What is the Care Certificate?

The Care Certificate is an agreed set of standards defining the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of people working in particular health and social care roles.

It was developed jointly by Skills for Care, NHS England and Skills for Health and is primarily used as part of induction for people who are new to health and social care.

The standards were significantly updated in March 2025. There are now 16 Care Certificate standards, with the addition of a new Standard 16 covering awareness of learning disability and autism.

The Care Certificate should be understood as a framework for induction and competence rather than simply an online training course.

A worker needs to demonstrate both:

Knowledge and understanding – for example, explaining duty of care, identifying safeguarding responsibilities or understanding infection prevention principles.

Practical competence – demonstrating relevant skills and behaviours in the workplace where the assessment criteria require this.

That distinction is essential when comparing Care Certificate courses.

Completing online modules can provide evidence towards the knowledge requirements, but it does not automatically demonstrate that somebody is competent to perform their job in practice.

Who needs the Care Certificate?

The Care Certificate is principally aimed at workers joining health or adult social care without previous relevant training or experience.

Skills for Care identifies groups including healthcare support workers, healthcare assistants, assistant practitioners and people providing direct support to clinical roles.

In adult social care, this can include people working in roles such as:

• care workers
• support workers
• healthcare assistants
• home care workers
• residential care workers
• personal assistants
• workers entering care for the first time.

Employers can also decide that existing employees would benefit from completing some or all of the standards.

The Care Certificate is particularly relevant during induction because it establishes a common baseline of knowledge, skills and behaviours.

CQC Regulation 18 requires providers to ensure workers receive the support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal necessary to carry out their duties. CQC also states that providers must have an induction programme that prepares staff for their role and, where appropriate, supervise workers until they can demonstrate the required level of competence.

The Care Certificate provides a widely recognised framework that employers can use to help achieve this.

What are the 16 Care Certificate standards?

The Care Certificate was updated in March 2025 and now contains the following 16 standards:

These are the current standards employers and learners should be looking for when comparing Care Certificate training in 2026.

What changed in 2025?

The most visible change was the introduction of Standard 16: Awareness of Learning Disability and Autism.

This is particularly important because CQC Regulation 18 now explicitly states that providers must ensure staff receive training in how to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people, at a level appropriate to their role.

Employers purchasing a Care Certificate course in 2026 should therefore check carefully that it genuinely covers all 16 current standards, rather than the previous 15-standard framework.

Can the Care Certificate be completed online?

Partly.

This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Care Certificate training.

The knowledge components can be delivered and assessed online. E-learning can therefore be an effective way of teaching subjects such as duty of care, safeguarding, equality and diversity, person-centred care, communication, infection prevention and handling information.

But online course completion alone cannot automatically demonstrate every Care Certificate competency.

Skills for Care distinguishes between knowledge outcomes and performance outcomes.

Knowledge requirements using terms such as describe, explain, define, list and identify can potentially be evidenced through methods such as written answers, verbal questioning, workbooks and case studies.

Where the standard requires the learner to demonstrate, use, show or take steps to do something, evidence will generally need to come from the learner’s real workplace activity and be observed by an appropriate assessor.

Online Care Certificate course ≠ completed Care Certificate

This means there are effectively two connected elements:

1. Learning and knowledge assessment

An online Care Certificate provider can deliver structured learning covering the standards, knowledge assessments, workbooks and supporting evidence.

2. Workplace competency assessment

An appropriately competent assessor must assess the worker against requirements that involve practical performance.

Only when the necessary evidence across all 16 standards has been satisfactorily completed should the employer award the Care Certificate.

Employers should be cautious of any marketing that suggests completing an e-learning course and multiple-choice quiz alone automatically proves workplace competence.

Skills for Care has specifically advised employers to examine whether learning and assessment products genuinely meet the assessment requirements rather than assuming that answering multiple-choice questions is sufficient.

Who assesses Care Certificate competence?

The employer is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the worker has met the Care Certificate standards.

Assessment should be undertaken by somebody who is occupationally competent in the area being assessed.

Skills for Care explains that this means the assessor needs sufficient experience and understanding to judge whether the learner has demonstrated the required competence. There is no general requirement for a Care Certificate assessor to hold a particular assessor qualification, although the employer must be satisfied that the person is competent to undertake the assessment.

Evidence should be:

• valid
• authentic
• current
• reliable
• sufficient.

An employer can outsource elements of training, supervision or assessment to a learning provider. However, responsibility for deciding whether the worker has achieved the Care Certificate remains with the employer.

This is why a good Care Certificate provider should make the boundary clear.

The training provider can support learning, knowledge assessment and evidence gathering.

The employer must ensure that practical competence has been appropriately assessed and take responsibility for final sign-off.

How long does the Care Certificate take?

There is no fixed legal requirement that the Care Certificate must be completed within 12 weeks.

The often-quoted 12-week period comes from experience during the original Care Certificate pilots. For full-time employees new to health or social care, around 12 weeks was found to be an average period in which workers could demonstrate the required knowledge and competence.

Actual completion time varies according to:

• previous experience
• working hours
• learning needs
• employer induction arrangements
• availability of assessors
• opportunities to demonstrate competence
• training methods.

Skills for Care has explicitly clarified that achieving the Care Certificate within 12 weeks is not a formal requirement.

Online learning itself can be completed considerably faster.

For example, Caredemy lists approximately 20 hours for its full online Care Certificate learning, while High Speed Training lists approximately 10–12 hours for its knowledge course.

But course duration should not be confused with the time required to achieve the full Care Certificate, because workplace assessment may continue over a longer period.

Does the Care Certificate expire?

The Care Certificate itself does not have a nationally prescribed expiry date.

Once somebody has properly achieved the standards, they should not normally need to repeat the entire Care Certificate simply because they change employer.

Skills for Care says that if a worker already holds their certificate, they should not normally need to retake it when moving jobs. A new employer can, however, check how previous learning aligns with its own requirements and may require refresher learning.

This is important because Care Certificate completion and ongoing mandatory training are different things.

A worker may have completed the Care Certificate but still require refresher or role-specific training in areas such as:

• safeguarding
• basic life support
• moving and handling
• infection prevention and control
• medication
• fire safety
• food safety
• health and safety.

Employers should determine refresher frequencies based on legislation, guidance, risk, role requirements and organisational policy rather than assigning an arbitrary expiry date to the entire Care Certificate.

Is the Care Certificate a qualification?

No.

The Care Certificate standards are not a regulated qualification.

This distinction has become even more important since the introduction of the separate Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification.

Skills for Care describes the Care Certificate standards as recommended and non-accredited. The Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate, by contrast, is an accredited qualification regulated by Ofqual.

The Level 2 qualification is based around the same 16 standards but goes further, building and consolidating knowledge and understanding through formal qualification assessment.

So:

The two should not be described interchangeably.

Is the Care Certificate recognised by CQC?

Yes – but the wording matters.

The Care Certificate is not itself a law or statutory qualification, and CQC does not simply inspect whether somebody has purchased a particular online Care Certificate course.

Skills for Care describes the Care Certificate as endorsed by CQC and a CQC expectation for employers.

More fundamentally, Regulation 18 requires regulated providers to deploy suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff and ensure workers receive appropriate training, supervision and development.

CQC guidance says providers must have an induction programme that prepares staff for their role and supervise staff where appropriate until acceptable competence has been demonstrated.

Therefore, employers should think beyond:

“Does this employee have an online certificate?”

and ask:

“Can we evidence that this employee has received appropriate induction, gained the required knowledge and demonstrated competence to perform their role safely?”

That is a much more useful way of approaching Care Certificate compliance.

How much does an online Care Certificate cost?

Online Care Certificate training is available at a wide range of prices.

Current published examples checked for this guide include:

• Caredemy – £15 + VAT for 1–9 learners, reducing to £5.90 per learner at 100+
• eCert Training – £15 per Care Certificate credit on its current pricing page
• Careskills Academy – from £15
• High Speed Training – £20 + VAT.

But employers should not compare prices without checking what is included.

A £10–£20 online course may provide learning and an online completion certificate but leave the employer to build the entire assessment process independently.

Another provider may include:

• learner portfolios
• workbooks
• assessor guidance
• competency mapping
• progress records
• LMS reporting
• management dashboards
• bulk administration
• training matrices
• additional mandatory training.

The cost of administering the Care Certificate can therefore matter as much as the purchase price.

Best Care Certificate online training providers UK 2026

The following comparison uses publicly available information checked in September 2026.

Importantly, an online training provider’s course-completion certificate should not automatically be treated as evidence that the worker has achieved the full Care Certificate. Employer assessment and sign-off requirements still apply.

Sources: provider websites checked September 2026.

Important note about eCert Training

At the time this guide was researched, eCert Training‘s current public Care Certificate pages still referred to 15 standards, whereas the Care Certificate has contained 16 standards since March 2025.

Its pricing page currently lists Care Certificate credits at £15 and describes built-in assessment functionality, but the detailed Care Certificate pages continue to describe the previous 15-standard structure.

Employers considering eCert should therefore confirm directly that the product they are purchasing has been updated to cover the current 16-standard framework, particularly Standard 16.

This illustrates why buyers should check the actual course specification rather than relying solely on the words “Care Certificate” in a product title.

Caredemy Care Certificate review: what do employers receive?

Caredemy’s Care Certificate course covers all 16 current standards and was most recently listed as updated on 25 July 2026.

The course is approximately 20 hours long, carries 21 CPD points and includes online learning, assessment and resources designed to support employer sign-off.

The published price structure is:

The key point for employers is that Caredemy does not position completion of the online course alone as proof of practical competence.

The course includes resources such as the Skills for Care workbook, standards information and assessor mapping/sign-off resources. Caredemy explicitly states that although the online course covers the knowledge components, final practical sign-off must be completed by a competent person in the workplace.

That distinction makes the proposition more useful for employers building an auditable induction process.

Caredemy vs cheaper Care Certificate courses

There are numerous low-cost Care Certificate courses advertised online.

Some are sold through general online course marketplaces for around £15 or even less during promotional periods.

Low price does not automatically mean low quality. Equally, a higher price does not automatically mean a better Care Certificate programme.

The right question is:

What exactly does the employer receive for the price?

For an individual learner wanting to improve their understanding of care before applying for work, a low-cost knowledge course may be perfectly suitable.

For a CQC-regulated employer onboarding 20, 50 or 100 new workers, requirements are different.

The employer may need:

• evidence covering all 16 current standards
• reliable knowledge assessment
• workplace assessment guidance
• assessor records
• competency sign-off
• learner progress monitoring
• downloadable evidence
• centralised certificates
• reporting
• an audit trail.

This is where the total cost of the process becomes more important than the checkout price.

Caredemy vs eCert

Caredemy’s current Care Certificate page covers all 16 standards and starts at £15 + VAT, with significant volume reductions.

eCert’s current pricing page lists a Care Certificate credit at £15 and includes e-learning, examination functionality and an assessor system. However, its public Care Certificate course content was still describing the old 15-standard framework when checked for this article.

For employers, that creates an important due-diligence question: has the actual training been updated to Standard 16?

Caredemy vs High Speed Training

High Speed Training currently charges £20 + VAT for its Care Certificate course.

Its course covers all 16 standards, takes approximately 10–12 hours and is CPD accredited. It includes a downloadable editable learning portfolio and clearly states that the employer remains responsible for practical assessment and awarding the Care Certificate.

High Speed Training is therefore a credible alternative, particularly for organisations wanting a polished online learning experience.

On headline price, however, Caredemy currently starts lower and becomes substantially cheaper as learner numbers increase.

Caredemy vs Careskills Academy

Careskills Academy also offers all 16 standards from £15 and provides a learner portfolio, workplace observation guidance and a manager/assessor course.

Its Care Certificate is also available within its wider unlimited training subscription.

This makes Careskills a particularly relevant alternative for employers wanting both Care Certificate induction and broader mandatory training.

The comparison should therefore consider wider library requirements, LMS functionality, support and total annual training costs rather than the Care Certificate price alone.

The economics of Care Certificate training for employers

Volume changes the economics significantly.

Using Caredemy’s currently published Care Certificate prices:

For 100 new starters, the difference between paying £20 per learner and £5.90 per learner is £1,410 before VAT.

But there is another cost that is harder to see: management time.

Imagine a home care provider onboarding 100 workers annually.

If managers spend an additional 30 minutes per worker manually:

• sending courses
• chasing completion
• downloading certificates
• maintaining spreadsheets
• finding portfolios
• reconciling learner records

that equals 50 hours of management time.

The cheapest course can therefore become an expensive system if administration is poor.

Employers comparing Care Certificate providers should calculate:

Training cost + assessment time + administration + reporting + staff replacement/reassignment costs.

This gives a much more realistic cost-per-competent-worker than comparing course prices alone.

What should employers look for in a Care Certificate provider?

Skills for Care recommends examining whether learning providers monitor and evaluate their programmes, provide flexible learning, use appropriately experienced staff, support learners and use up-to-date legislation, guidance and best practice. Employers should also check that assessment is fair, accurate and reliable.

For Care Certificate training specifically, employers should ask:

Does the course cover all 16 current standards?

Any course still offering only Standards 1–15 is based on the pre-March 2025 framework.

Does the provider distinguish learning from competence?

A responsible provider should not suggest that an online multiple-choice assessment alone demonstrates every practical Care Certificate competency.

Are workplace assessment resources included?

Look for workbooks, portfolios, assessor mapping, observation records and competency sign-off documentation.

Who completes final sign-off?

The provider should make the employer’s responsibility clear.

Is the provider independently recognised?

CPD accreditation can provide external assurance around the learning programme, while Skills for Care Endorsement provides sector-specific quality assurance of learning providers.

Neither should be confused with the Care Certificate becoming a regulated qualification.

Can managers see progress?

For larger organisations, look for LMS functionality, reporting, certificates, learner status, training matrices and downloadable records.

Can the system scale?

A process that works for three employees may become administratively difficult with 300.

Is the content current?

Check for the 2025 Care Certificate update, current legislation and recent review dates.

Care Certificate FAQs

Can I get a Care Certificate online?

You can complete much of the learning and knowledge assessment online, but completing an online course alone does not necessarily mean you have achieved the full Care Certificate. Where practical competence must be demonstrated, this needs appropriate workplace assessment.

Can I do the Care Certificate without an employer?

You can complete online learning covering the Care Certificate standards independently. However, achieving the full Care Certificate requires appropriate assessment of practical competence, so somebody without access to a suitable workplace and assessor may not be able to complete every requirement.

Is a £10 Care Certificate legitimate?

Price alone does not determine legitimacy. Check whether the course covers all 16 current standards, what assessment takes place, whether workplace assessment is required and what the completion certificate actually represents.

Does the Care Certificate have 15 or 16 standards?

16.

The standards were updated in March 2025 and Standard 16, Awareness of Learning Disability and Autism, was added.

What is Care Certificate Standard 16?

Standard 16 is Awareness of Learning Disability and Autism. It reflects the increased importance of ensuring health and social care workers understand how to provide appropriate, inclusive support to people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

Is the Care Certificate mandatory?

The Care Certificate itself is not a statutory qualification that every care worker is legally required to hold.

However, employers have legal and regulatory responsibilities concerning staff training, induction, skills and competence. Skills for Care describes the Care Certificate as a minimum standards framework and a CQC expectation for appropriate new workers.

Is the Care Certificate a Level 2 qualification?

No.

Do not confuse the Care Certificate standards with the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification. The latter is an Ofqual-regulated qualification based on the same 16 standards but involving deeper learning and formal assessment.

Does a Care Certificate expire?

There is no nationally prescribed expiry date for the full Care Certificate. Workers may still need refresher or role-specific training to maintain current knowledge and competence.

Do I need to redo my Care Certificate when I change jobs?

Normally, no. Skills for Care says workers who already hold the Care Certificate should not need to repeat it simply because they change employer, although the new employer may check previous learning and require additional or refresher training.

Who signs off the Care Certificate?

The employer is ultimately responsible for deciding whether the worker has met all the standards and awarding the Care Certificate. Assessment can be carried out by appropriately competent people, but final employer responsibility remains.

Can my manager assess my Care Certificate?

Yes, provided the manager is occupationally competent to assess the relevant standards and the employer is satisfied that they can make a reliable assessment.

Can an online training company issue my full Care Certificate?

A training provider can issue evidence or a certificate showing that its online learning has been successfully completed.

That should not be confused with the employer’s final Care Certificate sign-off where workplace competence still needs to be assessed.

How long should a Care Certificate take?

There is no mandatory 12-week deadline. Around 12 weeks has historically been considered an average period for a full-time worker new to care to demonstrate the necessary knowledge and competence, but actual times vary.

Which Care Certificate course is best?

For individuals, look for an affordable, up-to-date course covering all 16 standards with useful learning resources.

For employers, prioritise a provider that combines all 16 standards with assessment resources, employer sign-off support, progress tracking and transparent guidance about workplace competence.

Which Care Certificate provider should you choose?

There is no single provider that will be best for every buyer.

For an individual wanting theoretical Care Certificate training, a straightforward low-cost online course may be sufficient.

For an employer, the buying decision is more complex.

The strongest Care Certificate solution should help create a complete evidence trail:

Learning → knowledge assessment → workplace observation → competence assessment → employer sign-off → training record.

Caredemy’s proposition is particularly competitive for employers because its current course covers all 16 standards, is CPD accredited, comes from a Skills for Care Endorsed Provider, includes employer sign-off resources and has substantial volume discounts.

High Speed Training and Careskills Academy also provide credible current 16-standard alternatives.

eCert offers useful employer assessment functionality and competitive pricing, but employers should confirm the current course specification before purchasing because its publicly accessible Care Certificate pages were still describing the previous 15-standard framework when this comparison was researched.

Ultimately, employers should not ask only:

“Which Care Certificate course is cheapest?”

They should ask:

“Which provider gives us the most reliable, manageable and cost-effective route from a new starter beginning induction to us being confident that they are competent to work safely?”

That is what the Care Certificate is intended to support.