CIPD L&D Qualifications

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The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the world’s largest professional body for those involved in the management and development of people.

It has 150,000 members worldwide, and more than 25,000 professionals study CIPD HR and L&D qualifications and certifications each year. It’s the gold standard for professional quality in learning and development and human resources.

CIPD L&D qualifications are highly respected by employers, meaning they'll help you get hired, get promoted, and increase your salary – all while giving you the skills you need to shine at work.

Every learner is different, so you should always talk to an experienced CIPD advisor before committing to a course, but here’s a rough guide to CIPD's three levels:

The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate is ideal if you're new to the people profession. It's designed for HR and L&D beginners.

The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma is a great choice if you have some L&D experience and want to move into a mid-level L&D management or advisory role. It's also suited to you if you’re new to L&D but have a university degree and want to begin your studies at a higher level.

The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma is for you if you have significant L&D or HR experience or an HR degree. It will give you the high-level strategic skills you need to manage the L&D function at a senior level.

If you'd like to focus on HR rather than L&D, you could study a CIPD Human Resources qualification.

Before you enrol with us, our expert CIPD advisors will talk through your experience, education, and ambitions to ensure you’re choosing the right course for you.

If you’re not ready to commit to a full CIPD qualification and would like to focus on only the essential modules, you could study one of our CIPD Core programmes. 

The CIPD Level 5 Core programme covers 3 modules:

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

It has an average completion time of 6 months and a support period of 9 months. 

The CIPD Level 7 Core programme covers 4 modules:

• Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment
• People Management and Development Strategies for Performance 
• Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen 
• Business Research in People Practice

It has an average completion time of 9 months and a support period of 12 months. 

Bear in mind that our Core programmes won’t give you a CIPD qualification, just the essential skills you need to succeed in an L&D role.

If you complete a Core programme and then decide you’d like to move onto the full CIPD Diploma at that level, you won’t need to take the whole course again – you can simply complete the extra modules and you’ll be CIPD qualified!

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