About Associate membership
The Associate member is a HR professional with the skills, knowledge and approach to contribute to the delivery of generalist or specialist services within an organisation. Operating within the HR field they are likely to responsible for their own performance and possibly that of a small team providing specific services in one or more of the key component areas of Human Resources (central HR, learning and development or another professional area of HR).
Whatever the nature or size of the organisation, an Associate member will have a good understanding of the priorities of the organisation they are working in (with) and the regulatory and legal framework within their market or country. As an Associate they will be able to use this knowledge base to shape and inform how they develop solutions and deliver advice to meet business needs by:
- Applying their specialist or generalist skills and knowledge in the context of the organisation’s structure, culture and direction.
- Providing support to HR leaders and managers as they work to deliver a range of HR processes in one or more professional areas.
- Delivering some HR functions or holding the operational responsibility for delivering specific areas of the HR agenda.
They may be someone setting out on an HR career, aiming for progression to Chartered membership as they develop their skills, knowledge and experience. Or they could be someone who wishes to receive formal recognition for their existing role and contribution.
Associate membership signifies:
- Someone who has been assessed against clear professional criteria.
- Someone who demonstrates that they have the skill, knowledge and approach to make an significant supporting contribution, and deliver excellent results.
- It also confirms that the Associate member has signed up to the CIPD CPD Policy and Code of Professional Conduct, and work to its standards and criteria.
How Associate member benefits you
Associate membership is a professional badge of competence that signals to employers, across all sectors, nationally and internationally that you're able to apply your knowledge in a business context. It entitles you to the use of a designation and letters after your name, Assoc CIPD. Associate membership also enables CIPD to provide recognition for HR professionals who are making a substantial contribution to the organisations for which they work, but who are not yet at Chartered member level.
How do I become an Associate member?
Achieving Associate membership is dependent on demonstrating that you have met the activities, knowledge and behaviours for this professional level of membership. Your options are as follows:
- Study a CIPD qualification and upgrade
Studying a CIPD qualification at Level 3 Foundation and Level 5 Intermediate level will provide you with the knowledge required for the Associate professional level of membership. If you then have the relevant experience you can apply to upgrade to Associate membership. Your first membership application is free if you apply within the first year of completing your qualification. If successful with the assessment you’ll be upgraded to Associate member.
Learn more about CIPD qualifications
More about upgrading after study
- Experience Assessment
Experience Assessment allows you to use your current and previous work experience to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and expertise required become as Associate Member (Assoc CIPD).
Find out more about Experience Assessment
- Free transfer to Associate for Graduates
Graduates, who are not yet ready to apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow, can request a free automatic transfer to the Associate professional level of membership by calling +44 (0)20 8612 6208.
When ready, Graduates who request to transfer to Associate can also apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow.
Criteria for Associate membership
The attached document provided information about the critieria for the Associate professional level of membership. Before you download the criteria, have a look at our professional member overview table, which highlights the key differences in experience and activity for each level.
For information on our other professional levels of membership, please click on the links below: