Membership terms and conditions

1.1
There are two membership categories: ‘Chartered Members’ and ‘Non-voting Members’. Provisions relating to these categories and any sub-categories of membership of the Institute are contained in the Regulations.

1.2
All Members must satisfy the Institute’s prescribed membership criteria, as set out in the Charter and Byelaws and detailed on the Institute’s website .

1.3
Members may upgrade their membership on satisfying the prescribed membership criteria for a higher Membership Grade. Downgrades are not permissible.

2.1
All Chartered Members shall receive notice of General Meetings and may exercise the right to vote at a General Meeting. In accordance with the Regulations, the Board may, at its discretion, permit Non-voting Members to attend General Meetings and, with permission of the chair of the meeting, to speak, but not vote.

2.2
All Members are responsible for maintaining their continuous professional development (“CPD”) to uphold the professional standards required by the Institute. All Members are required to keep a record of CPD activities they undertake and comply with the Institute’s CPD Policy . CIPD may request evidence of CPD records at any time during your membership for audit and monitoring purposes.

2.3
All Members must comply with and shall promote the principles of the Code of Conduct and Ethics and supporting procedures.

2.4
Membership of a Branch shall be open to Members of the Institute who elect to join. Members participating in Branch activities must adhere to its Terms of Reference.

2.5
Membership entitles, where applicable, the use of Designatory Letters as recognition of the Membership Grade attained and remains subject to the terms detailed in the Regulations. 

CIPD is committed to providing quality Member Services and shall:

a. establish, make available and support programmes of education, training and qualifications and continuing professional development with recognised standards of achievement to support the systematic development and accreditation of Members;

b. undertake, promote and make available research and developments in HR and L&D public policy and other information services;

c. provide access to internal and external discounted member benefits and concessions subject to the relevant terms and conditions;

d. establish, develop and maintain links with other bodies and organisations at local, national and international level; including the provision of local face-to-face networking and online communities and discussion forums;

e. provide Members the opportunity to participate in the Institute’s mentoring and volunteering programmes; and

f. maintain an online membership register to publish membership status (including name, membership grade and country).

Your membership is valid for the Membership Term.

5.2
Membership of the Institute in each category of Membership and access to Member Services is conditional upon the payment of the appropriate membership fee.

5.2
Subject to clause 7, Members are not entitled to a refund of any membership fees following termination or cancellation of membership.

6.1
To renew your membership you must pay your membership fee in full before 1st July in the respective calendar year (the 'Renewal Date').

6.2
The Institute reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to charge additional fees to renew membership after the Renewal Date.

6.3
Where the membership fee is not paid by the Renewal Date, membership shall be deemed to have lapsed. The Member will be served with notice allowing the Member 28 days from the Renewal Date to make the necessary payment (the 'Grace Period').

6.4
During the Grace Period, (a) Members remain subject to the Code of Conduct and Ethics and (b) the Institute reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withdraw or suspend access to any Member Services.

6.5
On expiry of the Grace Period, any membership for which membership fees have not been received in full by CIPD shall be terminated and the Member will lose the right to use their Designatory Letters.

Members shall have a right to cancel their membership within 14 days of receiving their joining or renewal confirmation and receive a full refund. For further information, please contact the Customer Services Team on +44 (0) 20 8612 6208.

8.1
A Member may terminate their membership by providing 28 days’ notice to the Institute, subject to clauses 8.2 and 8.3 below.

8.2
A Member shall cease to be a Member:

a. on the expiry of 28 days’ notice to the Institute of their resignation as a Member;

b. if any membership fee or other sum payable by the Member to the Institute is not paid by the due date and remains unpaid 28 days after notice has been served on the Member by the Institute informing the Member that membership will be terminated if it is not paid;

c.  if the Board resolves that the Member be expelled and has given the Member 14 days’ prior notice of the fact that the resolution is to be proposed, specifying the misconduct or circumstances alleged to justify expulsion, and the Member has been afforded a reasonable opportunity of making written or oral representations to the Board;

d.  if they are found to have breached the Code of Conduct and Ethics following an investigation and are expelled in accordance with the CIPD Complaints Procedures.

8.3
Any Member who ceases to be a Member in accordance with clause 8.2 shall remain liable for all membership fees and any other sums due from the Member. Membership fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

9.1
An application for membership or for transfer from one category (or sub-category) of membership to another shall be determined by the Board which may in its absolute discretion decline to accept an applicant as a Member.

9.2
Where appropriate, the Institute may in its absolute discretion, reassess the Membership Grade of any Member whose Membership has lapsed or was terminated.

10.1
All Intellectual Property which exists in the Materials provided to Members as part of the Member Services are owned by CIPD and/or its content providers.

10.2
Membership does not confer any right to use CIPD Intellectual Property, including the CIPD brand and logo, except where expressly provided in writing.

10.3
Members shall not:

a. licence, sell, rent, lease, transfer, assign or otherwise commercially exploit Materials, including passwords, provided to the Member by the Institute; or

b. licence, sell, rent, lease, transfer, assign or otherwise commercially exploit or otherwise make the Member Services available to any third party.

In the event of Force Majeure, CIPD shall not be deemed to be in breach of these Terms and Conditions and in particular shall not be liable for a delay or for non-performance of any of its obligations under these Terms and Conditions or for any loss or damage occasioned thereby. To the maximum extent permitted by law, all losses arising for this reason shall not be recoverable by the Member.

At its absolute discretion, CIPD may at any time alter, amend, change, modify or withdraw any of the membership benefits or services that comprise the membership offering. It will be your responsibility to keep up-to date with all such changes and your membership renewal and continued use of the Member Services shall be deemed acceptance of any changes to these Terms and Conditions.

Any notice to be given under these Terms and Conditions shall be in writing, which shall include electronic communication to the email address you provide.

For your security and peace of mind, CIPD and its Subsidiaries will not supply your details to any organisation for marketing purposes. By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you agree to the use of your information as set out in our Privacy policy.

These Terms and Conditions shall be interpreted in accordance with English law and all disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

The following definitions apply in these Terms and Conditions:

'Branch': the local networks run for Members and whose primary purpose is to act as a channel for Member and potential member engagement at a local and national level and in accordance with the Institute’s strategic priorities;

'Board': the Board of the Institute as from time to time constituted in accordance with the Charter & Byelaws;

'CIPD' or 'Institute' the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development a charity registered under number 1079797 and incorporated by Royal Charter and having its principal place of business at 151 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1JQ;

'Chartered Member(s)' the sub-categories of Members that are designated as such in the Regulations, as identified in the Membership Grade;

'Charter & Byelaws' the Royal Charter granted by the Privy Council and the Byelaws contained therein;

'Code of Conduct and Ethics' the Institute’s code of professional conduct which sets out the standards of professional behaviour to which a Member must adhere;

'Designatory Letters' the post-nominal letters and chartered designations (in any format including digital badges) as prescribed by the Regulations which may be used by Members under the Charter and Byelaws;

'Force Majeure' any event or occurrence which is outside the control of the party affected and which is not attributable to any act or failure to take preventive action by the party affected, but shall not include any industrial action occurring within the Institute;

'General Meeting' a meeting of the Chartered Members of the Institute as prescribed in the Charter and Byelaws;

'Intellectual Property' copyright, database rights, rights in confidence, rights in passing-off, rights to domain names, registered and unregistered designs, trademarks, patents or other industrial or intellectual property together with any current or future applications for any registrable items of the foregoing;

‘Materials' all materials including digital badges and certifications, written content, newsletters, conference materials, advertising, brochures, publicity material, invitations, website, branding, logos and other CIPD materials used by or for or relating to the Member Services;

'Member' a fully paid-up individual member of the CIPD and “Members” shall be construed accordingly;

'Membership Grade' the grade of membership held by a Member which is dependent on satisfying the membership criteria for the specified grade; these shall include: Chartered Members, Chartered Fellows, Chartered Companions, Academic Members, Academic Fellows and Non-Voting Members;

'Member Services' the services provided by the Institute for the benefit of Members subject to these Terms and Conditions;

'Membership Term' the period of valid membership commencing on 1 July of the year of admission to 30 June of the following year;

'Non-voting Member(s)' the sub-categories of Member that are designated as such in the Regulations from time to time;

'Regulations' the regulations passed by the Board in accordance with the Charter & Byelaws as set out in full on the Institute’s website at www.cipd.org/uk/membership;