FAQs
All your questions about the new qualifications answered
Working in a people practice role and ready to grow? This qualification will help you gain a deeper understanding of the professional behaviours that lead to organisational success. Learn how to manage relationships, foster talent, guide strategic planning and reward performance.
This qualification is perfect for you if you enjoy developing and managing people. You’ll expand your knowledge of HR with a combination of core units and specialist areas – helping you focus on what matters most to you.
An Associate Diploma typically takes between 12-16 months to complete, depending on how and where you choose to study.
You’ll study 3 core units + 3 specialist units + the choice of 1 optional unit:
Core units:
Specialist units:
Optional units:
Once you've registered for a qualification, you'll join the CIPD as a Student Member and you will need to remain in membership for the duration of your studies.
Through membership, we will support and encourage you throughout your studies. You'll gain access to our lowest membership rate (fees are 40% reduced for Student Members) as well as extensive study resources and the opportunity to build your network through our local branches, online communities and student conferences.
When you complete your qualification, you’ll be awarded CIPD Associate Membership, and the designation “Assoc CIPD” after your name. This establishes your credibility as a professional, raises your profile and opens doors to new job opportunities.
With a CIPD qualification, you can choose from online, face to face, and blended study modes, with the option to study part-time (2-20 hours per week) or full-time (21+hours per week). This flexibility lets you fit your study around your other commitments.
All tuition, content and resources are delivered online. This can either be live, where tuition is delivered at set times with classroom interaction and online resources, or on-demand, with self serve course content and resources.
All tuition, content and resources are taught and provided to you in person, often in a classroom style setting.
Blended study is a mix of face to face tuition, with additional online interactions, content and resources.
Designed only for experienced people professionals. It combines evidence of your own relevant workplace practice, with tailored learning and assessment content, to gain your qualification. To be considered for a tailored programme, you need to demonstrate you have sufficient workplace experience to cover at least 50% of what is taught in your chosen qualification syllabus.
The Associate Diploma in People Management is Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 5 in England and Northern Ireland. Credit and Qualifications Framework (CQFW) Level 5 in Wales. Comparable to Level 7 in Ireland, Level 9 in Scotland, Level 5 European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Find out more.
All your questions about the new qualifications answered
You can still achieve a CIPD qualification if you want to start before March 2021
Gain CIPD membership without doing a qualification
For other ways to develop your knowledge and skills