Introduction
The topic of HR qualification can be a bit of a minefield.
Researching it often brings up more questions than answers.
“What HR qualifications are out there?”
“Which one is best?”
“How much do these qualifications cost, and is it worth it?”
“What do I have to do to earn an HR qualification?”
“Do I even need any HR qualifications in the first place?”
We created this guide to help you decipher all the information out there and get to the truth of the matter.
Read on for a breakdown of whether you need a qualification, the different ones on offer, the typical costs (and if they’re worth it), and how these qualifications work.
Do you actually need HR qualifications in the first place?
We thought we’d address the elephant in the room first, because it’s a fair question.
The honest answer
Technically, you can get into HR without a qualification.
There is no legal requirement for you to have a CIPD qualification or any other HR qualification to become a Human Resources manager, or business partner, etc.
However, “not required by law” and “not expected by employers” are two very different things.
What the data shows
More and more job adverts list a CIPD qualification as essential or desirable, especially above entry level. Reports show that employer demand for the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualification has grown by 115% over a decade.
Plus, we’re increasingly seeing that HR qualifications have a direct and tangible impact on career progression and earning potential within the profession.
UK Occupation data from Lightcast™ has shown that a CIPD qualification increases the salary potential for HR admin level roles by more than £5,600.
What HR qualifications are out there?
An HR certification is a formal credential that demonstrates you’re capable of effectively managing and developing the people side of business.
Because there are different ways of studying for and earning HR qualifications at different points in your career, we’ll split this up into two sections:
1. Entry-level qualifications and study
2. Advanced qualifications and study
Entry-level HR qualifications in the UK: the three different routes
If you’ve got no previous HR experience, there are 3 main routes of entry into your first HR role (besides gaining people or process management experience elsewhere).
- Studying for an HR degree (or equivalent) at university
This is a great option for school leavers and students aspiring to work in Human Resources, but it can be difficult or unfeasible for those already working a full or part-time job looking to change career paths. - Studying for a CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate
The CIPD is the professional standard for HR. And the Level 3 qualification is where many HR professionals start. It assumes no prior knowledge or experience and provides the core skills and knowledge needed to perform in an entry-level HR role. - Applying for work-based apprenticeships
These aren’t really a formal qualification in the same way the previous two routes are, but they can be a great way to get your foot in the door of the HR profession, without paying course or tuition fees (apprenticeships are “earn while you learn”).
What is the CIPD (and what makes it the standard)?
Before we go further, we’re going to talk a lot about the CIPD (the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), so it’s worth quickly explaining what the CIPD is and why it matters.
The CIPD is the recognised professional body for HR certifications in the UK.
It’s been setting the standards for the people profession for over 100 years, and today has more than 160,000 members across 120 countries.
Here are the three reasons CIPD qualifications are held in such high regard:
1) The CIPD holds a Royal Charter
The CIPD is the only organisation that can award Chartered status to an HR professional. No university, provider or rival certificate can do that.
2) It’s the oldest HR body in the world
It traces back to 1913 and is formally recognised by the UK government as an awarding body. This makes it widely known and recognised by organisations across all industries, big and small.
3) Employers build their expectations around it
Because the CIPD sets the standard of the HR profession, most UK employers want their HR staff to be CIPD-qualified. This way, they know they’re hiring employees who have up-to-date skills, knowledge and ethical standards required to do the job competently and effectively.
That’s why it’s the qualification most people study, and most centres deliver.
When HR talks about “getting qualified,” it usually refers to the CIPD.
Now we’ve established that, let’s look at how CIPD Levels 5 and 7 can advance your HR career.
Advancing your career: CIPD Levels 3, 5 and 7
While there are several different routes into HR, the main qualification route to advance and accelerate your career is through CIPD.
CIPD qualifications sit at three different levels, and each one maps to a specific stage of your career.
Here’s how they stack up:
Qualification | Equivalent to | Best for | Entry requirements | Roles it can open |
CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate | A-level | People new to HR. | None, just good English | HR Assistant |
CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma | Foundation degree | HR professionals are ready to advance. | A Level 3, a degree, or HR experience | HR Advisor |
CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma | Master’s degree | Aspiring senior HR professionals | A Level 5 or significant management experience | Head of HR |
CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate
As mentioned, this is where most people start. It assumes no prior knowledge, with no formal entry requirements beyond a solid grasp of English.
It gives you the core skills and knowledge needed to perform a role in the people practice.
Here’s what roles it can get you:
CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma
Level 5 is the intermediate-level qualification designed to help HR professionals move into more strategic or management-focused roles.
To be able to take your CIPD Level 5, you typically need a Level 3 qualification, an HR degree or equivalent at university, or demonstrable experience of having worked in some kind of people-based role (typically 1-3 years’ experience).
Here are some of the roles you can hope to get with a CIPD Level 5:
CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma
Level 7 is the top of the CIPD ladder. It’s a much larger commitment and a more challenging qualification that’s built to prepare you for high-level senior leadership roles in HR.
You’ll need a Level 5 or serious management experience, and you must be over 21 and ready to study at a postgraduate level.
Complete it, gain the experience, and you become eligible for Chartered Membership – the credential senior roles look for.
Here are some of the job opportunities a CIPD Level 7 can unlock for you:
How useful are HR qualifications (and are they worth it)?
“People professionals with a CIPD qualification earn, on average, 12% more than those without one.”
Let’s be honest: a qualification is only “worth it” if it changes something real about your career.
Here’s the honest answer, in numbers.
HR qualifications: What they cost vs what they pay
CIPD fees vary by level, provider and how you study.
Across the market, you’ll typically pay:
– £1,300 – £2,500 for Level 3
– £1,600 – £3,600 for Level 5
– £3,000 – £7,500 for Level 7
You don’t have to pay it all up front, either. Here’s what that looks like at HRC Online, set against the salary each level typically supports:
CIPD level | What it costs (HRC Online) | Typical salary it supports |
Level 3 Foundation | From £950, or £2,450 one-off (£125/month) | £25,000 – £35,000 |
Level 5 Associate | From £1,680, or £3,450 one-off (£175/month) | £40,000 – £50,000 |
Level 7 Advanced | £6,995, or £275/month at 0% finance | £65,000 – £90,000 |
Does the cost of an HR qualification come back to you?
Put the two sides together, and the argument makes itself.
Level 3
Costs £2,450 at most. If you’re switching from a higher-paid career, an entry HR role at £25,000 – £30,000 might not be an instant raise, but the return certainly builds as you climb.
But if you’ve never earned more than £25,000, moving into a £30,000 role is a £5,000 rise, which would cover the cost of the course in around six months.
Level 5
Costs £3,450 at most. Moving from a Level 3-band role (around £30,000) to a Level 5 one (around £45,000) is a £15,000 pay rise. The qualification pays for itself in under three months of your new salary.
Level 7
Costs £6,995 maximum. The step from a Level 5 salary (around £45,000) to a Level 7 one (around £77,500) is over £32,000 a year. So again, the course clears its cost in roughly three months.
So as you can see, at every level, each CIPD qualification costs a fraction of the earning potential it can help you to reach.
What about a degree?
A UK undergraduate degree now costs £9,535 a year in tuition alone.
An HR or business degree lands you in much the same £25,000-£35,000 entry band as a Level 3 qualification. So a degree costs roughly 10 times as much as a CIPD Level 3 qualification, takes 3 full-time years, and gets you to a similar starting point.
That doesn’t make a degree a bad choice. It gives you broader academic grounding, it’s a strong fit for school leavers who want the university route, and it opens doors beyond HR.
But if you already know HR is your path, or you’re working and can’t down tools for three years, CIPD can get you to the same place faster and at much less expense.
How HR qualifications are taught and studied
The question of how to get your CIPD qualification depends on two things:
1. The level that matches the stage of your HR career
2. The study mode that best fits your lifestyle and learning preference
CIPD qualifications are coursework-based, not exam-based – meaning you work through units and submit assignments.
How you study and the pace at which you complete those assignments is up to you.
These are the main options:
Online: On-demand
You study whenever it suits you and move at your own pace, with no fixed class times.
This is the most flexible option, and the usual choice for people fitting study around a full-time job. It requires discipline for sure, but a good course provider will also offer plenty of support should you need it. So don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Online: Live
You join scheduled virtual classes that run on set dates and times.
This option gives you the structure and routine of a classroom and the chance to ask questions in real time. This might suit you if you need a timetable to hold you to account.
Blended learning
This mixes online study with occasional face-to-face sessions. It’s a halfway house between live and on-demand. You keep flexibility most of the time, with some in-person contact required.
It’s a good fit if you want independence while still valuing meeting with tutors and peers.
Classroom
This is traditional in-person teaching carried out at a study centre.
Here, you get the most direct contact with tutors and fellow learners. The downsides are that it’s the least flexible, and you’ll need to find a centre near you.
What online study actually looks like
You log in, work through a unit, and submit your assignment when you’re ready.
A good provider pairs you with a tutor or mentor, so you’re never stuck. It’s self-directed, but it shouldn’t feel like you’re flying solo.
If you like the idea of self-paced study, but feel overwhelmed by the idea of doing it independently, it’s worth looking at these study tips for getting through a CIPD qualification.
Cheat sheet: how to choose the right HR qualification for you
Still not sure where you land? Here’s the abridged version:
New to HR, no experience?
Start at Level 3, or a degree if you want the academic route.
(Alternatively, if you’re a school leaver who prefers hands-on learning to studying, you might want to see if you can find a work-based apprenticeship.)
Got some HR experience or a degree, and want to advance into management roles?
Go for a CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma.
Got demonstrate HR management experience, and want to go for senior leadership roles that require more strategic thinking?
We recommend looking at a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma.
HR qualifications recap and FAQs
Which HR certification is best?
For UK HR, the CIPD is the recognised standard, so a CIPD qualification is the safest bet.
The “best” level depends on which stage of your career you’re at. Level 3 is for beginners, Level 5 will help you advance beyond your first 1-5 years’ experience, and Level 7 helps you develop the knowledge and skills to perform high-level senior and strategic roles.
Do you need a degree to work in HR?
No. A degree can help, but it isn’t required. Many successful HR professionals enter through a CIPD Level 3, an apprenticeship or by acquiring other hands-on people experience.
How long does it take to get a CIPD qualification?
Roughly: CIPD Level 3 takes 7 to 9 months, Level 5 around 12 to 18 months, and Level 7 about 18 to 24 months. An undergraduate degree takes three years.
However, many providers offer express options which allow you to complete CIPD qualifications in as little as 3-4 months (we’re one of them).
How much do HR qualifications cost?
CIPD courses typically run from £1,300 for a Level 3 up to £7,000 for a Level 7. A university degree costs around £9,000 a year. However, many employers will help with your CIPD costs and may even fully or partially fund your HR qualification.
Can you do HR qualifications online?
Yes. Most CIPD qualifications can be studied fully online, on demand or in live virtual classes, making them easy to fit around other work and life commitments.
Why do a CIPD qualification?
Because it’s the standard that UK employers recognise. Most HR roles above entry level list it as essential or desirable, and it’s the clearest route to higher pay and senior positions.
Ready for the next step?
If you’ve decided it’s time to start earning some HR qualifications, the only question left is where to study.”
HRC Online delivers CIPD qualifications built around working professionals – flexible, on-demand, and mentor-supported from day one.
If you’re curious, have a look at how studying with HRC Online actually works first; it’s worth a read before committing to a decision.
Then, when you’re ready, explore our CIPD courses and find the right level for where you’re at now.
