CIPD Level 5Associate Diploma in People Management

The CIPD Profession Map offers a key framework for HR and L&D professionals to follow, providing a clear set of competencies, behaviours, and knowledge required to succeed in the people profession.

Developed by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), it serves as a guide for HR and L&D professionals at every stage of their career, from entry-level to senior strategic roles.

The Profession Map outlines the essential HR skills and L&D functions, ensuring that professionals are equipped to drive organisational success. It covers 10 professional areas, including employee engagement, talent management, and organisational development, and breaks down the key behaviours and values required for success in the industry.

By aligning your learning with the CIPD Profession Map, you can ensure that your qualifications and career development are in line with industry best practices and what employers are looking for.

Whether you’re starting out in HR or advancing to a senior role, the CIPD Profession Map ensures you have the right knowledge, behaviours, and skills to thrive.

At ICS Learn, our online CIPD qualifications are designed to give you with the practical skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the people profession – aligning with the CIPD Profession Map and preparing you for real-world success.

At ICS Learn, we offer two flexible HR training options designed to fit around your life – whether you prefer complete independence or a structured learning experience.

• Live Online Learning: Get the flexibility of online learning with a little bit of added structure. Attend scheduled virtual workshops led by our expert tutors, engage with like-minded peers, and manage your own study schedule in between. We currently offer KDHA-approved CIPD qualifications at Level 3 and 5 for this study method. 
• On Demand Learning: Study at your own pace with self-guided online course materials. Enjoy the freedom of having full control over how you learn, with personalised tutor support whenever you need it.

For those who thrive in a more interactive, classroom-style environment, Live Online mirrors a traditional setting, offering real-time guidance and collaboration with the convenience of learning from anywhere.

No matter which option you choose, you’ll gain the skills you need for the career you want. 

No, you don’t need a CIPD Level 3 qualification to enrol on a flexible, online CIPD Level 5 HR course. However, we do strongly recommend that you have some HR experience or an interest in people management. 

The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management is a step up from the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice, offering a more in-depth, strategic focus on HR management. 

The CIPD Level 3 course is designed for beginners or those with little to no HR experience. It covers the fundamentals of HR, including recruitment, employment law, and professional behaviours, and it's ideal for those starting their HR career.

The CIPD Level 5 course is aimed at HR professionals looking to progress into HR management roles. It offers an in-depth understanding of HR areas like talent management, organisational performance, and employee engagement, preparing you for more strategic decision-making.

If you’re looking to move into a mid-level HR role, gain a deeper understanding of people management, or boost your career prospects, the CIPD Level 5 Diploma is the ideal next step! 

Not quite! Since the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management is an undergraduate-level course, you'll usually need one of the following to be eligible to study the qualification:

• Some previous professional experience working in HR
• Experience performing HR duties in a non-HR role (for example, as a manager)
• A degree (any subject) and a genuine interest in studying HR at a more advanced level than the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate

As well as meeting any of the above criteria, you'll need to be able to demonstrate that you can speak and write in English to a high level. 

If English is your second language, we recommend that you have an IELTS 6.0/TOEFL 79/Cambridge Grade C or equivalent. We're happy to review your case on an individual basis if you're unsure though. 

If you have questions or need more information, contact one of our course advisors today. 

The CIPD Level 5 qualification is not equivalent to an HR degree, but it's considered to be equivalent to an undergraduate qualification in terms of difficulty as it's academically challenging and requires critical thinking.

This makes the CIPD Associate Diploma an excellent option for those looking to advance their HR career without committing to a full degree programme!

When studying for a CIPD Level 5 HR Diploma, you'll study three specialist (pathway) units, which include:

• Employment Relationship Management 
• Talent Management and Workforce Planning 
• Reward for Performance and Contribution

You'll also choose one elective module to study from the following list: 

• Specialist Employment Law*
• Advances in Digital Learning and Development*
• Learning and Development Essentials* 
• People Management in an International Context*
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion*
• Leadership and Management Development*
• Wellbeing at Work

We recommend choosing your elective modules based on an area of human resources that you have a professional interest in. For more information on what you'll learn, download your FREE CIPD course guide today. 

*Please note these modules are only available for our On Demand learning option. 

Yes! Our online CIPD qualifications are globally recognised and highly valued by employers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and across the Middle East.

Many companies in the region, including multinational corporations and government organisations, look for HR professionals with CIPD accreditation to ensure their teams meet international HR standards.

With a CIPD Level 5 course, you’ll be qualified with the knowledge and skills you need for mid-level HR roles, including:

• HR Business Partner
• HR Manager
• Talent Acquisition Specialist
• Employee Relations Manager
• People & Culture Manager

Yes, you need to be a CIPD member for the duration of your studies.

We can’t submit your assignments for moderation, give you assessment grades, or award your qualification unless you’re an active CIPD member, so you must register before submitting your first assignment.

We’ll give you full details of how to join as a Student Member after you enrol. You’ll pay an annual Student Membership fee, and our CIPD advisors can provide you with the most up-to-date costs.

'Assoc CIPD' stands for Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. 

This is a professional CIPD membership level awarded to those who have completed a CIPD Level 5 qualification in People Management or Organisational Learning & Development. 

It’s a recognised credential that enhances your professional credibility and career prospects, helping you stand out to employers and progress into mid-level roles such as HR Manager, L&D Manager, or People Partner.

As an Assoc CIPD, you demonstrate a strong foundation in HR or L&D, showcasing your ability to apply people management strategies effectively in the workplace. You can even use it on your CV after your name! 

When you complete your course, you’ll be eligible to become an Associate Member of the most prestigious HR and L&D organisation in the world, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

You’ll join a community of 160,000 ambitious, forward-thinking professionals across 120 countries, and have exclusive access to a variety of benefits, including: 

• HR industry insights
• Useful HR tools and advice
• Budget-friendly discounts on events and merch
• Career guidance from prominent HR and L&D experts

If you’re not ready to commit to the full qualification and would like to focus on only the essential modules of this course, you could study our CIPD Level 5 Core programme.

It covers 3 modules:

• Organisational Performance and Culture in Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Professional Behaviours and Valuing People

The programme has an average completion time of 6 months and a support period of 9 months. It costs £1,529 which can be paid in interest-free monthly instalments.

Bear in mind that the Core programme won’t give you a CIPD qualification. You'll gain only the basic skills you need for mid-level HR roles.

However, if you complete the programme and then decide you’d like to move on to the full CIPD Level 5 Diploma, you won’t need to take the whole course again! You can simply complete the extra 4 modules and become CIPD-qualified!

For more information on our CIPD Core programmes, get in touch with our course advisors today.

Yes, you can! If you enrol on our CIPD fast-track programme, you'll cover the same content on an accelerated timeline of 10 months, and you'll be expected to study for 8 to 10 hours each week. This includes attending classes, reading, working through content and writing assessments.  

This type of accelerated study may be ideal for students who are balancing study with work or family commitments, or those achieving a qualification for a performance review or appraisal. 

For more information on our CIPD fast-track programmes, get in touch with our course advisors by webchat, email or phone.

As an ICS Learn student, you'll always have the support you need to succeed. From the moment you enrol, you'll gain access to:

• Our all-in-one virtual learning platform, mystudyspace
• Access to all of your interactive online course materials
• Online Induction Programme and AI-led videos
• FREE online study planners 
• Personalised tutor support
• Access to our Resource Library, full of tools, tips and guidance
• Live biannual Employment Law updates to keep you informed
• Our friendly Student Services team to help you with non-academic questions

You'll also have lifetime access to our Career Hub, which offers you thousands of resources to help you impress employers, master critical business skills, and build your dream career. This includes:

• A CV and cover letter builder
• An interview simulator
• An elevator pitch builder
• Career and work psychology assessments
• In-depth industry and employer profiles
• 350+ employer films with practical advice from hiring managers
• 1000+ short courses, articles and videos on key career skills like negotiating a raise and leading a team

You can take a sneak peek at the Career Hub and sign up for free today.

At ICS Learn, we make learning simple, flexible and affordable. 

If you’re funding the course yourself, our flexible 0% payment plans allow you to spread the cost with interest-free* monthly instalments.

Plus, with our price match guarantee, we’ll match any provider’s price for a like-for-like CIPD course, so you’ll always get the best deal with us.

If your employer is funding all or part of your course, we can invoice them directly for your course fees – just let your course advisor know and we’ll arrange everything.

We also accept funding through ELCAS for this course. If you’re an Armed Forces member looking to use the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme, speak to our course advisors for more details.

Your payments will be charged in GBP. The monthly payments listed in your local currency are an estimate based on the current exchange rate from xe.com.

This means that if you set up a monthly payment plan, the amount you’ll pay each month in your local currency may vary based on the current exchange rate.

Your bank may use a different exchange rate from the one listed here, or charge a fee for converting your payments into GBP; we’d advise that you speak to your bank directly for more details.

Right away! When you enrol, you’ll be able to log in to your course and get started within an hour.

Please keep in mind that while our On Demand study option allows you to work through the course at your own pace, with Live Online you'll be expected to attend scheduled online workshops per unit of study.  

Enrol online or get in touch with our CIPD advisors on 0333 920 6013.

They’ll talk through your experience, education and ambitions to make sure you’re choosing the right course, then get you enrolled with an interest-free payment plan. You can also verify that your course is budget-friendly when you use our handy affordability calculator. 

If you have any disabilities which you think might affect your studies or assessments, please tell your Course Advisor before you enrol so we can advise you on whether reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs.