Membership Upgrading
Professional membership is the benchmark for best practice in HR. Gaining recognition from the world's largest Chartered HR and development body can give you a competitive advantage.
There are three levels of professional membership;
An Associate member (Assoc CIPD)
• Works in a role giving vital support to the key areas of HR (central HR, learning and development or other professional areas of HR). They use their HR skills and knowledge to support HR leaders and managers.
A Chartered Member (Chartered MCIPD)
• Demonstrates the expertise needed to plan and manage generalist or specialist HR operations. Combining their HR professional knowledge, skill and insights with an understanding of an organisation's context and structure, they create and deliver integrated HR services and solutions that help drive their organisation.
A Chartered Fellow (Chartered FCIPD)
• Holds a strategic position and demonstrates the expertise to lead the key areas of HR. Using their professional skills, knowledge and expertise, they determine, develop and implement HR strategies, plans and policies to promote and achieve organisational success.
Upgrading is only available for candidates who already have a CIPD qualification. To check if you are eligible to upgrade please go to; http://www.cipd.co.uk/Membership/upgrade/Membership-upgrading-eligibility.htm
To apply to upgrade you must supply an up to date CV, the completed application form, 2 colleague forms and the relevant payment. For more information and the application forms please go to; http://www.cipd.co.uk/Membership/upgrade/
There may be members and non members who wish to become professional members and are unable to use to the upgrade process mentioned. Experience Assessment enables highly experienced HR professionals – both generalists and specialists – who do not have the required CIPD qualifications to achieve professional CIPD membership as Chartered Fellow, Chartered Member or Associate. For more information go to: http://www.cipd.co.uk/experience-assessment
UPGRADING TO PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Mike Parkes, Membership Advisor
In the last newsletter, I explained the new membership grades and structure, this time I’d like to explain a little about the new upgrading process. With the changes to membership we now have three professional levels of membership ie Associate, Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow and to upgrade into any of these levels you now have to access the institutes new online membership upgrading assessment tool. The three levels of membership recognise professional competence and the impact that HR professionals are making in the workplace based on what they know (knowledge), what they do (activity) and how they do it (behaviour).
The assessment process is designed to see how individuals meet the activity and behaviour criteria for the level of membership for which they are applying. Through the online tool, they complete an impact report, which assesses them against the activity criteria, and a self-assessment questionnaire, giving examples of how they meet the behaviour criteria in the workplace. Members must also invite work colleagues to support their application by endorsing the report and completing a questionnaire on meeting the workplace behaviour criteria. The institute recommends that applicants select a line manager and someone they have recently worked with closely. Self-employed individuals may select a recent client.
The aim is to show that the member has successfully put their knowledge of HR into practice (via the impact report) and that their experience matches the relevant behaviour criteria. The new upgrading process takes away any uncertainty about what to provide and about how to supply and structure the information.
The online tool features plenty of information about assessment eligibility, plus answers to other FAQs. Members can access sample questions from the CIPD website to get a feel for the type of information that needs to be provided. The online application does not have to be completed in one sitting. Members can also upload examples of their work to support their application. Applications are assessed by one of the CIPD’s voluntary membership assessors, who are all experienced HR practitioners holding senior roles in the profession and who are either Chartered Members or Chartered Fellows of the institute. Applicants are sent a personal report by email that includes feedback on the application, results and, where appropriate, any next steps.
For those without a CIPD qualification, the institute is launching another route to professional membership. This month sees the official launch of the new Experience Assessment route. It enables experienced HR professionals to access one of the three levels of professional membership, using an assessment of their current and previous work experience as evidence that they have the knowledge and expertise required to meet the CIPD’s criteria.
The new route reflects increasingly diverse career paths and is designed to better support those who, for various reasons, have risen within the HR profession without gaining a CIPD qualification. It will cater for both HR generalists and specialists who can demonstrate appropriate levels of experience and knowledge for membership admission.
The assessment methods are designed to elicit relevant and appropriate evidence, against criteria based on the HR profession map. This adds a clear focus on experience and behaviours, underpinned by an appropriate level of knowledge and understanding.
Experience assessment is split into two stages: the first stage is a diagnostic to establish eligibility and at what level. The second stage involves using a range of assessment tools to provide work-based evidence as well as an in-depth professional discussion.
So alot of new and challenging steps for anyone wishing to upgrade. The Lincolnshire Branch are here to help, direct and in some cases assist our members, so if you have any questions about upgrading please see the ‘upgrade your membership’ area of the CIPD website or I would be glad to try and assist if I can. My contact details are on the branch website or I attend most of our events – Good Luck.