Becoming a CIPD member FAQs

There are several routes into CIPD membership. Each designed to suit different career stages and learning preferences.

1. Complete a CIPD qualification

 Each CIPD qualification level leads to membership at different levels:

• Foundation Certificate in People Practice - leads to Foundation membership
• Associate Diploma in People Management or L&D - leads to Associate membership
• Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management or L&D - leads to Associate membership. You can then upgrade to Chartered status depending on your eligibility.

Explore our CIPD qualifications

2. Complete a CIPD accredited degree

 This leads to Associate membership.

 Explore the CIPD accredited degree study option

3. Apprenticeships

If completing a HR or L&D apprenticeship aligned with CIPD standards, you can join as a student member. Getting CIPD resources to support you in your studies. Upon successful completion, you can gain professional membership. The level of membership gained will depend on the apprenticeship you undertake.

Explore Apprenticeships

4. Experience Assessment

If you have significant HR or L&D experience but don’t want to study, you can apply via Experience Assessment. Based on your experience, you may be eligible for one of the following membership levels:

• Associate
• Chartered Member
• Chartered Fellow

Explore Experience Assessment 

5. Affiliate Membership

Affiliate membership offers you access to CIPD's resources and benefits. Ideal if you’re not looking to gain professional CIPD membership status.

Explore Affiliate Membership

Find out more about the different routes into membership

Looking to grow your HR or L&D knowledge and skills?

Completing one of our professional qualifications gives you the tools to succeed. It also leads to CIPD membership.
Explore the different study options available.

Already have HR or L&D experience?

Studying might not be the best route. Experience Assessment offers a direct path to membership by recognising your professional achievements.
Find out how your experience can help you become a CIPD member.

Membership during your studies

When studying a qualification, whether it's a CIPD qualification or an accredited university programme, you'll need to be in active CIPD membership.

If you’re studying a CIPD qualification, membership is needed so that your study centre is able to submit your unit results to the CIPD. This is so they can be confirmed and counted towards completing your qualification.

If you’re unsure whether membership is required for your programme, please check with your study centre.

Successfully complete your CIPD qualification or accredited degree and you'll gain professional membership:

For CIPD qualifications:

• Foundation Certificate in People Practice - leads to Foundation membership
• Associate Diploma in People Management or L&D -  leads to Associate membership
• Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management or L&D - leads to Associate membership. You can then upgrade to Chartered status depending on your eligibility.

For accredited degrees:

• Undergraduate degrees - leads to Associate membership
• Postgraduate degrees - leads to Associate membership. You can then upgrade to Chartered status depending on your eligibility.

Joining or confirming membership

Once your study centre/university registers you, CIPD will email you.

• If you pay your own fees: Follow the link to join and pay the joining and membership fees. Find the latest membership fees here. Once you've joined, you'll be asked to confirm your qualification.
• If your centre/university pays: Register your membership and confirm your qualification.
• If you’re already a member: Confirm your qualification via the email link.

Tip: Use the same email address as your invitation to ensure we can match your details. You can update contact details later.

Need help?

Didn't receive the email or are being asked for payment incorrectly? Check with your study centre that your details on your registration are correct. If issues persist, contact Customer Services.

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options

If you completed a CIPD-awarded or accredited qualification but didn’t join during your studies, you may be able apply for membership now.

Depending on your qualification, you may be eligible to join as a Foundation Member or an Associate Member.

Please note: We’ll require evidence of your achievement from your study centre when you apply.

Discover our latest fees and membership terms.

Contact our customer service team to discuss the membership application process.

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options

Affiliate membership offers you access to CIPD's resources and benefits. Ideal if you’re not looking to gain professional CIPD membership status.

Please note, if studying a CIPD qualification or an accredited degree, you’ll need to join as a Student Member.

You can join as an Affiliate member online. Or to join over the phone, call us on +44 (0) 20 8612 6208 – phone lines open from 9am to 4pm (UK) Monday to Friday.

Discover our latest fees and membership terms. 

We ask new members to complete payment at the time of joining. This ensures your membership is activated immediately. So, you can enjoy your CIPD benefits right away.

Once your payment is processed, you’ll be emailed a receipt that you can use for reimbursement.

Paying by direct debit? Receipts can be downloaded after each instalment. To do this, log into the Renewals portal and selecting Latest receipt.

Please note: The CIPD renewal portal is unavailable from December until April. During this time, receipt requests will need to be made via our customer service team. 

Accessing your online membership benefits

• Joining online gives you instant access to your membership benefits online.
• Join by phone: If you don’t already have a web account, you’ll need to create one. Register for a CIPD web account here, you'll need to provide your new membership number. Once set up you'll have access to your membership benefits online.

Need extra help?

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options 

We ask new members to complete payment at the time of joining. This ensures your membership is activated immediately. So, you can enjoy your CIPD benefits right away.

Once your payment is processed, you’ll be emailed a receipt that you can use for reimbursement.

Paying by direct debit? Receipts can be downloaded after each instalment. To do this, log into the Renewals portal and select Latest receipt.

Please note: The CIPD renewal portal is unavailable from December until April. During this time, receipt requests will need to be made via our customer service team. 

New members can join as either a Student or Affiliate member online. To join over the phone, call us on +44 (0) 20 8612 6208 – phone lines open from 9am to 4pm (UK) Monday to Friday.

Accessing your online membership benefits

• Joined online you’ll have instant access to your membership benefits online.
• Joined over the phone: If you don’t already have a web account, you’ll need to create one. Register for a CIPD web account here, you'll need to provide your new membership number. Once set up, you'll have access to your membership benefits online.

Need extra help?

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options

Our Customer Service team will be able to raise an invoice for you. Please provide the correct contact details required.

Need extra help?

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options

Whether you join online or over the phone, once your payment is processed, you’ll be emailed a receipt.

After a direct debit instalment has been taken:

If you need a receipt after the payment has been made, log into the 'Renewals portal'. Once logged in, you’ll see a link for your 'Latest receipt'.

Please note: The CIPD renewal portal is unavailable from December until April. During this time, receipt requests will need to be made via our customer service team. 

Receipts for previous instalments or membership years:

You can request copies of past receipts from our customer service team. This will include any receipts for previous direct debit instalments or membership years.

Need extra help?

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options

If you're a UK taxpayer and haven’t been reimbursed for your fees by your employer, you may be able to reclaim some tax relief.

You do this by declaring the fee you paid to HMRC. Your personal tax allowance will be increased giving you tax relief at the highest rate you pay.

Find out more from HMRC (we're listed as an approved professional body under 'Personnel and Development Chartered Institute of').

If you’ve been a member before and would like to rejoin, you’ll need to do this over the phone. We’ll be happy to help you reinstate your membership.

Remind yourself of the benefits of returning to CIPD membership here. View the latest membership fees and terms available here.

What you need to know before rejoining

We ask all rejoining members to complete payment at the time of joining.

This ensures your membership is activated immediately. So you can start enjoying your benefits right away.

Once your payment has been processed, you’ll receive a receipt by email. You can use this for reimbursement if needed.

Paying by direct debit?

Receipts can be downloaded after each instalment. To do this, log into the Renewals portal and select Latest receipt.

Please note: The CIPD renewal portal is unavailable from December until April. During this time, receipt requests will need to be made via our customer service team. 

If you previously left membership over 15 years ago

If it’s been 15 years or more since you were a member, we may require evidence of your previous membership. Our team will advise you on what’s needed to reinstate your account when you get in touch.

Former members can rejoin over the phone:

+44 (0) 20 8612 6208

Phone lines are open Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm (UK).

Need extra help?

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options

We ask rejoining members to complete payment at the time of joining. This ensures your membership is activated immediately. So, you can enjoy your CIPD benefits right away.

Once your payment is processed, you’ll be emailed a receipt that you can use for reimbursement.

Paying by direct debit? Receipts can be downloaded after each instalment. To do this, log into the Renewals portal and select Latest receipt.

Please note: The CIPD renewal portal is unavailable from December until April. During this time, receipt requests will need to be made via our customer service team. 

Previous members can rejoin over the phone. Please call us on +44 (0) 20 8612 6208 – phone lines open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm (UK)

Need extra help?

Live chat

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 7am–7pm (UK).

During these hours, you can start a conversation by clicking the round chat icon. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Other ways to contact us

Click here for alternative contact options