CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in Human Resource Management

This qualification is suitable for you if you're currently working in the field of HR management and wish to extend your knowledge and skills in order to develop your career. You may be looking to work towards a professional level of membership to gain credibility and recognition. The ideal candidate will typically have responsibility for implementing HR policies and strategies and have have a need to become more business savvy in developing organisational insight into the wider business context and environment.

There are two options for completing this qualification: modular and fast-track.The fast-track programme is more intensive and for professionals who wish to gain the qualification in a shorter space of time.  The information on this page covers the modular option. Find out more about the fast-track programme.

On successful completion of the programme, you will:

• understand the requirements of, and perform as, an effective and efficient, self-managing HR professional, a collaborative member of working groups and teams, and a added-value contributor to the organisation
• understand the purpose and key objectives of the HR function in contemporary organisations, including how HR objectives are delivered, how the HR function is evaluated and the role of ethics and professionalism in HR
• understand key labour market trends and their significance for different kinds of organisations and in different country contexts
• be able to manage recruitment, selection, dismissal, redundancy and retirement activities effectively and within the expectations of the law and good practice
• be able to undertake core talent planning activities, know how to maximise employee retention, and how to contribute to the development of resourcing strategies
• understand the business context of reward and the use of reward intelligence, including key reward principles, policies and practices, and the role of line managers in promoting a performance culture in reward decision making and driving sustained organisationperformance
• understand the development and purpose of employment law, ensuring fair and lawful treatment at work, managing issues relating to pay and working time, performance, disciplinary matters and reorganisation and change
• know how to identify and scrutinise appropriate HR data sources enabling you to conduct small scale research and analyse the findings, drawing meaningful conclusions and evaluate options for change
• know how to deliver clear, business-focused reports on an HR issue.

The modular programme is made up of six face-to-face workshops:

Developing Professional Practice (1 day)

This course module is designed to give you a full understanding of the CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HR Management programme. It ensures that you are fully prepared for the certificate units and assessment, and are able to make the most of the resources and support available.

It also enables you to develop a sound understanding of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by HR professionals, as described in the CIPD HR Profession Map. It embraces the ‘thinking performer’ perspective, and covers the competencies needed when collaborating and working with others, and when functioning efficiently and effectively in an organisational context. The course module enables you to assess your own strengths, and identify a continuous professional development (CPD) plan based on the capabilities required for ethical, business-focussed and interpersonal professional conduct.

Business Issues and the Context of HR (2 days)

Human resources (HR) professionals need to understand key developments in the business, and external contexts within which HR operates. 

This course module enables you to identify and review the business and external contextual factors affecting organisations, and to assess the impacts of these factors on the HR function. It also examines HR’s role in strategy formulation and implementation. It is designed to encourage you to adopt a critical perspective of these contexts and to provide workable organisational and HR solutions to address them.

Using Information in HR (1 day)

As an HR professional, you need to be able to present a viable and realistic case for improvement based on sound work-based research and an understanding of what is considered good practice.

This course module develops your skills of research and enquiry to enable you to identify appropriate data sources that support an investigation into an area of HR practice. You'll learn to apply this data to evaluate the role of HR in business and strategy formulation and implementation, and to prepare and present a business case for improvement.

Employment Law (3 days)

This course module guides you through the entire employment journey: from recruitment, employment contracts and typical workplace issues that arise during employment, to terminating employment.

Resourcing and Talent Planning (2 days)

A fundamental part of the HR management role is concerned with the mobilisation of a workforce; taking responsibility for ensuring that the organisation is able to access the skills it needs at the time and in the places that that it needs them to drive sustained organisation performance. This involves attracting, retaining and managing the departure of staff from the organisation. Achieving this requires insight-driven strategic and operational activity. 

Reward Management (2 days)

This course module provides an understanding of how the business context drives reward strategies and policies including labour market, industrial and sector trends, regional differences and trends in pay and international comparisons, the financial drivers of the organisation, the balance sheet and the impact of reward costs. 

You’ll acquire knowledge of the perspectives, principles and policies of reward from a theoretical and strategic focus, and how to implement them in practice. You will also be able to assess the contribution of reward to business viability, and advise on the appropriateness of policies and practices to line manages to promote employee performance.

On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded the CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HR Management. The qualification is accredited by the CIPD and is equivalent to QCF level 5. Subject to you having the appropriate level of experience, successful completion of the CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HR Management means you can apply to become an Associate professional member of the CIPD.

To gain the CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Level Certificate in HR Management through the modular route you must successfully complete the six programme modules.

For each of the six modules, you need to:

• attend a face-to-face workshop
• paprticipate in an online webinar
• complete post-workshop activities
• successfully complete a written assessment up to 3,000 words.

There are no examinations for this qualification.

First-class tutors

Whether you’re doing a course, qualification, or in-house programme, the tutors you will meet have in-depth knowledge of their subject, and combine academic expertise with years of hands-on business and industry experience. They are passionate about their specialist areas, and have proven time and time again their ability to facilitate top-quality learning and provide the best possible learning experience. So, whilst theory and models matter (and you’ll get them), they are skilled in helping you ‘translate’ them into your day-to-day reality.

Take a look at the Tutors tab on this page to view biographies of just some of the tutors you’re likely to meet on the programme. Why not look them up on Google – we’re proud of the fact that many of our tutors are among the UK’s leading experts in their specialist area. 

Comprehensive additional resources – on and offline

You’ll be provided with comprehensive documentation and reference material to support you in your studies, including textbooks (where relevant), in addition to which (on most programmes) you’ll also have access to an online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The VLE includes extensive additional learning resources and links to articles, research, surveys and practical tools relevant to your studies. It also enables you to network with your fellow learners and participate in networked discussion forums facilitated by your tutor between face-to-face learning days. Plus you’ll find tips and guidance on how to do assignments, and for exam-based qualifications, revision tips, past exam papers, examiner’s reports, online exam tutorials and much more.

A blended approach

Most of our programmes take a blended approach – combining face-to-face learning with self-study and online working (via the Virtual Learning Environment). This powerful mix is one of the best ways to achieve sustained skills enhancement, and also minimises the time you need to spend away from the office.

Practical and applicable

For your learning to work, it has to be relevant to your workplace. That’s why our programmes focus on providing you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply your learning back at work straight away. You’ll explore your own needs and issues, as well as share experiences, challenges and insights with other participants and your expert tutor. We constantly update and improve our programmes, to ensure they are aligned with your changing needs and prepare you for the issues facing your profession.

You’ll be given extensive resources to help you put your learning into practice as soon as you return to work. Our qualification programmes provide you with comprehensive documentation and reference material to support you in your studies.