How To Become CIPD Qualified

If you’re looking to start or develop your career in the human resources and learning and development sectors, you’ve probably heard about CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualifications.

CIPD qualifications are the gold standard in the industry – they can prove to an employer that you have the high standard of knowledge and skills that they expect in a top candidate. But how do you become CIPD qualified in the first place? Here's an easy 3 step guide to getting CIPD qualified:

1. Choose Between HR and L&D

There are a lot of CIPD qualifications that you can choose from, reflecting the wide range of roles that are available in the HR and L&D sectors. The exact course that is best suited to you will depend on a range of factors like:

• The career you’re interested in pursuing
• Your existing skills and experience
• Your professional interests and talent

There are a wide variety of CIPD courses available so you’ll be able to find one that matches your career development plans. Compare the qualifications that are available and think about how each one of these factors is relevant to it. This should help you gain a better idea of how suited you are to that qualification.

2. Choose the Level of your Qualification

Once you know what CIPD qualification you want to study, you’ll need to work out what difficulty you want to study it at. CIPD qualifications are organised into levels, which correspond to how difficult they are to complete.

What are the CIPD Qualification Levels?

• CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice: The perfect starting point for those new to HR or L&D. Ideal if you're aiming for an entry-level role like HR Assistant.
• CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management: Designed for those with some HR experience or a background in management. Perfect if you're looking to progress into roles like HR Advisor or HR Manager. If you have a university degree and want to start at a higher level, this is a great option.
• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management: A postgraduate-level qualification for experienced HR professionals or HR graduates ready for senior strategic roles like HR Business Partner, HR Consultant, or HR Director.

If you're interested in specialising in Learning & Development (L&D), we also offer L&D qualifications to help you advance in this area.

• CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate: Ideal for beginners, this qualification is perfect if you're new to HR or Learning & Development (L&D) and looking to start your journey in the people profession.

• CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational L&D:  Designed for those with some HR/L&D experience or a university degree, this course is a great option if you’re aiming for a mid-level L&D management or advisory role. It’s also suitable if you’re new to L&D but want to begin your studies at a higher level.

• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic L&D: This qualification is perfect if you have significant HR or L&D experience or hold an HR degree. You'll gain the strategic skills needed to manage L&D functions at a senior level and make a genuine impact in your organisation.

3. Study Online and Get Qualified

With online learning, you study the course at your own pace using the internet. You’ll have digital access to all of the course materials and you’ll attend one online tutorial a week.

Online study is great when it comes to flexibility – it allows you to study a course whenever, and wherever you want. It’s particularly favoured by people who have existing commitments, like a young family or a full-time job. To complete an online qualification, all you need is an internet connection, a device that can connect to it and a few hours a week to study.

Online learning providers offer a range of types of remote learning.  At ICS Learn, for instance, we’re focused on providing completely flexible courses that let you take control of your schedule. Our online courses can completed anywhere there’s an internet connection and can be studied over any time period. You can study completely at your own pace.

Time to Get Qualified!

Studying doesn’t have to be difficult. With a bit of careful preparation and some discipline, you can fit it around even the most demanding of schedules.

Being able to study without getting overwhelmed is all about balance. If you can balance your time effectively, you’ll usually find that studying whilst juggling other commitments isn’t as bad as you think.

Take the next step in career with an online CIPD qualification!