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The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
 
 
 
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What is the CIPD Professional Development Scheme (PDS)?

The PDS is a postgraduate programme based on the CIPD's Professional Standards at practitioner level. These cover the whole spectrum of people management and development.

Based on these standards and the concept of the thinking performer, the aim of the CIPD Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel and Development, and other CIPD-approved postgraduate qualifications, is to prepare individuals for effective and efficient performance in a variety of professional roles in people management and development.

Postgraduate-level qualifications and membership

Completing all four fields of a postgraduate-level qualification will lead to Graduate membership.

Completing a postgraduate-level qualification that covers at least one field will lead to Licentiate membership.

Who’s eligible for the PDS?

This qualification is for individuals who want to advance their career in people management and development and who aspire to CIPD chartered membership.
This qualification will give you NQF Qualification level 7 and Graduate membership

What does PDS cover?

A postgraduate diploma covers four vital fields that professionals require in order to meet the needs of their organisations, these fields are:

  • Leadership and Management
  • People Management and Development
  • Specialist and Generalist Personnel and Development (electives)
  • Applied Personnel and Development.

Each of the four fields contains several subjects. For the Specialist and Generalist Personnel and Development field you are able to choose the subjects you will study from a list.

How long does it take to complete?

A postgraduate diploma involves a total of 1,200 hours study.

What should I do next?

CIPD Postgraduate-level qualifications are available through both internally and nationally assessed providers:

Internally assessed providers - have degree awarding powers, which are approved against part or all of the PDS, e.g. Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificates.

Nationally assessed providers - offer CIPD awarded qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), e.g. CIPD awarded Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificates.