Introduction
If you’ve got real HR or leadership experience under your belt and you’re setting your sights on a CIPD Level 7, you might be wondering whether a CIPD Level 5 qualification is necessary.
It’s a fair question – and the truth of whether you can do CIPD Level 7 without Level 5 has a clearer answer than most course providers will give you.
By the end of this blog, you will have a full understanding of:
- The different CIPD qualifications and their entry requirements
- What does going straight into a CIPD Level 7 qualification really demand of you
- Which CIPD qualification is the right one for you, thanks to our readiness checker.
The short answer
So, can you go straight to CIPD Level 7 without having done CIPD Level 5?
The short answer is yes, you can.
There is no formal requirement to complete a CIPD Level 5 qualification before you can study your CIPD Level 7, and the CIPD has no official rules stating you cannot go straight to a CIPD Level 7 if you wish.
Many HR professionals and senior leaders with sufficient background experience can start immediately at Level 7 without needing to take the Level 3 or Level 5 qualifications.
The caveat: the CIPD do not decide
While the CIPD have no official rules on which qualification you have to take in what order, what actually decides whether you have the right skills and experience to enrol on a Level 7 qualification is the course provider, not the CIPD.
You are ultimately free to apply to whichever CIPD qualification you please, but whether you get accepted onto that course is down to the discretion of the course provider.
We cannot force you to take one CIPD qualification over another, but we can choose whether to accept or decline you based on whether we believe your skills and experience make you well-suited to the course.
For example, if someone with no HR, leadership or strategic management experience applied for the Level 7 course, we would likely decline their application, because the qualification would not be appropriate for their level of skills and experience – we could advise on a more suitable qualification, but we could not force that person to take the Level 5.
The different CIPD levels and what they mean: a recap
You probably know all about the different CIPD levels already, but let’s recap on the difference between CIPD Level 5 and 7 so you can be 100% sure of where Level 7 sits (we’ve also thrown in Level 3 for good measure).
Level 3: Foundation Certificate
- The entry level is roughly equivalent to A Levels.
- No prior experience or qualifications needed to start.
- Best suited to people beginning a career in HR or L&D, or working in a support role.
- Takes around 6 to 9 months of part-time study.
Level 5: Associate Diploma
- The intermediate level, equivalent to a foundation degree.
- Built for HR or L&D professionals moving into managerial and advisory roles.
- Takes around 8 to 10 months of part-time study.
Level 7: Advanced Diploma
- The most advanced level, equivalent to a postgraduate or master’s degree.
- Designed for senior practitioners and anyone shaping people strategy across an organisation.
- The main academic route towards Chartered Membership (MCIPD)
- Takes around 19 to 26 months of part-time study.
Who can do CIPD Level 7?
The CIPD Level 7 qualification is different to Levels 3 and 5, both in how it is conducted and in who it is specifically designed for.
The CIPD Level 7 qualification is aimed at:
- Experienced HR professionals
- Senior practitioners
People moving into strategic leadership roles.The CIPD Level 7 will most likely be a logical next step for you if you are currently in one of the following roles, looking to expand your influence and responsibilities:
- HR Manager
- Business Partner
- Learning & Development Specialist
Other leaders outside HR
The CIPD Level 7 is also suited to senior leaders from outside HR, i.e., those who run a business or lead a team and want to take ownership of their own people strategy, rather than outsource it to a 3rd-party provider or a dedicated department.
From a general management perspective, studying for a senior HR qualification simply to become a more effective leader is a perfectly good reason to do so.
What all these roles have in common
Across all these different roles suited to a CIPD Level 7 qualification, what they have in common is considerable strategic experience – whether that’s in HR, or in a leadership or management role.
Level 7 sits at the same academic level as a master’s degree, so it also helps if you have the confidence to handle that level of independent study alongside your other life commitments.
Should you skip Level 5 and start your CIPD Level 7?
Not being required to study a CIPD Level 5 qualification and actually being ready to study a CIPD Level 7 qualification are two different things.
The CIPD Level 7 is a much more challenging and demanding qualification that requires you to develop high-level strategic thinking grounded in an in-depth, holistic understanding of HR.
In short, it is not the kind of course you want to be underprepared for, so it’s worth weighing things up properly and being honest with yourself before you commit to the right HR qualification for you.
You are likely ready for Level 7 if:
You can commit to 19 to 26 months of part-time study
You work at a strategic/senior level, shaping decisions rather than just carrying them out
You are comfortable with extensive research, writing, and building a detailed argument from evidence
You have studied at degree level before or feel confident that you can handle that level of independent study (our CIPD study tips are a great confidence booster).
Level 5 might serve you better if:
- Your experience is mostly operational rather than strategic.
- You have not written long-form academic work in years and would rather build up to it
- You want a firmer grounding in core HR practices before delving into strategy
- You have just completed a CIPD Level 3 and want to progress from there
What to do if you’re on the fence
If you feel ready in some ways but not in others, and are still not 100% sure whether a CIPD Level 7 qualification is right for you, it is worth looking at which course providers offer free trials or temporary access to courses.
This is a great option if, say, your course provider deems you suitable to enrol on a CIPD Level 7 course based on your professional experience and background, but you are still unsure whether you can manage the level of study and research required.
At HRC, we offer 14 days’ free access to the first unit of our CIPD Level 7 course, so you can get a feel for the course and whether it is right for you before you fully commit.
Or if you want to see whether a CIPD Level 5 qualification might be more appropriate for you, you can always take a look at the full course details.
Key takeaways
- Yes, you can do CIPD Level 7 without Level 5
The CIPD has no rule forcing you to work through the levels in order.
2. Your provider makes the call, not the CIPD
A centre’s recommendation is a preference it can’t enforce, though it can still choose whether to accept you.
3. Readiness matters more than the rules
Strategic experience and the confidence to study at a master’s level count for far more than a Level 5 certificate.
4. The main thing you need: strategic experience
Different professionals take the CIPD Level 7 for different reasons, but the one thing they all have in common is considerable strategic experience, i.e. they help to shape strategic organisational decisions, rather than just execute them.
5. Still on the fence? You can try before you commit
Many course providers (*ahem, like us at HRC) offer a free trial of the CIPD Level 7. If you are still unsure if the course is right for you, this is a way to find out at no cost and with no risk.
Is Level 7 the right next step?
If you feel sure that the CIPD Level 7 is the next move for you, head to our course page to learn more about the full qualification, what’s involved, and the different flexible options you can choose from.
