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Human Resources
25 January 2021 - 4 min read
No matter where you are in your HR or L&D career, there’s a CIPD qualification that will help you take it to the next level.
When you first begin researching which CIPD qualification is right for you, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the options. What do levels 3, 5 and 7 mean? Is it better to start at Foundation or Associate level if you're new to HR? And is the CIPD Advanced Diploma really equivalent to postgraduate-level study? (It is!)
Understanding what is the best CIPD qualification to have and what course you should do will depend on a number of factors such as:
We’re here to explain everything you need to know about choosing your CIPD course, so you can start your CIPD journey with confidence.
(Don’t worry if you’re still not sure. Our expert CIPD Advisors will chat through your experience and ambitions before you enrol so you can be sure you’ve made the right choice.)
When choosing your ideal CIPD course, you’ll need to consider two key questions:
CIPD provides qualifications in two subjects.
CIPD qualifications are organised into three levels representing how advanced the material is.
Once you've answered these two questions, you should have a rough idea of which CIPD qualification might be right for you.
Next, we'll cover each CIPD qualification in detail.
There's only one CIPD qualification at Foundation Level, the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate, and it covers both HR and L&D.
The Foundation Certificate is designed to give you the essential operational skills that you need to launch your HR or L&D career and take on entry-level roles.
It’s the lowest level of qualification offered by CIPD and is roughly equivalent in difficulty to A Levels.
You don’t need any prior experience or qualifications to get started on the CIPD Foundation Certificate, making them well-suited to newcomers to the profession.
According to the Hays Salary Survey, the average annual salary for those qualified to the equivalent of the CIPD Foundation Certificate in the private sector is £25,000.
A CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate generally takes around 7 to 9 months to complete when studying part-time alongside work.
You'll cover four modules on this course:
On completion of a CIPD Foundation Certificate, you can become a CIPD Foundation Member.
CIPD Associate Diploma qualifications are classed as Level 5 qualifications, meaning they're roughly equivalent in difficulty to a foundation degree.
There are two CIPD qualifications at this level, one in HR and one in L&D:
They're designed to give you the skills you need to take on mid-level managerial or advisory HR/L&D roles.
If you want to study a CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma qualification, then you should generally have at least ONE of the following:
If you secure a typical job at this level, then your average annual salary would be in the region of £42,000.
A CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma generally takes our students 9 to 12 months to complete when studying part-time alongside a full-time job.
If you study the CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management, you'll complete seven of the modules below.
Core modules:
Elective modules (choose one):
If you study the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development, you'll complete seven of the modules listed below.
Core modules:
Elective modules (choose one):
Different providers may offer a different selection of modules – you can find the full list on the CIPD website.
On completion of a Level 5 Associate Diploma, you can become an Associate Member of the CIPD and use Assoc. CIPD after your name.
CIPD Advanced qualifications are classed at Level 7, meaning they're equivalent in difficulty to postgraduate/Master's degree qualifications.
CIPD Level 7 qualifications give you the high-level strategic knowledge you need for senior strategic HR or L&D roles.
There are two CIPD qualifications at this level, one in HR and one in L&D:
To enrol on a course of this calibre, you should generally have one of the following:
You should also be prepared to take on postgraduate-level study.
The average annual salary for one of these senior roles is approximately £65,000, but can vary dramatically depending on the seniority of your role.
A CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma generally takes students around 18 to 24 months to complete while studying part-time alongside working full-time.
If you study the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management, you'll complete four core modules plus your choice of four elective modules.
Core modules:
Elective modules (choose one):
If you study the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development you'll complete four core modules plus your choice of four elective modules.
Core modules:
Elective modules (choose one):
Different providers may offer a different selection of elective modules – you can find the full list on the CIPD website.
If you complete the CIPD Level 7 Diploma, then once you have the requisite professional experience, you could become a Chartered Member of the CIPD.
When it comes to choosing your CIPD qualification, it can seem like there are a lot of options to choose from. Our advice is to focus on the two key areas that differentiate the qualifications:
Once you've answered those questions, you'll be well on your way to choosing the right course for you. Don't forget that your choice of qualification will greatly depend on the career and career level you'd like to reach. Click here to learn more about your career options with a CIPD qualification.
And remember - you don't have to make your decision alone (nor should you!) Our experienced CIPD Advisors will be happy to chat through your experience, education, and ambitions to make sure you're choosing the perfect course for you. Just send us an email, chat to us online, or give us a call.
Learn more about becoming CIPD qualified online and get your FREE CIPD course guide today.
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