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Human Resources
30 May 2023 - 3 min read
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is the world’s leading professional body for human resources and learning and development.
They offer a range of globally recognised HR and L&D qualifications that are held in high regard by employers, and are listed as a requirement for many jobs. This means that getting a CIPD qualification under your belt is a rite of passage for anyone looking to start or develop their career in the people profession.
Last year, CIPD revamped their qualifications to make sure that what you learn is at the cutting edge of modern people practice.
Here’s our complete guide to everything you need to know about CIPD’s improved qualifications, and what they can offer you, in 2023.
The new CIPD qualifications are designed to make things simpler for people looking to gain a professional qualification in human resources or learning and development.
2021 saw the number of CIPD qualifications reduced to just five. In 2023, there are now five CIPD qualifications to choose from:
Likely to elicit a sigh of relief from most students, the CIPD qualifications don’t involve any exams, even at Level 7. (Yes, you read that right!) Instead, you’ll complete written assignments for every module, demonstrating what you’ve learned throughout the course.
The qualifications also directly correspond to the CIPD’s Profession Map, which sets the standards for people professionals throughout each stage of their career.
The Profession Map details the skills, knowledge and expertise that the CIPD requires in its members (and the wider profession) in a clear and transparent way.
Aligning their HR and L&D qualifications with the Profession Map, the CIPD are safeguarding the quality of their world-renowned courses, and making sure a CIPD qualification remains a mark of the utmost credibility and professionalism worldwide.
There are five CIPD qualifications to choose from: two HR qualifications (known as ‘people practice/management’), two L&D qualifications, and a beginner-level qualification which covers both subjects.
The CIPD Foundation Certificate is an entry-level qualification suited to people approaching human resources and learning and development for the first time.
The qualification covers the core knowledge and expertise you’ll need to start a career in HR or L&D.
You’ll study four units:
Perfect for: people with no prior experience of HR or L&D, career changers, junior HR or L&D assistants
The CIPD Associate Diploma is perfect for you if you’re currently working in HR and want to expand your knowledge and advance to managerial positions.
It’s also suitable if you’re new to the profession but have some experience of undertaking HR duties in another role (as a manager, for example), or if you have a degree and want to begin learning at a higher level than the Foundation Certificate.
You’ll study six core units and then choose one elective module to study, based on your interests.
Core modules
Elective modules (choose one)
Perfect for: HR professionals looking to move into HR management, career switchers who have some experience of HR duties, newcomers to HR who have a degree
As the most advanced and respected CIPD qualification, the CIPD Advanced Diploma is aimed at HR professionals who have extensive experience and are looking to develop their strategic knowledge and leadership skills and move into senior roles.
It’s also suited to HR graduates who are ready to complete a postgraduate-level HR qualification.
Core modules:
Elective modules (choose one):
Perfect for: HR managers, HR department heads, HR consultants, HR directors, HR professionals with significant experience, HR graduates
This entry-level qualification covers both HR and L&D topics, and will introduce you to the basic knowledge and skills you’ll need for your first L&D role.
It covers four modules:
Perfect for: Newcomers to L&D, junior L&D assistants
This intermediate-level qualification is designed for learning and development professionals with a few years of relevant work experience, or newcomers with some prior knowledge of the L&D profession.
It will help to develop your skillset and prepare you for mid-level and managerial roles in learning and development.
Core modules
Elective modules (choose one)
Perfect for: L&D assistants, L&D advisors, L&D managers
The CIPD Advanced Diploma is aimed at L&D managers and senior leaders who want to develop their strategic business management, learning design, and development strategy expertise.
This is the most advanced L&D qualification offered by CIPD and involves postgraduate-level study.
Core modules
Elective modules (choose one)
Perfect for: learning and development professionals with extensive experience, L&D Managers, Heads of L&D, Directors of L&D, L&D Consultants
There are no exams in the current CIPD qualifications. You’ll be assessed through written assignments for each module.
There’s no getting away from the fact that qualifications cost money. Generally though, CIPD qualifications offer excellent value when weighed against your career prospects, with 73% of our CIPD students saying they increased their salary after studying CIPD.*
Plus, when you study CIPD with us, you can pay for your course in manageably monthly payments, completely interest free.
Generally between £1,999 and £2,800.
Generally between £3,399 and £3,700.
Generally between £3,399 and £3,700.
Generally between £6,899 and £7,300.
Generally between £6,899 and £7,300.
As the most respected HR and L&D qualifications in the UK (and in many countries worldwide), a CIPD qualification can open up a lot of possibilities for you – regardless of what stage you’re at in your career.
Here are some of the jobs that a CIPD qualification can help you secure along with their respective salaries, based on the 2023 Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends.
HR Administrator, HR Assistant
Average salary: £23,000 to £28,000
HR Manager, HR Advisor, Recruitment Consultant
Average salary: £45,000 to £70,000
HR Director, Senior HR Consultant, Head of HR, HR Business Partner
Average salary: £70,000 to £120,000
Learning and Development Assistant, L&D Administrator, Training Assistant
Average salary: £18,000 to £26,000
Learning and Development Officer, Learning and Development Specialist, Learning and Development Manager, Training Officer, Training Manager
Average salary: £26,000 to £46,000
Learning and Development Director, Senior L&D Manager, Head of Learning and Development, Head of Training, Training Director
Average salary: £70,000 to £94,000
Online study is exactly as it sounds – study that happens online. Instead of going to a physical classroom every week, you’ll study in the comfort of your own home using the internet.
You can study the new CIPD qualifications completely online, wherever and whenever you want, and at your own pace. The only things that you’ll need are a stable internet connection and a compatible device like a laptop, tablet or phone.
Many students find that studying a course online gives them a lot more freedom and flexibility than studying in a physical format. Students usually find that online learning can be fitted around existing commitments like work, family and caring responsibilities much more easily than in-person college courses.
You can save money by choosing an online course too. You’ll also make some savings when it comes to not having to commute to physical lessons every week!
Disadvantages of online learning
Classroom Learning
If you decided you’d like to study CIPD in a classroom, you’ll attend a CIPD course at a college weekly or fortnightly. This will be led by a tutor and attended by other students who are learning too. You’ll go to this class on a set timetable until the course is completed, and the pace will ultimately be set by the tutor.
Advantages of physical learning
Disadvantages of physical learning
Yes! Once you’ve completed a CIPD qualification you’ll become eligible for CIPD membership. The exact type of membership that you’ll qualify for corresponds to the type of qualification that you’ve completed.
Whichever CIPD qualification you choose, we wish you the best of luck on your CIPD journey.
If you’re inspired to take the next step on your career journey, get your free CIPD course guide today.
* Statistics from a survey of 3,471 ICS Learn CIPD students who graduated between 2012 and 2019.
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