Everything You Need to Know About CIPD Qualifications in 2023

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is the world’s leading professional body for human resources and learning and development.

They offer a range of globally recognised HR and L&D qualifications that are held in high regard by employers, and are listed as a requirement for many jobs. This means that getting a CIPD qualification under your belt is a rite of passage for anyone looking to start or develop their career in the people profession.

Last year, CIPD revamped their qualifications to make sure that what you learn is at the cutting edge of modern people practice.

Here’s our complete guide to everything you need to know about CIPD’s improved qualifications, and what they can offer you, in 2023.

CIPD's Qualifications in 2023

The new CIPD qualifications are designed to make things simpler for people looking to gain a professional qualification in human resources or learning and development.

2021 saw the number of CIPD qualifications reduced to just five. In 2023, there are now five CIPD qualifications to choose from:

• CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice (covering both HR and L&D)
• CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management
• CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development
• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management
• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development

Likely to elicit a sigh of relief from most students, the CIPD qualifications don’t involve any exams, even at Level 7. (Yes, you read that right!) Instead, you’ll complete written assignments for every module, demonstrating what you’ve learned throughout the course.

The qualifications also directly correspond to the CIPD’s Profession Map, which sets the standards for people professionals throughout each stage of their career.

The Profession Map details the skills, knowledge and expertise that the CIPD requires in its members (and the wider profession) in a clear and transparent way.

Aligning their HR and L&D qualifications with the Profession Map, the CIPD are safeguarding the quality of their world-renowned courses, and making sure a CIPD qualification remains a mark of the utmost credibility and professionalism worldwide.

Which New CIPD Qualifications Can I Study in 2023?

There are five CIPD qualifications to choose from: two HR qualifications (known as ‘people practice/management’), two L&D qualifications, and a beginner-level qualification which covers both subjects.

CIPD Human Resources Qualifications

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

The CIPD Foundation Certificate is an entry-level qualification suited to people approaching human resources and learning and development for the first time.

The qualification covers the core knowledge and expertise you’ll need to start a career in HR or L&D.

You’ll study four units:

• Essentials of People Practice
• Core Behaviours for People Professionals
• Business, Culture and Change in Context
• Principles of Analytics

Perfect for: people with no prior experience of HR or L&D, career changers, junior HR or L&D assistants

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

The CIPD Associate Diploma is perfect for you if you’re currently working in HR and want to expand your knowledge and advance to managerial positions.

It’s also suitable if you’re new to the profession but have some experience of undertaking HR duties in another role (as a manager, for example), or if you have a degree and want to begin learning at a higher level than the Foundation Certificate.

You’ll study six core units and then choose one elective module to study, based on your interests.

Core modules

• Professional Behaviours and Valuing People
• Organisational Performance and Culture in Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Employment Relationship Management
• Talent Management and Workforce Planning
• Reward for Performance and Contribution

Elective modules (choose one)

• Specialist Employment Law
• Diversity and Inclusion
• People Management in an International Context
• Leadership and Management Development
• Wellbeing at Work

Perfect for: HR professionals looking to move into HR management, career switchers who have some experience of HR duties, newcomers to HR who have a degree

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management

As the most advanced and respected CIPD qualification, the CIPD Advanced Diploma is aimed at HR professionals who have extensive experience and are looking to develop their strategic knowledge and leadership skills and move into senior roles.

It’s also suited to HR graduates who are ready to complete a postgraduate-level HR qualification.

Core modules:

• Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment
• People Management and Development Strategies for Performance
• Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen
• Business Research in People Practice
• Resourcing and Talent Management to Sustain Success
• Strategic Reward Management
• Strategic Employment Relations

Elective modules (choose one):

• Advanced Employment Law in Practice
• Learning and Development Practice
• Managing People in an International Context
• Technology-Enhanced Learning
• Advanced Diversity and Inclusion

Perfect for: HR managers, HR department heads, HR consultants, HR directors, HR professionals with significant experience, HR graduates

CIPD Learning and Development Qualifications

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

This entry-level qualification covers both HR and L&D topics, and will introduce you to the basic knowledge and skills you’ll need for your first L&D role.

It covers four modules:

• Essentials of People Practice
• Core Behaviours for People Professionals
• Business, Culture and Change in Context
• Principles of Analytics

Perfect for: Newcomers to L&D, junior L&D assistants

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development

This intermediate-level qualification is designed for learning and development professionals with a few years of relevant work experience, or newcomers with some prior knowledge of the L&D profession.

It will help to develop your skillset and prepare you for mid-level and managerial roles in learning and development.

Core modules

• Professional Behaviours and Valuing People
• Organisational Performance and Culture in Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Support Self-Directed and Social Learning
• Learning and Development Design to Create Value
• Facilitate Personalised and Performance-Focused Learning

Elective modules (choose one)

• Leadership and Management Development
• Wellbeing at Work
• Diversity and Inclusion
• People Management in an International Context
• Specialist Employment Law

Perfect for: L&D assistants, L&D advisors, L&D managers

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development

The CIPD Advanced Diploma is aimed at L&D managers and senior leaders who want to develop their strategic business management, learning design, and development strategy expertise.

This is the most advanced L&D qualification offered by CIPD and involves postgraduate-level study.

Core modules

• Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment
• People Management and Development Strategies for Performance
• Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen
• Business Research in People Practice
• Organisational Design and Development
• Leadership and Management Development in Context
• Designing Learning to Improve Performance

Elective modules (choose one)

• Technology-Enhanced Learning
• Advanced Diversity and Inclusion
• Managing People in an International Context
• Advanced Employment Law in Practice

Perfect for: learning and development professionals with extensive experience, L&D Managers, Heads of L&D, Directors of L&D, L&D Consultants

Are There Any Exams On The New CIPD 2023 Courses?

There are no exams in the current CIPD qualifications. You’ll be assessed through written assignments for each module.

How much do CIPD qualifications cost?

There’s no getting away from the fact that qualifications cost money. Generally though, CIPD qualifications offer excellent value when weighed against your career prospects, with 73% of our CIPD students saying they increased their salary after studying CIPD.*

Plus, when you study CIPD with us, you can pay for your course in manageably monthly payments, completely interest free.

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Generally between £1,999 and £2,800.

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

Generally between £3,399 and £3,700.

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development

Generally between £3,399 and £3,700.

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management

Generally between £6,899 and £7,300.

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development

Generally between £6,899 and £7,300.

What jobs can I get with a CIPD qualification?

As the most respected HR and L&D qualifications in the UK (and in many countries worldwide), a CIPD qualification can open up a lot of possibilities for you – regardless of what stage you’re at in your career.

Here are some of the jobs that a CIPD qualification can help you secure along with their respective salaries, based on the 2023 Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends.

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

HR Administrator, HR Assistant

Average salary: £23,000 to £28,000

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

HR Manager, HR Advisor, Recruitment Consultant

Average salary: £45,000 to £70,000

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management

HR Director, Senior HR Consultant, Head of HR, HR Business Partner

Average salary: £70,000 to £120,000

Learning and Development

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Learning and Development Assistant, L&D Administrator, Training Assistant

Average salary: £18,000 to £26,000

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development

Learning and Development Officer, Learning and Development Specialist, Learning and Development Manager, Training Officer, Training Manager

Average salary: £26,000 to £46,000

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development

Learning and Development Director, Senior L&D Manager, Head of Learning and Development, Head of Training, Training Director

Average salary: £70,000 to £94,000

How can I study the CIPD 2023 qualifications?

Online Learning

Online study is exactly as it sounds – study that happens online. Instead of going to a physical classroom every week, you’ll study in the comfort of your own home using the internet.

You can study the new CIPD qualifications completely online, wherever and whenever you want, and at your own pace. The only things that you’ll need are a stable internet connection and a compatible device like a laptop, tablet or phone.

Many students find that studying a course online gives them a lot more freedom and flexibility than studying in a physical format. Students usually find that online learning can be fitted around existing commitments like work, family and caring responsibilities much more easily than in-person college courses.

You can save money by choosing an online course too. You’ll also make some savings when it comes to not having to commute to physical lessons every week!

• Advantages of online learning
• Completely flexible – you can fit your study around your existing commitments and study at your own pace.
• Better value for money – online courses are almost always cheaper than other types of study. You can also save money on course materials and travel to and from lectures.

Disadvantages of online learning

• You need to be disciplined – the nature of self-study means that you need to be able to motivate yourself to get the work done.
• There’s less face-to-face interaction – although many providers (like us) offer live online classes so you can chat to your tutors and other students, if you’re motivated by the chatter and bustle of a classroom, you might prefer a college class.

Classroom Learning

If you decided you’d like to study CIPD in a classroom, you’ll attend a CIPD course at a college weekly or fortnightly. This will be led by a tutor and attended by other students who are learning too. You’ll go to this class on a set timetable until the course is completed, and the pace will ultimately be set by the tutor.

Advantages of physical learning

• Social – It’s useful if you find that you learn better in a larger group of people, in a face-to-face setting.
• It’s very structured – If you struggle with finding motivation to study, in-person learning, and the importance it places on you attending a class once a week, is a great way to force yourself to hit the books.

Disadvantages of physical learning

• You’re not in control of your progress – You don’t control how fast you study the course, so if you’re finding it easy you might get bored quickly. If you’re finding it difficult, you might struggle to keep up.
• It will cost more – You’ll pay more for the privilege of studying in a physical setting, from the higher course fees to additional costs such as travel.

Can I become a member of the CIPD?

Yes! Once you’ve completed a CIPD qualification you’ll become eligible for CIPD membership. The exact type of membership that you’ll qualify for corresponds to the type of qualification that you’ve completed.

• If you complete a CIPD Foundation Certificate, you’ll be eligible for Foundation membership of the CIPD.
• If you complete a CIPD Associate Diploma, you’ll be eligible for CIPD Associate Membership.
• If you completed a CIPD Advanced Diploma, you’ll become a CIPD Associate Membership initially, and can apply for prestigious Chartered Membership (MCIPD) once you have the necessary experience.

Whichever CIPD qualification you choose, we wish you the best of luck on your CIPD journey.

If you’re inspired to take the next step on your career journey, get your free CIPD course guide today.

* Statistics from a survey of 3,471 ICS Learn CIPD students who graduated between 2012 and 2019.