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What Is a Subject Matter Expert? How to Spot SME-Written Compliance Courses
- Flick Learning
- Mar 19
- 5 min read
Whether you’re going to university, learning to drive, or trying to play guitar, you wouldn’t go to someone who didn’t know what they’re doing. You expect experience, credentials, and a proven track record. Or put another way, a subject matter expert (SME).
The same should be true for a compliance course.
Subjects such as safeguarding, handling sensitive information, and early years education are covered by many rules and regulations. If an expert does not approve the course materials, they may contain inaccuracies that could land you in a lot of trouble. That’s why flick relies on SMEs for all compliance-related material.
But what is a subject matter expert? What benefits do compliance experts provide? And how can you tell if a course was expertly written?
In this article we’ll discuss:
What is a Subject Matter Expert?
A subject matter expert, or SME, is a person who is considered qualified and experienced in their field. Depending on the subject, you may look for:
Relevant professional qualifications and certifications.
Hands-on experience in the field, e.g., safeguarding, health and safety, HR, or finance.
Ongoing involvement with regulatory updates and industry standards.
Most people are SMEs in their field. That’s why they’re hired, because they have direct experience of their job. But SMEs become particularly relevant in compliance-related fields, where incorrect information can have legal consequences.
What Does a Subject Matter Expert Do?
Subject matter experts have one focus: staying up to date on the latest developments in their field while maintaining their understanding of the fundamentals. In short, be an expert.
That looks different, depending on the industry. It could involve reading government regulations, keeping up with technology updates, liaising with stakeholders, or even drafting the rules and industry standards yourself.
The main difference between SMEs is how they apply their expertise. Companies can hire SMEs to inspect their internal practices, develop training materials, or work with regulators to create regulations directly. flick, for example, keeps several subject-matter experts on retainer for specific compliance-related topics.
Why Subject Matter Expertise Matters in Compliance Training
Compliance training cannot afford mistakes. If the course material is incorrect, it can have major implications for the trainees further down the line. Penalties, harm to children and data breaches. To name just a few.
A compliance course, therefore, must reflect current laws, regulations, and best practices. They must be routinely updated as the regulatory landscape changes.That means relying on subject matter experts.
Only expert-written courses reduce the risk of misinformation and noncompliance. SMEs understand the nature and nuances of their industries, tailoring the course material to the trainee’s needs and level. This isn’t just good practice. Regulators and inspectors expect training to be credible and accurate. Failure to meet these standards can result in regulatory penalties.
Why Expert Content Improves Learning Outcomes
Subject matter experts understand the ins and outs of their industry. They’re not learning the same material as they draft or verify the course. They’re considering whether this is the best way to teach the subject. After all, they’ve already learnt it.
But expert-led content comes with a few other benefits:
Clear explanations grounded in real-world scenarios, so learners understand how regulations function in practice.
Less confusion around responsibilities and procedures.
Greater confidence when applying knowledge in the workplace (the end goal of any course).
How flick learning Works with Subject Matter Experts
flick isn’t in the business of bad information. We know our clients rely on us for engaging, educational, and compliant courses that contain the latest industry information.
That’s why we never take risks with our clients’ reputation or compliance obligations.
Safeguarding, Early Years, and Handling Information
We have several subject matter experts in safeguarding, early years, and information handling, so you’re never on the wrong side of child safety or GDPR compliance.
Courses are reviewed annually to ensure they are up to date with safeguarding, early years, and information handling regulations. New materials are written, when necessary, to ensure every base is covered.
Safeguarding, in particular, often requires a major overhaul, as the changes each year are profound. Our SMEs base their adjustments on Keeping Children Safe in Education, the government's statutory guidance published each summer.
Health & Safety and Asbestos
We also verify course materials via RoSPA for Health & Safety and IATP for asbestos courses. Two other areas where noncompliance can have serious consequences.
For RoSPA, every course must be submitted for review and audit before release. Any required changes are made prior to launch, and all health and safety courses are resubmitted every two years for re-review.
For IATP, with which we began working recently, an independent auditor reviewed our asbestos courses and required several changes before they could be signed off as audited and accredited.
Our Prevention of Radicalisation course has also been vetted and approved by the Home Office, making it one of only two e-learning courses to receive that level of scrutiny.
How to Identify Expert-Written Courses
Expert-written courses normally advertise their credentials. Look for clear author credentials or ‘written by’ information. You might also find evidence of collaboration with industry bodies or professionals, for instance, RoSPA or IATP.
The content itself will be clearly written, referencing specific frameworks, legislation, and guidance. It will be regularly updated and reviewed by qualified professionals to ensure everything is up to date.
Signs An Expert Did Not Write a Course
If you focus on the wrong things , course design, friendly language, or quantity of information , it’s easy to assume some courses are credible. But that’s not always the case.
Look for these red flags:
Overly vague language or generic explanations.
Outdated references to laws or guidance.
No clear learning objectives or practical examples.
Find out more about How to Tell if an Online Course is Legit.
Why This Matters for Employers
Compliance training isn’t something to take lightly. It’s how your employees stay abreast of their industry, understand their responsibilities, and put them into action. In the education sector, meeting compliance targets can be especially challenging due to ongoing changes.
But with course materials produced by legitimate subject-matter experts, you can ensure your team is equipped with the best information.
flick specialises in compliant course materials that are fun, engaging, and educational. Our courses are designed to level up your team’s understanding and meet regulatory expectations. Check out our full selection for further details.
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