About Course Accreditation
Education standards for the antenatal and postnatal sector
FEDANT course accreditation provides an independent process for assessing whether an exact course meets the applicable education, safety and quality requirements for its intended professional or sector route.
Educating the Educators
FEDANT introduced the National Course Accreditation and Verification (NCAV) and National Relative Sector Award (NRSA) accreditation processes in 2006 to support clear national requirements for relevant education and training in the antenatal and postnatal sector.
Applications may relate to the training of Antenatal Educators, Breastfeeding Counsellors, Infant Feeding Practitioners, Doulas, Postnatal Practitioners and other relevant areas of professional or relative sector practice.
A structured quality assurance process
How Course Accreditation Works
The education provider submits the exact course and supporting evidence for assessment. FEDANT’s Education Committee considers the course structure, content, learning outcomes, teaching arrangements, assessment, learner information and the applicable safety and professional requirements.
Where relevant, training programmes are considered against FEDANT approved standards, applicable National Occupational Standards and current professional guidance. Accredited status is granted only where the submitted evidence satisfies the requirements for the accreditation route being considered.
Exact Course Assessment
Accreditation applies to the exact course title, content, delivery and evidence submitted for review.
Education & Safety
The assessment considers the applicable education, safety, quality and core professional elements.
Verifiable Approval
An accredited course receives a FEDANT Education Provider/Course Number and is added to the applicable published list.
Ongoing Quality Review
Accredited courses are regularly reviewed to confirm that they continue to operate within the approved requirements and parameters.
Accreditation Routes
National Course Accreditation and Verification
NCAV is used for applicable entry courses designed to prepare learners for a corresponding category of the FEDANT National Register. The submission must demonstrate that the required core elements for the relevant category are included and assessed.
National Relative Sector Award
NRSA is used for relevant postgraduate training and relative sector awards. The submission must demonstrate an existing and appropriate link to the knowledge and practice requirements of the antenatal and postnatal sector.
Continuing Professional Development
CPD accreditation is used for learning intended to support continuing knowledge and competence. CPD does not itself extend a registrant’s approved FEDANT National Register category.
Course Delivery
Face to face, live online, distance learning and blended learning courses may be considered for accreditation. The delivery method must be suitable for the learning outcomes, assessment and practical or supervised elements of the exact course.
Approval of one delivery method does not automatically extend to a materially different version of the course. Providers should identify the proposed delivery format clearly within the application.
Before You Apply
Choose the Correct Route
Identify whether the course should be considered under NCAV, NRSA or CPD accreditation.
Check the Core Elements
For an NCAV application, review the applicable core element requirements before preparing the submission.
Use the Exact Course Title
The title used throughout the application, syllabus, prospectus and sample certificate must be consistent.
Prepare Complete Evidence
Have all supporting documents available before beginning the online application.
Supporting Documents
The application requires sufficient evidence for the Education Committee to understand how the course is designed, taught, assessed and quality assured. Providers should be ready to submit:
Provider Information
- A description of the education provider’s facilities
- A list of equipment used for the course
- CVs for teaching staff or facilitators
Course Information
- Course prospectus
- Course syllabus
- Learning outcomes
- Sample lesson plan
- Copies of handouts or presentation slides
Assessment & Quality
- Assessment information and marking arrangements
- Practical or supervised learning requirements where applicable
- Relevant learner and quality assurance policies
Sample Certificate
- Name of the graduate
- Exact accredited course title
- Full name of the awarding education provider
- Space for the FEDANT education provider logo and accreditation number
- Date of graduation or issue
The Accreditation Process
Review the Requirements
Check the accreditation route and applicable core elements or relative sector requirements.
Complete the Application & Pay the Fee
Complete the current Course Accreditation Form, upload the requested supporting documents and pay the applicable fee at the time of application. Check the current Fee Schedule before submitting.
Application Compilation
A member of the administration team will compile the information and documents submitted with your application. Once the submission is complete, it will be passed to one of the liaisons to the Education Committee for review.
Pre Panel Check & Date Confirmation
At this stage, the liaison to the Education Committee checks whether any documentation remains outstanding or whether any issues require clarification. If so, they will contact you. If the submission is complete, you will receive an email confirming the date on which your accreditation application will be considered by the panel.
Committee Assessment
The Education Committee considers the course and supporting evidence against the applicable accreditation requirements.
Outcome
The Committee confirms whether accreditation is granted, further information or resubmission is required, or the application is declined.
Accreditation Documents
Where accreditation is granted, acknowledgement and approval documents are completed, signed and exchanged.
Course Number & Listing
The accredited course receives an Education Provider/Course Number and is added to the applicable FEDANT Accredited Education and Service Providers page and published lists.
Notification
Where appropriate, relevant service commissioners may be advised of the newly accredited course.
Evidence Issued
The education provider receives the applicable accreditation evidence and instructions for describing and displaying the approval.
Possible Assessment Outcomes
Accreditation Granted
Accreditation may be granted for an applicable graduate, postgraduate, relative sector or entry course. An approved CPD course may also be assigned the relevant point value.
Further Information or Resubmission
The Committee may request clarification, additional evidence or amendments. Where a resubmission period is specified, the revised course should be returned within that timeframe.
Accreditation Declined
Accreditation may be declined where the submitted course or evidence does not meet the applicable requirements. Current fee and rejection arrangements are shown in the published Fee Schedule.
Accreditation Applies Only to the Approved Course
Accreditation does not automatically cover every course offered by an education provider. The FEDANT education provider logo, accreditation wording and Education Provider/Course Number must be used only in connection with the exact approved course.
Course accreditation and an individual graduate’s admission to the FEDANT National Register are related but separate assessments.
Ready to Submit a Course?
Read the applicable requirements and have the supporting documents ready before beginning. If you are unsure which accreditation route applies, contact the Education Committee Support Team through FEDANT.