Next steps after studying

To keep your professional accreditation and all the membership benefits that go with it, you need to stay in membership. Don't worry, we'll email to remind you to renew your membership before 1 July each year. You can renew online or by phone with various payment options. 

Explore your exclusive member benefits. 

We know that studying is expensive. That's why student membership costs 40% less than our Associate membership fees. When you renew at your new member grade, you'll notice an increase in the annual fee. 

We're able to offer a reduced membership fee to members in specific circumstances so you can continue to access our member benefits and services. View our financial assistance programmes. 

CIPD Trust wants to help making getting a job less of a job.  

The speakers are all volunteer HR professionals who know how recruitment works. They share that insight to help you take the right steps in your job search. Check out the get into work webinar series.

Organisations across the UK and beyond choose People Management Jobs. The official job site of the CIPD helps recruit CIPD qualified candidates. Explore PM Jobs. 

You’ve taken the Foundation Certificate in People Practice. You’re now a Foundation member of the CIPD. Congratulations! 

If you’re aiming for Associate grade or perhaps even Chartered member, you’ve a couple of options. 

• Study an Associate Diploma or an Advanced Diploma qualification. There are diplomas at both levels in People Management (HR) and Organisational Learning and Development (L&D). Upon successful completion, both qualification levels lead to Associate membership.  

• Take a CIPD accredited undergraduate or postgraduate degree qualification with a CIPD approved programme provider. Discover more about CIPD accredited university programmes. Upon successful completion, both qualification levels lead to Associate membership. 

• By successfully completing either an Advanced Diploma or a CIPD accredited postgraduate degree, if you also have at least one years’ experience and evidence to show you’re operating at chartered level you’ll be eligible for the upgrading assessment to gain Chartered membership status.  

• Or gain Associate or Chartered membership via the Experience Assessment route (depending on your level of experience). Experience Assessment is the non-study route where you showcase your experience.  

You’ve taken either the Associate Diploma in People Management or the Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development. You’re now an Associate member of the CIPD. Congratulations!

If you’re aiming for Chartered member, you’ve a couple of options. 

• Complete our upgrading assessment, which allows you to combine the knowledge with your real-world experience to demonstrate the impact you’re making at work. To be eligible for our upgrading assessment, you’ll need at least one years’ experience and evidence to show you’re operating at chartered level and successfully complete either:
  • A CIPD Advanced Diploma qualification. There are diplomas in People Management (HR) and Organisational Learning and Development (L&D).
  • Or a CIPD accredited postgraduate degree qualification with a CIPD approved programme provider. Discover more about CIPD accredited university programmes. 
• Alternatively, gain Chartered membership via the Experience Assessment route (depending on your level of experience). Experience Assessment is the non-study route where you showcase your experience.  

You’ve taken either the Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management or the Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development. You’re now an Associate member of the CIPD. Congratulations! 

If you’re aiming for Chartered member you can apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow. The upgrading assessment allows you to combine the knowledge from your CIPD Advanced Diploma with your real-world experience, to demonstrate the impact you’re making at work. 

You’ll need a couple of years’ experience and evidence to show you’re operating at this level. Take the upgrading quiz to find out if you’re ready.  

You’ve taken either an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree that’s accredited by the CIPD for a membership outcome. You’re now an Associate member of the CIPD. Congratulations! 

If you’ve finished an undergraduate degree 

If you’re aiming for Chartered member, you’ve a couple of options. 

• Complete our upgrading assessment, which allows you to combine the knowledge with your real-world experience to demonstrate the impact you’re making at work. To be eligible for our upgrading assessment, you’ll need at least one years’ experience and evidence to show you’re operating at chartered level and successfully complete either:
  • A CIPD Advanced Diploma qualification. There are diplomas in People Management (HR) and Organisational Learning and Development (L&D).  
  • Or a CIPD accredited postgraduate degree qualification with a CIPD approved programme provider. Discover more about CIPD accredited university programmes. 
• Or progress to Chartered via the Experience Assessment route (depending on your experience). Experience Assessment is the non-study route where you showcase your experience. 

If you’ve finished a postgraduate degree 

If you’re aiming for Chartered member you can apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow. The upgrading assessment allows you to combine the knowledge from your postgraduate degree with your real-world experience to demonstrate the impact you’re making at work. 

You’ll need a couple of years’ experience and evidence to show you’re operating at this level. Take the Upgrading quiz to find out if you’re ready.