CIPD Level 3Foundation Certificate in People Practice

There are no formal entry requirements for you to enrol on this CIPD Level 3 Foundation course. 

It’s perfect if you’re just getting started in your HR or L&D career and want to develop the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful people professional. 

If English is your second language, we recommend that you have achieved one of the following (or an equivalent):

• IELTS: 5.5 overall score with a minimum of 5.5 in each category
• TOEFL: 71 overall score with a minimum of 17 in each category
• Cambridge: Grade C or above

However, this isn't mandatory, and we're happy to review your case on an individual basis.

Your CIPD Level 3 Foundation course and assignments are 100% online.

You'll study four modules:

• Business, Culture and Change in Context
• Essentials of People Practice 
• Core Behaviours for People Professionals 
• Principles of Analytics 

Please note that where the course discusses legislation and policy, this will be based on UK law.

For full details of what you’ll learn on each module, download our CIPD Foundation Certificate course guide.

You’ll complete written assignments for each module that you study, letting you demonstrate the new knowledge you’ve gained and the skills you’ve mastered.

You’ll submit your assignments online, and they’ll be marked by our assessors and moderated by CIPD.

Once you've passed all your assignments, you'll be awarded your new CIPD qualification!

Yes! We’ve been a CIPD-awarded centre for 30 years, and pioneers in flexible professional learning for 130 years.

We’re the UK’s most trusted online CIPD centre, rated Excellent from more than 8,000 independent student reviews.

And our CIPD pass rate is 99% from thousands of students each year.†

The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is an entry-level qualification aimed at people who are looking to start a career in Human Resources or Learning and Development. It's suitable for beginners who have little or no experience of working in HR or L&D roles. As a result, it's popular with people who are switching careers and looking to gain an entry-level role in the area. A Level 3 course, it's the first qualification that most HR and L&D professionals study, providing a strong foundation of essential knowledge to build your career on.

The course is split into four modules:

• Business, Culture and Change in Context
• Essentials of People Practice 
• Core Behaviours for People Professionals 
• Principles of Analytics 

In Business, Culture and Change in Context, you'll explore how HR and L&D professionals influence work and employees in different ways. You'll also look at how digital and commercial environments impact businesses, the importance of project planning and how employee behaviour can shape workplace culture.

In Essentials of People Practice, you'll look at the fundamental principles and functions of the people profession (ie. Human Resources and Learning & Development), as well as legislation and policy. You'll explore areas such as the recruitment process, diversity and inclusion and managing employees.

Core Behaviours for People Professionals examines the key behaviours that are expected from professionals working in HR and L&D roles. Throughout this module, you'll explore how ethical practice can create value and how ethical principles can be applied to various customer-focused business approaches. You'll also learn how to evaluate and reflect on contemporary, professional ethical values. 

In Principles of Analytics, you'll discover how evidence-based practice motivates business outcomes, along with how data analytics is used to inform decision-making within an organisational. 

You can find out more about what you'll study on the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice in our blog, CIPD 101: A Complete Guide to CIPD HR and L&D Qualifications (and Which One to Choose)

There are three CIPD Human Resources qualifications to choose from.

The CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice is designed for those with no or minimal HR experience. It’s perfect if you’re looking for your first HR role.

The CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management is designed for those with some HR experience who are looking for a mid-level HR role. It’s also suitable if you have some experience of HR duties in a non-HR role (for example, as a manager), or if you're new to HR but have a degree and want to begin your studies at a higher level.

The CIPD Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management is designed for those with considerable HR experience or an HR degree who are ready to take on postgraduate-level study. It’ll prepare you for strategic senior HR roles and allow you to apply for CIPD Chartered Membership once you have the necessary professional experience.

If you’d like to specialise in L&D, you could also study one of our CIPD Learning & Development courses.

We know everyone’s situation is different, so before you enrol, our CIPD Course Advisors will talk through your experience, education and ambitions to make sure you’re choosing the perfect course for you.

Right away! When you enrol, you’ll be able to log in to your course and get started within an hour.

There are no set start dates or schedules – everything is shaped around you.

On average it will take you between seven to nine months to study the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice, based on a typical study schedule of a few hours a week. There is nothing stopping you from completing the course in less time: the influencing factor is how much time you can dedicate to studying in a week. 

Balancing a full-time job, a family/a social life and study can be a challenge, so the exact time it takes you to complete your Level 3 qualification will depend on how much commitment you're willing to put in to your study. If you have more free time available that you put towards learning, you can probably complete the qualification faster. 

Thanks to the fact that the qualification is delivered entirely online, you'll be able to access course content and study whenever you want: all you need to do is log on.