18 December 2025 - 4 min read
Thinking about a career in HR or learning and development (L&D)? A CIPD qualification can help you get there faster. Whether you're just starting out or ready to take the next step in your career, CIPD qualifications offer globally recognised training that helps you build essential skills, gain professional credibility, and boost your earning potential.
From foundational courses to advanced diplomas, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about CIPD qualifications, memberships, costs, and study options so you can choose the right path for your professional development.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the leading professional body for Human Resources (HR) and Learning and Development (L&D) professionals. With over 160,000 members across the world, CIPD plays a vital role in shaping the future of the people profession by setting industry standards and supporting career development at every stage.
Founded in 1913, the CIPD is a globally respected organisation that offers CIPD qualifications and professional membership for those working in HR and L&D roles. These qualifications are recognised by employers across industries and used as a benchmark for the skills required in the people profession. As a result, studying one can really help to open up a lot of professional opportunities across the world.
CIPD offers a clear, structured range of qualifications designed in line with the CIPD Profession Map to support professionals at every stage of their career, from beginners to experienced leaders. Whether you're starting out in Human Resources or aiming to progress in Learning and Development, there's a CIPD course for you. There are five core CIPD qualifications, available across two specialist career paths:
This is the qualification that many people who are coming into HR and L&D for the first time first study. The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is an entry-level qualification that doesn’t have specific experience-based entry requirements (apart from having a basic proficiency in the English language). This means that it’s perfect for people who are at the very start of their careers or who don’t have much industry experience behind them yet.
This qualification is the same for Human Resources and Learning & Development specialisms when it comes to studying with CIPD. That’s because both areas are very closely linked and cover the same essential topics at the entry-level stage.
Throughout the qualification, you’ll cover the essential behaviours for people professionals, the essentials of people practice, and the principles of using analytics.
The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management is an intermediate-level HR qualification. It’s designed for professionals who have some experience of HR already and who are looking to progress into more senior positions, like middle management.
To qualify to study it, you’ll need to have successfully completed the Level 3 Foundation Certificate in HR and have experience of working in HR.
You’ll explore a range of HR practices across several important areas such as recruitment, talent management, and employment law, and improve your understanding of the external factors that can have an impact on HR activities and organisations. You’ll also develop your own analytical and problem-solving skills.
The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in People Management is the most advanced CIPD qualification that you’ll be able to study. It’s designed for people who are working in senior, decision-making roles at company and who have responsibility for setting strategy in an organisation.
You’ll explore advanced areas of HR, like leadership skills, business research and analysis, as well as exploring how to write detailed reports aimed at persuading key stakeholders to adopt new policies.
Once you’ve completed this qualification and you’ve gained the prerequisite experience, you’ll be eligible to apply for prestigious Chartered Member status. This is one of the highest accolades that you can receive as an HR professional, and it’s not bestowed lightly. It reflects a recognition that you’ve achieved an exceptional level of HR skills, experience and expertise.
An intermediate L&D qualification, the Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development is designed to equip you with the right skills for more intermediate positions in Learning and Development. In this qualification, you’ll study topics such as social learning and organisational performance, along with general L&D knowledge. This will provide you with all the essential skills to help you win significant roles in Learning & Development.
To study the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma, you’ll need to have completed the Level 3 Certificate or have equivalent experience of L&D. Once you’ve completed it, you’ll be able to study the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma.
The highest qualification that you can take, the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Organisational Learning & Development, is aimed at professionals who have extensive experience of L&D and who want to take their career to new heights. It’s roughly equivalent in difficulty to a master’s degree. It’s aimed at people working in middle-management equivalent roles who want to move into more senior, decision-making positions.
Studying this qualification will allow you to explore how to leverage strategic L&D, business research, organisational design and development and performance-driven development strategies in your own L&D practice.
Similar to the Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management, completing the Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Organisational Learning & Development will open up the route to applying for the prestigious Chartered Membership.
The cost of your CIPD qualification can vary depending on the course level, the training provider, and any additional support or resources included in your study package. As a general rule, the higher the qualification level, the more you can expect to invest.
At DPG, we offer accessible, no-nonsense learning at affordable rates so you can progress without breaking the bank. You can work through materials online, accessing everything via our virtual platform, mystudyspace, with dedicated tutor support. If you prefer more structure, our blended learning combines online materials with engaging virtual workshops led by expert tutors.
There are typically three ways you can study a CIPD qualification: in-person, hybrid or online.
In-person learning is the ‘traditional’ way to study a course, used for a century or more. You attend a physical classroom regularly, usually once or twice a month, where you work through the course with other students, led by a tutor.
This type of learning is good for people who find they learn best when they have interaction with other students. It can be a bit more expensive when you factor in commuting costs and the slightly higher course fee you’ll pay too.
Hybrid learning is a combination of online and physical learning. You’ll have access to your course online, and you’ll be able to complete it remotely, but occasionally you’ll be required to attend an in-person session to cover a particular topic.
Hybrid learning is a good option for people who don’t feel completely comfortable learning online and prefer some element of face-to-face interaction in their study process.
Online learning is by far the cheapest and the most flexible of all three options. This is the format we offer at DPG Learn. With online learning, you get digital access to your course and all the materials, and you work your way through it, one module at a time. You complete the course at your own speed, and you can fit your study around prior commitments, like work or family.
This makes it well-suited to people who have busy schedules and value the convenience of being able to study when and where they choose.
The exact length of time that a CIPD qualification will take to study will depend on the complexity of the course that you’re studying. If you were to study online with DPG, however:
A CIPD membership comes with a range of benefits designed to support your development as an HR or L&D professional.
Depending on your level, one of the most recognisable advantages is the ability to use a professional designation, such as Assoc. CIPD, Chartered MCIPD, or Chartered FCIPD, after your name. This instantly signals your expertise and credibility to employers and peers. A CIPD membership can also give you:
CIPD offers a range of membership levels tailored to your career stage and professional experience. Whether you're just starting out or already working in a senior role, there's a membership grade that fits your journey. The main levels of CIPD membership include:
CIPD qualifications are trusted by employers worldwide as a benchmark for professional excellence in HR and Learning & Development.
Whether you're just starting out or aiming for senior leadership, these courses can arm you with the practical skills, knowledge, and credibility needed to advance your career!
Kickstart your career with a no-nonsense online CIPD qualification.
Get more information on CIPD courses
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