Connect to the right qualification for you

In today’s ever-changing world, knowledge is power.

Whatever stage you’re at in your career, a CIPD qualification connects you with your peers and gives you the strategies you need to increase your knowledge and skills to boost your career and make an impact. On successful completion of any CIPD qualification, you’ll become a member of the CIPD.

What qualifications are available?

There are five qualifications to choose from, from Foundation level to Advanced:

CIPD qualifications give you the best of both worlds: a core curriculum based on the international standard for people practitioners, along with the freedom to tailor whatever you study to your specific goals.

What do I gain?

CIPD qualifications are recognised by employers as a global standard of excellence. Your qualification also gives you CIPD membership, connecting you to a deeply informed and influential network of people professionals worldwide – and a path to life-long learning.

A CIPD qualification and membership will:

  • give you the knowledge and skills you need to excel at what you do
  • strengthen your reputation at work and the connections with the people you work with
  • connect you to the professional future you’ve always dreamed of
  • connect you to a large network of other people professionals
  • connect you to the latest developments in the world of work.

How do I get started?

First of all, identify your chosen qualification from the options below. Then explore the information to make sure it’s right for your current level and your future ambitions.

Or, if you already know which qualification you want to study, find a Study Centre that offers your preferred qualification and study mode using our centre finder tool.

Find a study centre

Overview of CIPD qualifications

Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Ready to embark on a career as a people professional? This qualification will build your knowledge, expertise and confidence to have an immediate impact at work. Real-life scenarios will fully prepare you for the world of work. On successful completion, you’ll get Foundation Membership of the CIPD.

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Associate Diploma in People Management

Working in a people practice role but ready to grow? This evidence-based qualification will help you gain a deeper understanding of the professional behaviours that lead to organisational success. Learn how to manage employment relations, foster talent, guide strategic workforce planning and build reward schemes that drive performance and contribute to business success. On successful completion, you’ll get Associate Membership of the CIPD.

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Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development

Ready to shape your organisation’s working environment? With this evidence-based qualification you can learn to measure your company’s performance and culture, plan different forms of learning across your organisation and boost people’s confidence to supercharge their development. On successful completion, you’ll get Associate Membership of the CIPD.

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Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management

Are you ready to develop your personal effectiveness and business acumen? Based on the latest business research in people practice, this qualification will help you learn how to manage employment relations, recruit and nurture talent to sustain success – and reward and motivate the superstars in your workforce. On successful completion, you’ll get Associate Membership of the CIPD.

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Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development

Are you ready to lead your workforce forward? Based on the latest real-world research, this qualification will give you the knowledge and skills you need to design your organisation for optimum success, develop your leaders and managers – and create a learning culture to accelerate people’s careers. On successful completion, you’ll get Associate Membership of the CIPD.

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How are CIPD qualifications impacted by Brexit?

Post Brexit we're unable to ensure blanket acceptance or automatic recognition of our qualifications in EU27, but we were also unable to do this from within the EU. Automatic recognition relates to licence to practise qualifications where common minimum training conditions exist and this is not relevant to our qualifications. An individual with a CIPD qualification who wishes to work in Europe is required to apply for recognition/comparability within the country concerned and also to understand individual employer requirements.

What we will continue to do, however, is provide comparisons to the European Qualifications Framework which is a common European reference framework which links countries' qualification systems together.

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