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 CIPD qualifications to choose from, from Foundation level to Advanced:

• Foundation Certificate in People Practice 
• Associate Diploma in People Management 
• Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development 
• Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management 
• Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development 

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.

You can also choose to study a CIPD accredited programme. These are Degree, Masters or other programmes awarded by a University, accredited by the CIPD and aligned to the Profession Map. With hundreds of courses offered at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate level, these programmes suit a range of needs - whether you are breaking into the profession or want to take your career in HR to the next level.

You can compare qualification types in more detail by clicking here.

What do I gain?

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

Combined with membership, a qualification or accredited programme 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 Centre that offers your preferred qualification and study mode using our centre finder tool.

Overview of CIPD qualifications

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.