CIPD membership for apprentices

CIPD membership is an emblem of expertise and cutting-edge skills – providing instant recognition amongst people professionals and employers. 

CIPD membership grades reflect your level of capability, knowledge and impact in the workplace. Your member grade shows colleagues, clients and potential employers what you can offer as a people professional.

You can also have access to practical advice, explore evidence and gain insights from a wide range of CIPD resources such as podcasts, factsheets, guides and reports that can assist you in your day-to-day job role and on programme training.

CIPD membership gives you tools to nurture your professional growth, along with all the support you need to shape your own future with confidence. We’ll help you achieve your goals, accelerate your professional development and stay up to date with the latest learning. Some of the key highlights are joining a thriving community, supporting your growth, saving you money and developing your 
career. Further information on membership benefits can be found here.

CIPD membership runs from July to June each year. At different points in the year you can purchase 6, 12, 15 or 18 month initial membership. The latest fees can be found here.

If you are self-funding you can join at any time during your on-programme training or on completion by using the student registration online. If you become a member during your on-programme training, you can add your CIPD membership number onto the SmartEPA platform so we can automatically upgrade you when you complete.

1. Login to SmartEPA
2. Go to tab called ‘Other’
3. Add the membership number in the field called ‘CIPD membership number’

By doing this, when you successfully pass your EPA, we will automatically upgrade your membership.

If you have already successfully passed your EPA and been certificated, you can still be upgraded.

You just need to email MyEPA@cipd.co.uk with your CIPD membership number.
For further information on payment options, or processes please contact MyEPA@cipd.co.uk.

Application form

Alternatively if you do not want to join online you can complete the application form and send this to Memadmin@cipd.co.uk.

As an Employer or training provider, you may want to bring a group of apprentices into student membership. To do this please email MyEPA@cipd.co.uk for the bulk membership spreadsheet template. Please complete the template and email this securely to memadmin@cipd.co.uk we will then issue an invoice for the total cost of membership to be paid and bring all the apprentices in the group into membership.

If you are doing this when a cohort starts, it is likely you will need to renew the memberships at least once during their time on programme. Please contact MyEPA@cipd.co.uk or memadmin@cipd.co.uk in May to renew the membership for your apprentices for the following year.

All apprentices that complete one of the HR, L&D or People standards can apply for CIPD membership. If you’ve completed your End Point Assessment with an alternate End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) we will ask you to complete a different application form. We will ask you to complete a different application form which can you find at the bottom of this section.

We will need to verify your apprenticeship completion with your EPAO. We will also ask you to complete a small assessment focusing on what you do in your work and the impact this has had in your organisation within the last 5 years.

For the level 3 and level 5 standards this will be a short written assessment completed with your membership application form. It will come at no additional cost.

For the Level 7 standard, apprentices will be made eligible to complete the upgrade assessment. Please complete the apprenticeship upgrading application form below.

Funding as an alternate End Point Assessment Organisation

If you are funding from a separate End Point Assessment Organisation and are looking to fund CIPD membership and Upgrading for your apprentices, please email MyEPA@cipd.co.uk for the the bulk membership/upgrade spreadsheet template. 

Please complete the template and email to memadmin@cipd.co.uk and we will then issue an invoice for the total cost of membership/upgrading to be paid and bring all the apprentices in the cohort into membership.

The apprentices will then need to complete the 'apprenticeship upgrading application form' and email to MyEPA@cipd.co.uk.

For further information on this process, please click on the link below to the 'Process for Professional Membership with an alternate EPAO'