What is CIPD?

CIPD stands for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and they are the go-to professional body for HR and L&D training.

They set the gold standard for people management and development, offering top-notch qualifications and resources to help professionals kickstart and develop amazing careers and create thriving workplaces.

A CIPD qualification is a professional certificate or diploma awarded by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the only Chartered body for people professionals in the world.

Recognised as the gold standard for L&D and HR training, CIPD qualifications are respected in the UK and internationally. They’re also the most straightforward way to gain CIPD membership, enhancing your career prospects in a competitive industry.

CIPD qualifications and membership are a big win for your career – and employers know it too! Being CIPD-accredited gives hiring managers confidence that they’re bringing talented, skilled, and up-to-date people professionals on board who can make a real impact in their organisation.

Don’t just take our word for it – a quick scroll through HR job listings will show you that many roles either require a CIPD qualification or expect candidates to be working towards one.

Starting your CIPD qualification is a brilliant way to open doors to new career opportunities and stand out in the competitive world of HR and L&D.

How long it takes to become CIPD-qualified will vary depending on the course you choose, your learning method, and the time you have to dedicate to your studies. However, on average: 

• CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate takes around 7 to 8 months to complete.
• CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma generally takes around 9 to 11 months to complete.
• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma usually takes between 18 to 22 months to complete.

At DPG, we offer flexible study options for our CIPD courses, either 100% online or through blended learning.

With online learning, you can work through materials at your own pace, accessing everything via our virtual platform, mystudyspace, with expert tutor support. If you prefer more structure, our blended learning combines online materials with engaging in-person workshops led by expert tutors.

No matter your schedule or commitments, we give you the flexibility to study when and how it suits you. That’s the DPG Difference.

For more info, get in touch with our friendly course advisors who can help you choose the best option!

We pride ourselves on bringing you phenomenal support before, during, and after your programme.

Once you’ve enrolled, you’ll be assigned a tutor whose job is to make sure you’re successful in getting CIPD-qualified.

Plus, on top of 24/7 access to our online learning platform, you'll have unlimited access to our Career Hub, offering you thousands of resources to help you impress employers and build your dream career.

For every unit you study, you'll complete a written assignment (up to 4,000+ words). You'll hand these in online where they'll be marked by our assessors and moderated by CIPD. Depending on what course you study, however, you might also need to submit video assessments. 

But don't worry – if you don't pass an assignment the first time, you'll be able to have another go with feedback and advice from your tutor. We’ve got your back!

At DPG, we pride ourselves on helping you get qualified without breaking the bank.

If you’re paying for your course yourself, you can spread the cost over time, and you won’t pay any extra – all our payment plans are completely interest-free*.

They also come with low deposits, making it easy and affordable to get ahead in your career.

If your employer is paying for your course (or if you’d like them to!), our advisors can help you write a business case showcasing the benefits of studying with us.

At DPG, we’re proud to have supported over 25,000 individuals in achieving their career goals, with 96% saying they’d study with us again! 

With more than 30 years of experience in helping professionals develop their strategic HR skills, we offer dedicated tutor support across all our CIPD courses.

And the best part? You'll have 24/7 access to your online learning materials, so you can study from anywhere, on any device!