CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

There are three CIPD Human Resources qualifications to choose from:

The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is designed for those with zero or minimal HR or L&D experience. It’s perfect if you’re looking for your first role in the people profession.

The CIPD Level 5 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 Level 7 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.

Still not sure which CIPD course is right for you? Contact our CIPD course advisors and they'll be happy to help! 

The online CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate is split into four critical modules, where you'll develop the fundamental knowledge and skills you need to begin your HR career:

• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Principles of Analytics: you'll discover how evidence-based practice motivates business outcomes and learn how data analytics is used to inform decision-making within an organisational. 

For more on what you'll learn, download your free CIPD course guide today.

The CIPD Profession Map offers a key framework for HR and L&D professionals to follow, providing a clear set of competencies, behaviours, and knowledge required to succeed in the people profession.

Developed by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), it serves as a guide for HR and L&D professionals at every stage of their career, from entry-level to senior strategic roles.

The Profession Map outlines the essential HR skills and L&D functions, ensuring that professionals are equipped to drive organisational success. It covers 10 professional areas, including employee engagement, talent management, and organisational development, and breaks down the key behaviours and values required for success in the industry.

By aligning your learning with the CIPD Profession Map, you can ensure that your qualifications and career development are in line with industry best practices and what employers are looking for.

Whether you’re starting out in HR or advancing to a senior role, the CIPD Profession Map ensures you have the right knowledge, behaviours, and skills to thrive.

At ICS Learn, our online CIPD qualifications are designed to give you with the practical skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the people profession – aligning with the CIPD Profession Map and preparing you for real-world success.

Yes! We offer the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice entirely online. This means that you can complete your qualification from anywhere, on your terms. 

Online learning with us is well-suited to busy professionals who want to get CIPD-qualified while working part-time or full-time.

All you need to study your CIPD Level 3 course is a stable internet connection and a device where you can access your online course content! 

We make online learning with us simple, flexible and affordable. 

If you’re funding the course yourself, our flexible 0% payment plans allow you to spread the cost with interest-free* monthly instalments.

Plus, with our price match guarantee, we’ll match any provider’s price for a like-for-like CIPD course, so you’ll always get the best deal with us.

If your employer is funding all or part of your course, we can invoice them directly for your course fees – just let your course advisor know and we’ll arrange everything.

We also accept funding through ELCAS for this course. If you’re an Armed Forces member looking to use the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme, speak to our course advisors for more details.

Right away! When you enrol, you’ll be able to log in within 60 minutes. 

On average it will take you between 7 and 9 months to study the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice, based on a typical study schedule of a few hours a week. 

However, keep in mind that how long it takes you to complete your CIPD Level 3 course comes down to how much time you can dedicate to studying in a week and the tailored study pathway you choose.

Yes, you need to be a CIPD member for the duration of your studies.

We can’t submit your assignments for moderation, give you assessment grades, or award your qualification unless you’re an active CIPD member, so you must register before submitting your first assignment.

We’ll give you full details of how to join as a Student Member after you enrol. You’ll pay an annual Student Membership fee, and our CIPD advisors can provide you with the most up-to-date costs.

When you complete your course, you’ll be eligible to become an Associate Member of the most prestigious HR and L&D organisation in the world, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

You’ll join a community of 160,000 ambitious, forward-thinking professionals across 120 countries, and have exclusive access to a variety of benefits, including: 

• HR industry insights
• Useful HR tools and advice
• Budget-friendly discounts on events and merch
• Career guidance from prominent HR and L&D experts

At ICS Learn, your CIPD study support is designed around how you learn best – with three tailored study pathways to choose from:

• Essential Support: ideal if you prefer independent online study
• Enhanced Support: perfect if you enjoy structured guidance
• Elite Support: great if you’d like a more personalised experience 

Whichever pathway you choose, you’ll get full access to our all-in-one virtual learning platform, mystudyspace, as well as:

• Access to all your interactive online course materials
• Expert academic guidance to support your progress  
• FREE online study planners 
• Your Programme Hub, full of useful tools, tips, and guidance
• Live biannual Employment Law updates to keep you informed
• Our friendly Student Services team for any non-academic questions

For more information, contact our Course Advisors today.

Enrol online or get in touch with our CIPD Advisors on 0333 920 6013.

They’ll talk through your experience, education and ambitions to make sure you’re choosing the right course, then get you enrolled with an interest-free* payment plan. You can also verify that your course is budget-friendly when you use our handy affordability calculator. 

If you have any disabilities which you think might affect your studies or assessments, please tell your Course Advisor before you enrol so we can advise you on whether reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs.