Am I eligible for APCL?
Only relevant postgraduate diplomas or Masters-level degrees achieved within the last ten years will be considered. However, you may find qualifications that are more than five years old more difficult to match, especially in areas of constant change and development such as employment law.
International qualifications can be used for APCL if they’re equivalent to a UK postgraduate-level qualification. If you’re applying for modules that make specific reference to legislation, for example, employment law, your qualification must have covered UK law.
PhDs will also be considered for APCL providing they’re based on an area of people management and development. Other research based qualifications, MBA’s, undergraduate degrees and NVQs/SVQs will not covered for APCL.
MBA qualifications
If you've been awarded an MBA in the last ten years you can join us immediately as a Licentiate member. To do this you'll need to go through the direct admissions for approved qualifications route.
Achieving Licentiate membership through your MBA will also mean that you'll get an exemption from the Leadership and Management field of our Professional Development Scheme (PDS). This means that you won’t have to study or sit the national examinations for this field. Your exemption will last for ten years or until you complete the remaining three fields of the PDS.
If you’re awarded an exemption against Leadership and Management, you’ll only be able to apply for exemption for another two modules through the APCL route.
Undergraduate qualifications
Undergraduate qualifications will not be considered for advanced standing, but they can be used to apply for the Centres Advanced Standing Examination (CASE). Case is a two-hour written examination and if you successfully pass it you'll be given an exemption from the Leadership and Management field and awarded Licentiate membership.
International qualifications
International qualifications will be considered if they are equivalent to a UK postgraduate-level qualification. If you're applying for modules that make specific reference to legislation, for example, Employment Law, your qualification must have covered UK law.
To be awarded an exemption(s) through the APCL route you'll need to demonstrate that your qualification meets our Professional Standards.
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