How do I know if I am eligible to upgrade my membership?
Before you start your upgrade application, please remember to check your eligibility first. Each level of professional membership requires you to demonstrate how you meet the membership criteria. You can find out more about which level is right for you by checking your experience against the criteria for each grade.
If you have any questions about upgrading, please feel free to contact us on +44 (0)20 8612 6208 or email memupgrading@cipd.co.uk
Checking your eligibility to upgrade
I'm a Graduate member...
- If you currently hold CIPD Graduate membership you can apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow.
- If you recently re-graded to Associate member (Assoc CIPD) having previously held Graduate, you can also apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow.
- While working towards Chartered membership, you can also request to transfer for free to Associate member by calling the CIPD membership team on +44 (0)20 8612 6208.
I'm a Chartered Member...
- If you're a Chartered Member you can apply to upgrade to Chartered Fellow if you are operating in a strategic/leadership capacity.
I'm a Student member...
- If you've completed the CIPD PDS or Advanced level Diploma (or equivalent) and can demonstrate that you meet the criteria, you can apply to upgrade to either Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow once you're in Graduate membership. Alternatively if you're not ready to upgrade, you can transfer for free to Associate member (Assoc CIPD).
- If you've completed a CIPD Foundation or Intermediate level Certificate or Diploma and can demonstrate that you meet the criteria, you can apply to upgrade to Associate professional membership.
- If you're studying a CIPD qualification, and providing you meet the criteria, you can apply top upgrade to professional membership after you've completed your studies.
- Whilst you're studying we strongly recommend that you take a look at the upgrade application forms (left hand margin of website). You'll find that some of the skills elements and work based activities you undertake as part of your qualification will generate great examples of how you make an impact in the workplace, and which could be used as evidence for upgrading.
I'm an Associate member...
Unless you've recently transfered from Graduate you won't be able to upgrade from Associate to Chartered membership, as the level of the CIPD qualification you hold does not fully meet the knowledge needed for Chartered. So to achieve Chartered membership your options are either study a CIPD advanced level diploma and then upgrade, or for very experienced professionals, consider Experience Assessment (EA) our new route to Chartered membership.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about upgrading or checking your eligibility, please contact us on +44 (0)20 8612 6208 or email membershipenquiry@cipd.co.uk