CIPD - Professional Standards

Professional Standards

The CIPD’s Professional Standards cover both generalist and specialist functions of people management and development. They define what a professional should be able to do, or should be able to understand, explain and critically evaluate if he or she is to operate at a support level, at a practitioner level, or at the level of an advanced practitioner. Our 10 core competencies are embedded within these standards.

Professional Standards - full document

The Thinking Performer concept

The conceptual model of the ‘thinking performer’ identifies the key attributes that every CIPD professional should exhibit.

Core Competencies

Our vision for the Professional Standards is to ensure that all CIPD members are effective and possess a mixture of ten competencies.

Professional Standards: format and level of the standards

Support Level Standards

These Standards form the basis of five certificates, each of which leads to Associate membership of the CIPD. They reflect the range of job roles for support staff in the people management and development profession and include a range of core competencies that could be applied in any work setting. They are ideal for those who have just begun working or who are seeking to work in the field.

CBAAPS Standards

These Standards aim to develop, within a business context, the analytical, application, numerical, research and personal transferable skills in order that candidates can progress from a support level certificate programme to postgraduate level study. They do not lead to a grade of CIPD membership.

Advanced Practitioner Standards

These four Standards are set at a strategic management level and build on the knowledge and competence gained at practitioner level. They indicate what a senior personnel and development professional should be capable of in each area. Successful completion of these Standards can contribute towards CIPD membership.

Practitioner Level Standards

These postgraduate level Standards are set at a basic operational level and cover the knowledge, understanding and competence in four fields:

Leadership and Management
People Management and Development
Specialist and Generalist Personnel and Development
Applied Personnel and Development

Completion of all four fields leads to Graduate membership of the CIPD. The philosophy of assessment at the practitioner level is based on the demonstration of professional competence.