CIPD Level 5Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development

To study this CIPD Associate Level 5 course, you should generally have at least one of the following:

• Some learning and development experience in an entry-level L&D or HR role
• Managerial experience that involved elements of L&D
• A degree and a desire to begin studying L&D at a higher level than the CIPD Foundation Certificate

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

• IELTS: 6.0 overall score with a minimum of 5.5 in each category
• TOEFL: 79 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 5 Associate course and assignments are fully online.

You'll study seven modules, made up of six core modules and your choice of one elective module.

Core modules

• Professionals Behaviours and Valuing People
• Organisational Performance and Culture in Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Support Self-Directed and Social Learning 
• Learning and Development Design to Create Value 
• Facilitate Personalised and Performance-Focused Learning

Elective modules (choose one) 

• Leadership and Management Development 
• Wellbeing at Work 
• Diversity and Inclusion 
• People Management in an International Context 
• Specialist Employment Law
• Advances in Digital Learning and Development 

For full details of what you’ll learn on each module, download our CIPD Associate Diploma 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!

Please keep in mind that Assessment Briefs will be updated each year as part of the CIPD’s Assessment Change Cycle. 

Yes! We’ve been a CIPD-awarded centre for 30 years, and pioneers in flexible professional learning for 130 years. We have students in more than 100 countries.

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.†

There are five CIPD qualifications to choose from.

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

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

The CIPD Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development is designed for those with considerable L&D experience who are ready to take on postgraduate-level study. It’ll prepare you for strategic senior L&D roles and allow you to apply for CIPD Chartered Membership once you have the necessary professional experience.

If you'd like to specialise in HR rather than L&D, you could also study the CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management or the CIPD Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management.

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.

As an ICS Learn CIPD student, you'll always have a real person on hand to help you when you need it. From the moment you enrol, you'll have access to:

• Unlimited support
• Live online CIPD classrooms so you can learn and ask questions in real time
• CIPD classroom recordings so you can watch and rewatch them at a time that suits you
• CIPD student forums to network and share advice with other HR professionals
• Our friendly Student Services team to help you with non-academic questions
• Our all-in-one online learning platform, the Student Community, filled with interactive course materials designed by CIPD experts

You'll also have unlimited lifetime access to our Career Hub, giving you thousands of resources to help you impress employers, master critical business skills, and build your dream career. It includes:

• A CV and cover letter builder
• An interview simulator
• An elevator pitch builder
• Career and work psychology assessments
• In-depth industry and employer profiles
• 350+ employer films with practical advice from hiring managers
• 1000+ short courses, articles and videos on key career skills like negotiating a raise and leading a team

You can take a sneak peek at the Career Hub by signing up for free here.§

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.

Yes, you must 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 – our CIPD Advisors can give you the most up-to-date costs.

When you complete your course, you’ll 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 insights, advice and guidance from prominent HR and L&D experts.

On top of offering you the professional credibility you need, CIPD membership has the potential to increase your earning potential even further than your CIPD qualification alone; up to £4,400** as an Associate Member or up to a whopping £17,200** as a prestigious Chartered Member.

If you’re interested in becoming a CIPD member, take a look at the new CIPD membership levels and how they’re aligned with CIPD’s Profession Map.

Get in touch with our CIPD Advisors on 0333 920 3823.

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.

If you’re not ready to commit to the full qualification and would like to focus on only the essential modules of this course, you could study our CIPD Level 5 Core programme.

It covers 3 modules:

• Organisational Performance and Culture in Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Professional Behaviours and Valuing People

The programme has an average completion time of 6 months and a support period of 9 months. It costs £1,529 which can be paid in interest-free monthly instalments.

Bear in mind that the Core programme won’t give you a CIPD qualification, just the essential skills you need for mid-level L&D roles.

If you complete the programme and then decide you’d like to move onto the full CIPD Level 5 Diploma, you won’t need to take the whole course again – you can simply complete the extra 4 modules and you’ll be CIPD qualified!

For more information on our CIPD Core programmes, get in touch with our course advisors by webchat, email or phone.