Upgrade to Chartered Member

Get recognition for your work and enhance your career prospects

Chartered Member
Accreditation

Who's eligible

You could be eligible if you are currently an Associate Member who successfully completed the CIPD Advanced Diploma or its past equivalent. You also need to be able to demonstrate that you have a minimum of one year's experience working at Chartered Member grade.

If you're not sure what qualification you hold, please call our Customer Services team on +44 (0)208 612 6208.

Find out if you’re ready to upgrade, complete the online Pre-Assessment.

What we're looking for

Upgrading to Chartered Member could be for you if...

  • you have experience working at Chartered Member level for a minimum of one year within the last five years
  • you are an experienced people professional who is working operationally while thinking strategically
  • you deliver people solutions that drive change within organisations and/or the profession
  • you’ll lead the thinking in your area of people practice, using in-depth knowledge of your organisation to inform people strategy
  • you’ll be aware of the wider impact of your work on other people approaches in your organisation, and its impact on business practices and goals
  • you’ll influence and collaborate with a wide range of people including your immediate colleagues, other people professionals and stakeholders across your organisation
  • you can provide insight and perspective on relevant business trends outside the organisation, and in the people profession as a whole
  • you’ll evaluate, question and assess information from a range of sources to make evidence-based judgements and decisions

The Chartered Member grade is aligned with the corresponding level in the new Profession Map. If you are interested in upgrading to Chartered Member, use the membership standards to determine if this is the right membership grade for you.

Inspire others

Why upgrade

Upgrading your membership is rewarding, straightforward and can take as little as 60 minutes of your time.

  • Get recognition for your achievements and for working at Chartered Member grade.
  • Take your career further with the designation Chartered MCIPD.
  • Build your professional network and raise your profile with fellow senior professionals in the CIPD community.

Members' upgrading stories

'I've worked in Human Resources for over 25 years and this was an accessible way for me to validate the knowledge and experience I've gained over the years.'

Maxine Dempster, Chartered MCIPD
Head of Human Resources, Kenneth Green Associates

Read Maxine's story

'Upgrading helped me to get through lockdown. I could focus on something positive. Now I feel like I'm back in the fold – it is good to feel part of something bigger even if you are a standalone HR consultant.'

Nikki von Bülow, Chartered MCIPD
Independent HR Consultant & Accredited Mediator

Read Nikki's story

What's involved

Your steps to upgrading to Chartered Member:

Step 1 - Online Pre-Assessment

Find out if you’re ready to upgrade your membership, based on your current level of experience. It’s free, flexible and quick with our online Pre-Assessment Tool.

  • Gives you an immediate result
  • Takes around 10 minutes to complete
  • Can help you identify areas for development

Take the Pre-Assessment today

Step 2 - Upgrade assessment

Once you’ve completed the online Pre-Assessment and received confirmation of your eligibility to upgrade, the next step is to prepare for your assessment. This will be your opportunity to showcase your current people experience with one of our experienced CIPD assessors. You can choose to complete either a telephone or form-based assessment.

Why choose to upgrade via telephone assessment?

  • A range of flexible times
  • Takes around 60 minutes
  • Receive your result in 10 working days

'This is a brilliant service provided by the CIPD. The only reason I actually managed to do this is due to the phone assessment. Otherwise I wouldn't have found the time to do it.'
Hema Patel, Chartered MCIPD

How to apply

  1. Read the candidate guide for telephone assessment.

  2. Book your assessment and pay: If you’ve completed the online Pre-Assessment and received confirmation that you’re eligible to upgrade, please call our Customer Services team on +44 (0)208 612 6208 to book a date and time convenient for you. There’s a non-refundable assessment fee which must be paid by credit or debit card when you book.

  3. Send your CV: You’ll need to submit an up-to-date copy of your CV or career summary to memupgrading@cipd.co.uk at least seven working days before the date your assessment is taking place.

  4. Request feedback: You’ll be required to provide feedback from your line manager or client seven working days before your assessment. We understand it may take more time to get this ready so you can still go ahead with your assessment but be advised that your result might be delayed.

  5. Read the terms and conditions of the upgrading telephone assessment. You will need to agree to these before your assessment.

  6. Undertake the assessment: During your assessment you will be asked to talk about your experience with one of our experienced assessors.

  7. Receive the outcome: You’ll receive notification of the outcome within 10 working days. Once your membership grade has been confirmed, your membership certificate will be sent to you. If your certificate hasn’t arrived after six weeks, please contact our Customer Services team on +44 (0)20 8612 6242, or find out about other sustainable ways to demonstrate your CIPD membership.

Guidance and forms for telephone assessment

PDF download

Candidate guide (telephone upgrade assessment)

(317 KB)
PDF download

Colleague feedback (Chartered Member)

(534 KB)
PDF download

Terms and conditions (telephone upgrade assessment)

(899 KB)

Why choose to upgrade via form-based assessment?

  • No deadlines - work at your own pace
  • Receive your result in six to eight weeks

Recently completed a CIPD Advanced Diploma? Your first upgrade using form-based assessment to Chartered Member is FREE, if submitted within a year of becoming an Associate Member. 

How to apply

  1. Read the candidate guide for form-based assessment.

  2. Read and agree to the terms and conditions of the upgrading form-based assessment.

  3. Request feedback: Ask one colleague (for example, line manager, senior customer or client) to support your application.

  4. Email the application and colleague feedback forms with a copy of your current CV to memupgrading@cipd.co.uk. Please note that we don't accept postal applications or handwritten applications.

  5. Pay: Our Customer Services team will contact you for payment.

  6. Receive the outcome: You’ll receive notification of the outcome within six to eight weeks. Once your membership grade has been confirmed, your membership certificate will be sent to you. If your certificate hasn’t arrived after six weeks, please contact our Customer Services team on +44 (0)20 8612 6242, or find out about other sustainable ways to demonstrate your CIPD membership.

Guidance and application forms for form-based assessment

PDF download

Candidate guide (form-based upgrade assessment)

(200 KB)
PDF download

Chartered Member Application Form

(522 KB)
PDF download

Colleague feedback (Chartered Member)

(534 KB)
PDF download

Terms and conditions (form-based upgrade assessment)

(94 KB)
Pay book

How much does it cost

The assessment fee to upgrade depends on the method you have selected:

  • Telephone assessment: £120
  • Form-based assessment: £60

The assessment fee is non-refundable.

Once you've upgraded successfully, you'll start paying the Chartered Member fee the next time you renew your membership.

Associate Members, who've completed their CIPD Advanced Diploma within the last year, are eligible for one free upgrade through form-based assessment only.

Upgrading not for you?

If upgrading is not right for you, we have other routes available to achieve Chartered Membership.

Contact us about upgrading today

Call +44 (0)20 8612 6208

Or

Call +44 (0)20 8612 6208 Contact us
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