The CIPD's Certificate in Training Practice has long been the staple qualification for entry into the training profession. But with grumbles emanating from the TrainingZone community around the delivery and quality control of the course across a large number of licensed providers, Matt Henkes examines whether the CTP is all it's cracked up to be.

Rumbles of discontent have been rippling insidiously through the training community for the past couple of years about the continued value of the CIPD's entry level Certificate in Training Practice.

The ease and value of gaining this widely recognised qualification is clear: with 101 licensed providers offering the course, the availability and broad recognition make it arguably the most popular in its class.

However, with so many providers offering the CTP in almost as many different forms, questions have been asked about the CIPD's ability to ensure their accredited providers are delivering the quality people are paying for.

One anonymous training professional, whose organisation itself delivers the CTP course, was damning in her assessment of the quality assurance provided. "Their quality processes are hopeless," she said. "We have provided the CTP for at least 10 years and we've never had anyone from the CIPD come in and sit on anything we've run, so they've never actually seen it in practice."

"I'd like to see more emphasis on the quality of delivery of the CTP."

Graham O'Connell, a senior consultant, National School of Government

Graham O'Connell, a senior consultant at the National School of Government, is a supporter of the CTP but admits that the quality of delivery can be patchy. "Because the CIPD's quality is mostly focused on the outputs, they probably don't do enough checks on the quality of the inputs, or the quality of the experience that learners have," he says. "I'd like to see more emphasis on the quality of delivery of the CTP."

Government confidence

But the CIPD believes in its own quality assurance processes, as does the government, it would appear. As a provider of qualifications, the organisation is subject to regulation from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which, in its most recent audit, declared that it had total confidence in the CIPD's practices and procedures relating to the CTP qualification.

In addition to a rigorous series of checks and assessments when a provider applies for accreditation, the CIPD says it runs a comprehensive re-evaluation of every centre once every five years. "Getting and staying accredited is no walk in the park," said a CIPD press spokesperson.

CIPD vocational assessment manager Paula Wilcock feels she runs a tight ship. "We have a formal mechanism where learners can give us specific feedback, which we can follow up," she says. "We've got a formal complaints procedure but we can and should only act on evidence, not anecdotal claims."

And out of the multitudes that complete the course each year, the CIPD insists it only receives "a handful" of complaints. When pressed for an exact figure, this was put at "very, very few".

There's an independent complaints appeal body that can be called upon but the CIPD claims it has never been required as, usually, complaints are minor and quibbles resolved. The sorts of things it highlights are concerns from participants about getting their coursework back on time or results taking a while to come through.

Horses for courses

So perhaps the odd isolated grumble may not present too much to worry about against the backdrop of the 2000 CTP qualifications handed out each year. Indeed, the anonymous trainer admitted there were no problems with her course and said she would be happy for an official visit any time.

But the question has to be asked: how many of the other 100 providers are as scrupulous about standards as she is? Without actually seeing the quality assessment process in action, it's difficult to say.

Supposing they are all models of diligence, maybe a source of the disquiet – admittedly anecdotal as Wilcock says – is the sizeable variation in how the course is delivered. Providers offer all manner of learning options including distance learning, evening classes and blended learning. "We approve providers to offer and assess the CTP through a variety of means," Wilcock confirms. "It's up to the customer to shop around and make sure the programme meets their own needs."

She admits some people are disappointed when they register only to find the mode of delivery is not what they thought it would be. For instance, it might be too self-directed. So before investing in a particular course, potential trainers should be asking questions. Does the mode of delivery come recommended? Does it have good links with industry, with employers coming in to enrich the programme? "They need to get a feel for how the programme actually works and the way they set the assignments," Wilcock adds.

"We approve providers to offer and assess the CTP through a variety of means. It's up to the customer to shop around and make sure the programme meets their own needs."

Paula Wilcock, CIPD vocational assessment manager

"The customer has to understand why they're doing the CTP: what do they want out of it? What will meet their needs? We've got enough suppliers on our books to help them achieve the best fit."

Inclusive membership

Another good reason to gain the qualification is the added bonus of Associate level CIPD membership. However, as a professional membership body for training professionals, it might seem strange to some that the CIPD doesn't recognise the CTP's contemporary qualifications or, in fact, any qualifications other than its own. For example, on being refused membership a training professional with a training PhD from Cambridge might be forgiven for thinking this a somewhat restrictive practice.

It's a big question mark over CIPD practice that is unlikely to go away. "The whole point about it is to try and make it more inclusive, surely?" says Jack Wills, chair of CIPD rival membership organisation BILD, which accepts members at various levels based on any accredited qualification, including the CTP.

"Our view is, quite simply, if you're aiming to raise the professionalism of any sector, you have to accept there's a cross section of qualifications that people have access to."

However, the CTP course is currently undergoing something of a revamp. Following 'extensive market research', the new and improved version is expected next summer. Wilcock is cagey about what exactly the differences will be, though says it will move towards a smaller number of core units, with added optional units.

"If you're aiming to raise the professionalism of any sector, you have to accept there's a cross section of qualifications that people have access to."

Jack Wills, Chair, BILD

O'Connell says next summer he would like to see a new course with a stronger theoretical underpinning. "I'd like to see a specification in the CTP that providers cover more modern dynamic methodologies," he says. "Some do, but it's not a requirement at the moment."

Assessing the assessors

"I'd also like to see some changes in the assessment processes, which at the moment are quite mechanistic," he adds. "For example, a number of further education establishments that provide the CTP will get people to do a short presentation – sometimes very short indeed – and someone with a checklist will tick off the points they cover."

There's more value, he argues, in getting trainers to run simulated sessions as they would in real life. "We do that, trying to get as close as possible to real life," he says. "I would like to see more of that in the assessment: really testing peoples' practical skills."

So as long as you don't mind shopping around, there's the likelihood that you'll find a good fit for your needs. Next year's update promises to provide greater synergy with the market and more flexible learning options. And though grumbles may continue – and the exact figure is still a subject of debate – the fact is, a good percentage of training jobs still require CTP as a standard qualification.

"Anybody who says they've got the CTP has proven they can meet a certain set of standards," says Paula Wilcock. "In terms of what it says on the tin, it says that this is a qualification to help you get in to the training world."

For further information about the CTP go to
http://www.cipd.co.uk/mandq/wheretogetqualified/default.htm