Whether you're starting a new career or you're an experienced professional, a CIPD qualification or a CIPD-accredited university program will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to make an impact in your organization and take your career to the next level. Find the right qualification that suits your level of experience and ambitions.
Not only will it enhance your knowledge and skills in everything from employment law to talent management, but it could also help you achieve a much higher salary than your peers.
We have already covered how a CIPD qualification can change your career, but to ensure you understand the right qualification for you, here’s this article.
What are CIPD Qualifications?
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is an independent organization aimed at improving working life for employees. Founded over a century ago, it is completely non-profit and incorporated under a Royal Charter. It provides a range of qualifications that are the industry standard for HR and are aimed at promoting world-class people management practices.
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What is a Level 3 Qualification?
CIPD’s Level 3 Foundation Certificate provides individuals with a solid foundation in HR and Learning & Development (L&D) for those with little or no experience in the field. It is roughly equivalent in difficulty to an A-level.
At Level 3, you can choose the pathway relevant to your chosen career in HR or L&D. Core units for both pathways include:
Essentials of people practice
Core behaviors for people professionals
Business, culture, and change in context
Principles of analytics
If you qualify with a Level 3 certificate, you will become an Associate Member of the CIPD.
Who is it for?
Level 3 is ideal for those just starting their careers in HR or L&D, or those completely new to the industry – making it the perfect choice for anyone looking for an entry-level approach.
The qualifications can be studied full-time or part-time, in dedicated CIPD training centers or online. On average, it takes between seven to nine months to complete a Level 3 CIPD qualification.
Upon completion of the Level 3 qualification, you will be qualified for roles such as:
HR Assistant
HR Administrator
HR Officer
HR Coordinator
L&D Assistant
Training/L&D Coordinator
Training/L&D Officer
Learning & Development Practitioner
Levels of CIPD Qualification
There are three levels to the CIPD qualification program: Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced. Each level involves more in-depth instruction on HR practices and necessary skills. Each level also has three tiers: Award, Certificate, and Diploma.
The level you aim for determines the complexity of the course and the number of hours required to complete it.
Foundation Qualifications
The Foundation level provides basic and practical information about people development. As the name suggests, it offers a broad range of knowledge to help build a solid foundation for HR professionals to continue developing their skills.
Typical things you will learn in this course include principles of analytics, desired behaviors in people professionals, employment law, and more.
You will receive an award at this level after 20 to 120 hours of study, a certificate after 280 hours, and a diploma after 370 hours.
The Foundation level qualification is best for those just starting out in an HR career. Suitable job titles include HR Assistant and Organizational Development Officer.
This level of qualification helps people understand what is going on in most organizations and what their role in it is. It starts their career in the people profession and gives them a solid base from which to continue growing.
Intermediate Qualifications
The Intermediate level is set at the undergraduate degree level and expands on the principles taught at the Foundation level. Courses at this level will guide you through talent management, organizational practice, and more.
Meanwhile, it will help build personal skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving to better handle the responsibilities of your role.
You will receive an award at this level after 30 to 120 hours of study for HR practices and 60 to 120 hours for L&D. The certificate requires 320 hours of study in HR management, 300 hours in L&D, and the diploma requires 440 hours in HR management, 900 hours in applied HR, and 420 hours in L&D.
The Intermediate qualification is best for HR professionals aiming to enter management or those looking to take the next step in their careers.
This training program gives you skills beyond what the Foundation level can offer, helping you stand out while performing your typical responsibilities.
Advanced Qualifications
Advanced qualification courses are equivalent to postgraduate study. The instruction in this program focuses on specific areas of talent management to help you specialize or consult in a particular area. The complexity and depth of the material also mean this level of qualification is best suited for individuals with operational, tactical, or strategic responsibilities.
You will receive an award at this level with 150 hours of study in HR. The certificate requires 600 hours of study in HR, while the diploma requires 1200 hours in HR management and 1200 hours in HR development.
The Advanced qualification is intended for HR professionals who wish to progress to a senior position or those looking to develop new HR policies.
This CIPD training program can give you an in-depth insight into high-level business research concepts and employment relations. Additionally, it can prepare you for future leadership roles in HR.
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How to Become a CIPD Member
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development offers three levels of professional membership: Associate, Chartered Member, and Chartered Fellow. There is also a fourth level called Student Membership, which you are eligible to join if you are enrolled in a CIPD qualification program. Upon successfully gaining a CIPD certificate or diploma, you will automatically be upgraded to Associate Member.
Upgrading to Chartered Member status requires completing the advanced qualification program at the diploma level and having at least one year of experience in an HR role at Chartered level. After achieving the advanced diploma, you can also apply for Chartered Fellow status if you have at least one year of experience in a Chartered Fellow role.
CIPD Fees
Note that these fees only cover the costs if you are progressing to CIPD through obtaining a qualification. Other routes to membership will have different expenses.
Student Member Fees:
Individual study centers set qualification fees for student members. Membership and joining fees for students are up to £90 if registered within six months or £189 if registered within 18 months.
Affiliate Member Fees:
This membership costs the same as student membership as it is a free upgrade upon gaining a certificate or diploma.
Chartered Member Fees:
Individual study centers set qualification fees. Membership and joining fees range from £150 to £210 if registered within six months or £249 to £309 if registered within 18 months.
Chartered Fellow Fees
Again, individual study centers set qualification fees. Membership and joining fees are up to £340 if registered within six months or £439 if registered within 18 months.
Role of DocSuite HR System
DocSuite HR helps you obtain training certifications like CIPD by providing documentation and performance evaluation reports that can be used as part of your profile submission requirements. It can also track necessary training and organize schedules for training sessions and exams. Key features include:
Document Management:
The system can store your training documents, such as attendance and absence certificates and academic results obtained during training sessions.
Performance Reports:
The system can generate reports on your performance during training, making it easy to track progress and identify areas needing improvement.
Schedule Management:
The system can organize your schedules and reminders for specified training dates, helping with advance planning and effective time management.
Requirement Tracking:
The system can track necessary requirements for obtaining specific certificates like CIPD, such as required training hours and study materials.
Training Course Management:
The system can help you choose suitable training courses, organize your registration in them, and track your progress throughout.
These points illustrate how the DocSuite HR system can facilitate obtaining training certifications like CIPD and effectively organize them. Contact us for more details about our system.