Graphic Design Accreditation Services
Empowering Professional Standards in Graphic Design Education
The Professional Graphic Designers Association (PGDA) provides graphic design course accreditation for organisations, training institutions and independent providers delivering high-quality learning in graphic design and related creative subjects. Our accreditation service is designed to support professional standards in design education and recognise providers offering structured, relevant and industry-focused learning.
PGDA accreditation helps course providers demonstrate quality, credibility and a clear commitment to professional development in graphic design. It is suitable for organisations that want to show students, clients and industry partners that their courses meet recognised standards and support meaningful progression in the creative sector.
Accreditation for graphic design course providers
Our graphic design course accreditation is available to providers delivering courses and training in graphic design, visual communication and closely related creative disciplines. We work with education platforms, institutions and professional training providers that want to raise standards, strengthen trust and gain recognition for the quality of their learning offer.
This includes providers delivering specialist learning in areas such as branding, advertising design, packaging design, creative communication, digital design and related visual subjects. The focus of the course should be clear, professionally relevant and built around a structured learning pathway.
Who Can Apply?
Our graphic design accreditation is open to:
- online education platforms delivering graphic design and creative media courses
- training institutions offering in-person or hybrid learning
- in-house training providers or studios delivering structured design learning programmes
To be considered for accreditation, courses should have a clear professional purpose, appropriate learning outcomes and content that supports real development in graphic design practice. If you are unsure whether your course or organisation is suitable, we are happy to discuss this with you before you begin the application process.
How our accreditation process works
Our accreditation process is practical, thorough and designed to assess the quality and integrity of each course provider fairly. PGDA accreditation is more than a badge. It is professional recognition that your course delivery is structured, relevant and aligned with current industry practice.
Our evaluation covers:
- course content, structure and learning outcomes
- tutor qualifications and delivery methods
- relevance to current graphic design industry practices
- student support and assessment processes
Why graphic design course accreditation matters
Graphic design course accreditation helps course providers show that their learning is built around quality, relevance and professional standards. It gives added confidence to learners looking for courses that support real progression, and it helps providers demonstrate that their training has been carefully designed and professionally reviewed.
For many course providers, accreditation is not only about recognition. It is also about clarity, trust and long-term credibility. In a competitive education market, graphic design course accreditation can help distinguish your courses and strengthen your reputation with prospective students and industry partners.
Accreditation Fees
We’ve kept our fee structure transparent and simple:
Accreditation Category Fee
Individual online course providers: £2,500 plus £650 per course
Larger organisations and institutions: £3,850 plus £650 per course
Initial application review fee: £250, deducted from the total cost once approved
These fees support our evaluation panel, professional guidance and accreditation approval process.
Apply for graphic design accreditation
To begin the accreditation process, please contact us to request our Accreditation Application Pack. This includes submission requirements, timelines and the full evaluation checklist.
The process is straightforward:
1. Request and complete the Accreditation Application Pack
2. Pay the initial £250 review fee
3. Submit your completed application
4. Receive an initial assessment and follow-up consultation
5. If successful, become a PGDA-accredited provider
Why choose PGDA accreditation?
- professional recognition within the design industry
- use of the PGDA Accreditation Mark in marketing materials
- listing as a PGDA-approved course provider
- stronger credibility with students, clients and industry partners
- annual review and guidance to support continued standards
Contact the PGDA
If you would like to check whether your course or organisation qualifies for graphic design accreditation, get in touch. We are here to support providers raising standards in professional graphic design education.