Introduction
Interested in getting a CIPD qualification? You’re in the right place.
We know that for many aspiring HR professionals, managers and leaders, understanding how the CIPD qualification works can feel just as hard as studying for the qualification itself.
Which level is right for you? How long does it take? What does it actually cost, and could your employer foot the bill?
Read on to find out exactly how to get a CIPD qualification, step by step.
Including how to choose the right level qualification, how to sort out your CIPD membership, and the funding routes available to you – as well as realistic expectations on how much it’s likely to cost, and how long it’s likely to take you.
What CIPD actually means (and why it matters)
CIPD stands for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
It’s the only body in the UK that can award Chartered status in HR and L&D, and it effectively sets the standards the profession runs on.
Having a CIPD qualification on your CV proves that you meet those standards. That’s why employers rate it, and why it carries more weight than any old HR course.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s get into the guide.
How to get a CIPD qualification, step by step
Here’s how to get your CIPD qualification from start to finish in 6 clear steps.
Step 1: Choose your level
There are three different levels of CIPD qualification.
Which one you choose is entirely dependent on your previous experience with HR or people management.
NOTE: The typical durations shown here aren’t definitive. Keep reading for details on how to complete your CIPD qualification faster or more flexibly.
Level | Who it’s | Roles it | Academic equivalent | Typical duration |
Level 3 Foundation Certificate | Complete beginners with no HR background or experience. | HR Assistant | A-level | 6-12 months |
Level 5 Associate Diploma | Those with <5 years’ HR or people management experience, or a relevant degree (incl. CIPD Level 3). | HR Advisor | Undergraduate degree | 12-18 months |
Level 7 Advanced Diploma | Senior HR professionals with substantial experience (5+ years at practitioner level or above). | HR Business Partner | Postgraduate / Master’s | 18-24 months |
Not sure where you sit? Here’s a quick cheat sheet for you:
If you have no real HR or people management experience:
Start with CIPD Level 3.
If you have some HR or people management experience (<5 years) or a relevant HR qualification:
Start with CIPD Level 5.
If you have 5+ years’ HR experience at a strategic level:
Start with CIPD Level 7.
For a closer look at what each one covers, read our full breakdown of CIPD Levels 3, 5 and 7.
Step 2: Choose how to study
There are three main study routes you can use to earn your CIPD qualification.
Which is best suited to you will likely differ depending on where you’re at in your life and career, as well as the time, budget, and headspace you can commit to CIPD study.
Route 1: Online or distance learning
This is where you study at your own pace, around work and family. Support with the course is offered remotely. It’s the most flexible and most popular option.
Route 2: Blended learning:
Blended learning mixes live interactive sessions with online coursework that you complete at your own pace. It provides more flexibility than traditional classroom learning, but more structure than 100% self-study.
Route 3: Study a CIPD-accredited degree:
Many universities offer HR and Business management degrees where specific modules are mapped to the CIPD Level 3 or 5 standards. These programmes combine academic learning with practical exercises that mimic the demands of the profession and can be a highly effective way to kickstart a career in HR.
Our honest recommendation:
If you’re juggling study with a full-time job, online learning is by far the best option, and has a much higher completion rate than the alternatives.
Step 3: Sort out your CIPD student membership
This part is crucial. To study any CIPD qualification, you must be a CIPD student member for the entirety of your study– start to finish.
Your centre can only submit your results to the CIPD if your membership is active.
No membership, no qualification.
To get a membership, register directly with the CIPD – this will cost you a one-off £40 joining fee plus the annual student membership fee.
Step 4: Find an approved provider
The CIPD don’t facilitate learning and study itself. You must instead study through a CIPD-approved centre or university, and the CIPD will award you your qualification once you’re done.
There are many different approved providers in the UK, and it’s best to make your decision based on several factors, not just price.
A quick word on us:
HRC Online is a CIPD-approved provider built around bite-sized, fully online study that you can do from your phone, in sessions as short as 15-minutes at a time.
We offer unlimited tutor support, with no hidden fees. If that sounds like your kind of study, take a look at our CIPD course page and enrol as early as today.
Step 5: Complete your coursework assessments
CIPD qualifications are assessed through coursework, not exams.
You work through a set of units, submitting written assignments that apply what you’ve learned to real workplace situations. Your tutor marks them, and you build towards the full qualification one unit at a time.
It’s steady work rather than high-pressure cramming. Which is why it fits around full-time work so well.
Step 6: Get qualified
Finish all your units, and there you have it – you’re CIPD qualified!
The CIPD confirms your results, and you can officially make use of your new accolade right away: on your CV, on your LinkedIn, in your email signature, the works.
How long does it take to get a CIPD qualification?
Let’s recap on the typical ranges covered in our table above:
A typical Level 3 CIPD Qualification takes: 6-12 months
A typical Level 5 CIPD Qualification takes: 12-18 months
A typical Level 7 CIPD Qualification takes: 18-24 months
But even then, there are many exceptions to the rule.
Ultimately, how long it takes you to complete your CIPD qualification depends on:
1. The pace you work at
2. The course provider you choose
Some course providers offer express packages that allow you to complete a CIPD qualification in well under 6 months, while others offer more flexible options that let you stop and start the course as you please over 12 months and beyond.
Here are the different packages we offer at HRC Online, and how they differ in completion time:
For CIPD Level 3
Express:
Fastest option, qualify in as little as 3 months.
18-month payment plan:
Most flexible option. Study at your own pace, access all course materials for up to 18 months.
CIPD Level 5
Express:
Fastest option, qualify in as little as 4 months.
One-time payment:
Most flexible option. Access all course materials for as long as 24 months.
18-month payment plan:
Somewhere in the middle. Access all course materials for as long as 24 months.
For CIPD Level 7
With Level 7 being such an advanced qualification, there are no Express options.
A single payment = 36 months’ access
2 payments of £3497.50 = 30 months’ access
24 monthly payments of £275 = 30 months’ access
How to get a CIPD qualification: the costs involved
CIPD course fees vary by level, provider and how you study.
Here’s the typical range for each level:
– Level 3: £1,300 – £2,300
– Level 5: £1,600 – £3,600
– Level 7: £3,000 – £7,000
You don’t have to pay it all up front, either.
Here’s how our different packages at HRC Online break down:
For CIPD Level 3
Express:
Pay a £200 deposit, then £250 per month until you pass.
This means you can qualify for £950.
One-off payment:
£2,450 total, no deposit.
18-month plan:
£200 deposit, then £125 per month (£2,450 total).
For CIPD Level 5
Express:
Pay a £300 deposit, then £345 per month until you pass.
This means you can qualify for £1,680.
One-off payment:
£3,450 total, no deposit.
18-month plan:
£300 deposit, then £175/month (£3,450 total).
For CIPD Level 7
24 monthly payments:
£275/month, 0% finance
Two instalments:
£3,497.50 each
One-off payment:
£6,995
And finally, don’t forget your CIPD membership costs:
– One-off joining fee: £40
– Annual membership costs: £142 a year.
How to fund your CIPD qualification
Funding is likely to be the deciding factor in whether you pursue a CIPD qualification.
The biggest lever for funding? Getting your employer to help.
Plenty of employers fund CIPD study. Some cover the full cost, others contribute a partial sum, and others may fund it on meeting other conditions in your role (e.g. staying with them for a specific length of time).
Whatever the situation, it’s always worth asking your employer for funding.
“I want to ask for CIPD funding, but I don’t know how”
We have detailed walkthroughs to help you handle these conversations with your employer.
Check out our guide on getting your employer to cover CIPD costs.
No employer backing? You may still qualify for financial support, such as a CIPD Trust bursary.
How to get a CIPD qualification: Key takeaways
So that’s how to get a CIPD qualification, start to finish.
Here are the key steps for you again:
1. Choose your qualification level based on your experience
2. Decide how you’ll study (online, blended, or a CIPD-accredited degree).
3. Register for CIPD membership; this must be active for the entirety of your study.
4. Pick a CIPD-approved provider
5. Work through your coursework units at your own pace
6. Submit your final assessments to get qualified.
And don’t forget:
Budget for the course itself
Fees run from around £1,300 to £7,000, depending on level. Some providers will allow you to spread the costs using payment plans.
Ask your employer about funding
Many will happily cover part if not all of the cost, and if they won’t, there are bursaries and schemes you can apply for.
Ready to get started?
So now you know how to get a CIPD qualification, your next step should be determining which level of qualification is best suited to your current situation.
Scroll back through this blog, assess which qualification is for you based on the criteria provided, and look at our CIPD course options for details on how to enrol (as early as today!).
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us using the live chat function on our website or fill out this form.
