision; some insurance companies and councils will accept an Ofqual Level 3 Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology, and some are requesting an Ofqual-regulated Level 3 Pathway to Aesthetic Practice. If you are unsure, you should call your local council and ask.

Click the pictures or the hyperlinks above to go to the course pages for more information. These qualifications provide a solid starting point in the industry. I am glad to see insurance companies making this change.

If you DO NOT have any Ofqual Regulated qualifications, regardless of which qualifications you would like to complete, the ProQual Level 3 Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology or the ProQual Level 3 Pathway to Aesthetic Practice qualifications should be your first step. It is a necessary qualification for most courses.

If you have a lot of CPD qualifications, you will STILL need to follow the same route, but you may be able to RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) once you enrol on a Level 4 Course. For example, if you have a CPD in Dermaplaning, you may be able to use this against the ProQual Level 4 Dermaplaning Qualification.

You can purchase the course below. Make sure you click on the pictures above to see the full course explanation pages.

ONLINE ProQual Level 3 Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology Training

£300.00

Buy Now

ONLINE ProQual Level 3 Pathway to Aesthetic Practice Training

£500.00

Buy Now

Understanding the Difference Between CPD and Ofqual Regulated Qualifications:

If you are unsure whether you have a CPD qualification or an Ofqual-regulated qualification, it's simple to tell the difference. During a CPD course, you may have been told that it was a Level 3 or Level 4 course, such as a CPD Level 3 Anatomy and Physiology. This is NOT accurate. CPD course providers can label their courses however they wish, and some have added levels to their qualifications. This is where confusion arises.

In my opinion, it should never have been allowed to assign levels to these courses due to their non-Ofqual-regulated status. As a training academy, we have never assigned levels to our CPD coursesfor this reason.

Please check your certificates carefully. If the certificates you hold DO NOT feature the Ofqual logo, they are NOT Ofqual Regulated Qualifications. I have included a picture with the Ofqual Logo circled as an example.

To be clear, if your certificates DO NOT have the Ofqual logo, then your certificate is a CPD Certificate and is NOT an Ofqual Regulated qualification, regardless of what level it states.

Why Choose Ofqual Regulated Qualifications?

Now, don't get me wrong, CPD qualifications have had their place in the industry until now. However, with the industry evolving, you should aim to complete Ofqual-regulated qualifications. This is why we are transitioning our CPD qualifications to Ofqual-regulated ones. Some of you may have noticed that our CPD Non-Surgical Body Contouring Training Course and our CPD Fat Freezing Training Course are now ProQual Ofqual Regulated qualifications. (Click on each of the pictures below for more information on these courses.)

ProQual Ofqual Regulated Level 4 Non-Surgical Body Contouring Training Course

ProQual Ofqual Regulated Level 4 Cryolipolysis (Fat Freezing) Training Course

With these two courses, along with many of our other ProQual courses, we offer an RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) option. This option is for students who are already trained in the treatment with a CPD qualification. It allows them to upgrade to an Ofqual Regulated Qualification at a lower cost. Since they already possess the underlying knowledge and practical skills, this transition is more manageable.

Ask Us Anything!

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below. I will be adding more blogs on different qualifications over the next few weeks. We cover a variety of areas, including Aesthetics, Laser, PMU, and more, which we will explore in depth.

By staying informed and adapting to these changes, we can ensure you receive the best training possible in this evolving industry. Remember, investing in Ofqual-regulated qualifications could open many doors for your career. Thank you for being part of our community!