Approvals guidance for training and education providers

Choosing your approval route

Published
22/05/2026
Last updated
19/08/2026

Types of approval routes

The CLD Standards Council, in collaboration with the field, has created a suite of approval routes to address the demand for quality assurance at all levels of learning. These are: 

  • developmental Approval
  • professional approval
  • standards council standards mark

Find out more about each approval route

How to choose your approval routes

The following flowchart shows how to choose the right approval route for you. The flowchart is also explained in the following text.

a flowchat diagram for practitioners to help them decide which approval route suits them

Choosing a development approval route

You should choose this route if your training or qualification is: 

  • not a professional level CLD qualification 
  • a CLD learning programme that has been validated by Qualifications Scotland (formerly named SQA) 

Choosing a professional approval route

You should choose a professional approval route if your training or qualification is a professional level CLD qualification.

Choosing a professional approval route

You should opt for a standards mark if your qualification or training: 

  • it is not a professional level CLD qualification 
  • it is not a CLD learning programme that has been validated by Qualifications Scotland (formerly named SQA)
  • it is an induction or CPD programme or suite of programmes (is it the provider who will be approved, not the programme)

If your qualification or training is an induction or CPD programme or suite of programmes, you should contact the Standards Council to explore options.

After you choose your approval route

You should:

  • read the relevant guidelines
  • agree timescales