The letters stand for competency-based training and assessment.

It is considered a more accurate way of demonstrating that a person can really do the job.

More traditional methods were less rigorous in the elements that contributed to being able to really do the job.  For example, an exam pass which demonstrated understanding of the legal requirements may not translate into a satisfactory practical outcome at work.

The 1^st January 2023.   The ICAO Technical Instructions 23-24 Edition which came into force on the 1^st January 2023 provides:

1.4.1.1 The employer of personnel that perform functions aimed at ensuring that dangerous goods are transported in accordance with these Regulations must establish and maintain a dangerous goods training program.  

1.4.2.1 The employer must ensure that personnel are competent to perform any function for which they are responsible prior to performing any of these functions. This must be achieved through training and assessment commensurate with the functions for which they are responsible.

No.  

• In the UK, the UK CAA is still the only authorised body to approve the training which would have been delivered and described as categories 1, 2, 3 and 6 up to the 31^st December 2022, (see UK CAA Document CAP 483 at page 99) or what was in IATA DGR as the former Table 1.5.A. To be clear, the scope covered by 1, 2, 3 and 6, whatever description (ie whether by function, skill or otherwise) is given to it, remains the same.  
• For UK registered /based companies delivering training for their own employees in categories 7-11 UK CAA approval is required.  
• Otherwise, no CAA/IATA approval is required.    

That does not mean that there are not some practical issues which need to be understood and dealt with, but this is the legal position.

The description must refer to the IATA Guidance document at 7.3   The following certificate for a shipper was approved:

This is to certify that the above delegate has completed initial training and has passed an examination on the responsibilities of personnel responsible for processing dangerous goods consignments for the

Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air in accordance with the IATA DGR 2023 (64th Edition) and in line with IATA Dangerous Goods Training Guidance 7.3

other than those related to the detailed requirements for radioactive material.