Associate Member
For people professionals whose work is operational with some complexity: you’re beginning to contribute your thinking to people issues and solutions
Show you have business impact
Associate Membership demonstrates you have the people skills to deliver on today’s business needs. You’re sought-after for your experience, trusted for your up-to-date knowledge, and respected for your professional commitment to good practice.
Your Assoc CIPD designation helps to raise your profile within the people profession and can open the door to new job opportunities. It establishes your credibility and knowledge as a professional.
Working at Associate Member grade means you’re delivering an operational impact with increasing complexity. You’re using your knowledge to address and react to business needs, and you actively influence the day-to-day people approach in your organisation.
This grade could be for you if…
- you have experience working at Associate Member level for a minimum of one year within the last five years
- you’re delivering ‘hands-on’ operational work with some complexity that supports wider business needs
- you’re contributing to the thinking and development of people solutions for your organisation
- you’re using your experience and expertise to implement HR and L&D solutions such as people projects, or advising on practice and policy
- you’re collaborating with, and influencing, immediate stakeholders such as professional colleagues or customers
- you’re using evidence and information from different sources to inform your decisions and actions
- you’re building an understanding of your organisation and the complexity of its people issues
- you’re using your knowledge of people practices to evaluate how your work impacts people and the organisation
When you’re an Associate Member, you can use the designation Assoc CIPD after your name.
The Associate Member grade is aligned with the corresponding level in the Profession Map. If you are interested in becoming an Associate Member via Experience Assessment, use the membership standards to determine if this is the right membership grade for you.
What people say about being an Associate Member
The CIPD has completely transformed my career and it's helped to get me to where I am now as an eLearning manager.
Dipesh Mistry
Assoc CIPD, eLearning Manager
For me being recognised as a member of the CIPD gives me credibility. It reassures the Exec team and the board that I know what I am doing.
Rebecca Watts, Assoc CIPD
HR and L&D Project Manager for Health Education England
Member benefits to support you
A wealth of business insight, essential knowledge and expert legal advice ensures you’re pro-active, insightful and confident in your role. You can make professional connections, expand your learning and career opportunities, plus save on books, events, training courses and more. Take a look at some key benefits for Associate Members.
Online communities
Knowledge hub
Employment law
Wellbeing helpline
How to become an Associate Member
There are two ways:
Study a qualification
You’ll become an Associate Member at the end of your studies either if you complete one of our new Diploma qualifications or a pre-2021 Certificate or Diploma qualification at any level
Complete Experience Assessment
Our non-study route into membership allows you to use your current experience when applying for membership
What’s the best route for you?
Use our interactive tools to find the best route into membership for you. If you’re already a member, find the best route for upgrading your membership.
If you were previously in membership, find out how to come back to ensure your expertise is professionally recognised and trusted.
Associate Member fees
The total cost of membership is dependent on whether you are becoming a member for the first time, renewing your membership, re-joining, or upgrading to a different grade of membership or coming into membership via the Experience Assessment route.
Associate Member fee for up to 12 months* (from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022): £163.
You can pay by card or through direct debit instalments, and you’ll need to renew your membership annually on 1 July. We’ll send you renewal information well before the due date to remind you how much is due.
Fees for our routes to becoming an Associate Member:
| Experience Assessment route | Fee |
|---|---|
| One-off assessment fee | £1,996 |
| Joining fee | £40 |
| 12-month Associate Member fee* | £163 |
| Total | £2,199 |
The assessment fee is non-refundable.
| Study a qualification route | Fee |
|---|---|
| Qualification fee | Set by individual study centres |
| Joining fee | £40 |
| 12-month Student Member fee* | £98 |
| Total | Qualification fee and £138 |
Once you finish your qualification, you’ll start paying the Associate Member fee at your next renewal on 1 July.
If you’ve already finished a CIPD accredited qualification, call us +44 (0)20 8612 6208 to find out whether you can become an Associate Member.
| Re-joining | Fee |
|---|---|
| Re-joining fee | £40 |
| 12-month Associate Member fee* | £163 |
| Total | £203 |
*Depending on when you join in the year, we offer different membership fee options.
Not sure if Associate Member is right for you?
Foundation Member
For people professionals who apply their knowledge to deliver strong tactical support
Chartered Member
For people professionals who work strategically and operationally with some complexity. You’re actively driving and managing change to meet your organisation’s needs
You may also be interested in
- Our guide to becoming a CIPD member
- Membership terms and conditions
- Our membership agreement with AHRI - the Australian Human Resources Institute
- All Associate Members need to be committed to their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and comply with our Code of Professional Conduct
Ask for advice about becoming an Associate Member
Call +44 (0)20 8612 6208
Or