Keeping healthcare training records useful and current

Keep the essential details together

For each course, record the title, provider, completion date and any stated renewal or expiry date. Keep the evidence in a form you can read and retrieve. Use consistent file names so that similar courses from different years are easy to distinguish.

Do not invent an expiry date when a certificate does not state one. Ask the recruiting team or provider how the course fits its requirements. Renewal expectations may depend on the role, setting and organisation.

Check before taking a course

Before spending time or money on training, ask which course, level, delivery method and evidence the service accepts. A course with a similar title may not meet the same requirement.

The NHS England elearning for healthcare hub provides learning resources for the health and care workforce. Check the platform’s current access arrangements and the suitability of the particular course. A link from CMB does not mean that CMB accredits the course or that every client will accept it.

Separate learning from assessed competence

Completing an online module can be one part of development. It does not by itself show that someone has been assessed to carry out a practical task in a particular service.

Ask whether a role also requires practical assessment, supervised experience or local authorisation. Keep those records distinct where appropriate. A clear description of what you have completed is more helpful than a broad statement that all training is “up to date”.

Understand the CMB portal record

When your staff account is active, the training area can show learning links and allow a completion declaration. The agency then reviews the record. A self-declared completion remains different from an agency-verified record.

If a declaration is returned for clarification, read the review note and provide what has been requested through the agreed process. Do not treat a submitted declaration as approval to undertake a duty or start an assignment.

Review your record before the next assignment

Check the requirements against the actual assignment, including any approaching expiry or a course that needs clarification. Allow time for review rather than waiting until the day you are due to start.

• Can I identify the exact course and provider?
• Is the completion date clear?
• Is any renewal requirement confirmed?
• Does the role need additional practical assessment?
• Has the evidence been accepted where approval is required?

CMB’s training page is a starting point for learning and record-keeping. It is not a substitute for the service’s induction or a professional assessment of competence.