Coaching CPD

What is continuous professional development (CPD)?

The Scottish FA will support the ongoing development of our coaches through our CPD programme. CPD will enable all coaches at UEFA Licence level* of the Coach Education Pathway to ensure the validity of their UEFA coaching licence is maintained.

*Includes Scottish FA Advanced Children’s Licence (although not a recognised UEFA licence course). 

Why is CPD important?

In most industries, the completion of continuous professional development is important because it ensures that you continue to be competent in your field of study or work. In football, the completion of attendance at CPD events and further relevant coach education courses is an ongoing process and will therefore enhance the competence of our coaches, as well as their own career in coaching. This will help ensure that all coaches maintain, or even improve, the knowledge and skills required to deliver the best possible professional service to your players. Completing CPD will therefore mean that you and your coaching knowledge stay up to date, and informed of  the latest trends within the game.

When does CPD take affect?

It is a UEFA requirement for several years that all UEFA Licence holders complete a minimum of 15 hours of accredited CPD every three years.

As soon as it is confirmed that you have successfully completed the UEFA licence course, or the Scottish FA Advanced Children’s Licence, you are required to adhere to this CPD mandate in order to maintain the validity of your UEFA licence.

What courses require CPD in order to keep them valid?

• Scottish FA/UEFA Pro Licence
• Scottish FA/UEFA A Licence
• Scottish FA/UEFA B Licence
• Scottish FA/UEFA Elite Youth A Licence
• Scottish FA/UEFA Youth B Licence
• Scottish FA/UEFA Goalkeeping A Licence
• Scottish FA/UEFA Goalkeeping B Licence
• Scottish FA/UEFA C Licence (Youth and Adult)
• Scottish FA/UEFA C Licence (Children's)
• Scottish FA Advanced Children’s Licence

What contributes towards CPD accreditation?

The Scottish FA is committed to holding various events, courses, seminars, etc. that will be UEFA CPD accredited. These events will be advertised through our Scottish FA Live system and via our course finder.

How do I enrol for CPD?

On completion of a Scottish FA/UEFA Licence Coach Education course, you will be automatically enrolled on the CPD programme.

What is required of me to maintain the validity of my coach education awards?

To maintain the validity of your Scottish FA/UEFA Licence qualification, you will have to complete a minimum of 15 hours of accredited and approved CPD every three years.

What happens if I don’t attend any further coach education courses or CPD events, or my validity period elapses?

Should you fail to complete the required hours of CPD, your coaching licence will no longer be valid. You may be eligible to complete a re-validation for your UEFA Licence

Fees for a re-validation apply. To find out more please visit The Coach Education Support Portal

Conversely, on completion of the above noted CPD requirements, your Scottish FA/UEFA Licence will be valid for a further three years.

What happens if I move up the pathway or undertake another course?

If you begin another Scottish FA/UEFA Licence course within this three year period, however, this is also attributed as appropriate CPD. For example, if you completed the Scottish FA/UEFA B Licence in 2020, but then begin the Scottish FA/UEFA A Licence before the end of 2023, your participation on the A Licence course will be credited as CPD for the B Licence.

Do I need to complete CPD for every Scottish FA/UEFA licence award?

Not necessarily. Generally speaking, you only need to complete 15 hours of CPD every 3 years, regardless of how many Licences you hold. That said, we hope to specialise our CPD programme further in years to come, whereby certain CPD events will only be permissible for accreditation towards certain licences. For now, any 15 hours of accredited CPD will cover all your Scottish FA/UEFA licence requirements.

What’s in it for me?

Football is continually evolving so by regularly updating qualifications and through attending CPD courses, you continue to learn and develop, in order to provide the best possible experience to your players. CPD keeps you up to date with current practice and trends. It also allows you, as a coach, to be reflective and strive to improve your skill set.

Please note, too, that clubs/potential employers are likely to ask for evidence of a valid Scottish FA/UEFA licence, so it is therefore in your own interests to maintain the validity of our licence award.

Can I attend more than 15 hours CPD during the three year period?

Yes, you are welcome to attend as many events, and accrue as many hours as you wish during the period. However, no hours can be carried forward to the next three-year period.

What else counts for CPD?

Any type of learning can be considered as a contribution towards your hours for CPD including attending seminars, attending courses, visiting clubs, starting another Scottish FA/ UEFA Licence coaching course.  It is worth checking with us (by raising a support ticket on The Coach Education Support Portal) before embarking on external learning that what you plan to do does fall within the remit of CPD; we don’t want you to waste time doing something only to find out afterwards that it doesn’t count towards CPD. As a general rule of thumb, any external learning must be deemed at least of the same level of learning/professionalism and allow you to develop the competencies required to complete the Scottish FA/UEFA licence in the first instance.

Is it possible to complete CPD out with the Scottish FA? What kind of evidence do I need to prove I have done CPD out with the Scottish FA?

For Scottish FA sessions, your hours will automatically be added to your record on your Scottish FA Live account. For other organised events we would require a certificate or proof of attendance, programme of the event attended and a report on what was observed and learned. Please contact The Coach Education Support Portal to discuss your specific request. Please note that we will only award a maximum of five hours for each individual event attended/ report submitted that has been undertaken out with the auspices of the Scottish FA and a maximum of one report per annum can be submitted.

When do I apply for a new Scottish FA/UEFA coaching card; after I have attended the relevant CPD or when my expiry date is due?

You can apply when your card expires, or is about to expire, if you need one. You will also be able to print off your own record by logging into your account on the Scottish FA Live System.

For further queries should you require a new coaching card, please contact The Coach Education Support Portal.

How is the validity period of my awards worked out?

All Scottish FA/ UEFA Coach Education awards carry a validity period of three full calendar years, until no later than 31 December ,three years after completion (e.g. a course completed on 1 February 2020 would be valid until 31 December 2023; similarly a course completed date on 1 December 2020 would be valid until 31 December 2023).

How do I find out when my awards are valid until, and what awards I hold?

You will be able to view your full record by logging into your account on the Scottish FA Live System.

Who is responsible for ensuring that my records are up to date?

Your personal details and coach education records are held on our Scottish FA Live system. Please log into your own account at Scottish FA Live regularly and ensure that all your records are accurate and up to date. If you do notice any discrepancies, please let us know by contacting The Coach Education Support Portal.

Whilst we want to assist and support in every way we can, it is ultimately your responsibility to keep your qualification current and valid, and your personal records up to date.

What is CCD and how does it differ from CPD?

CCD stands for Continuous Coach Development and is different to CPD in that CCD is for those coaches who hold Scottish FA coach education awards (and not Scottish FA/UEFA licences). The principles of CCD are the same as that of CPD. However, those coaches participating in the CCD programme do not need to attain 15 hours of accreditation, but rather ‘trigger’ their validity by attending at least one relevant course or event during the three-year period.