When you start looking for the right CIPD qualification for yourself, you might feel confused.

You might start to think about the difference between CIPD level 3, 5, and 7, and which level might be the most suitable for you.

However, selecting the most appropriate CIPD level for yourself depends on several factors. It depends on your current level of experience, your education, and your future professional goals.

If you want to know more about selecting the most suitable CIPD qualification for yourself, then this blog is for you.

What is CIPD?

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) is an international standard for professional development of individuals who want to start their career in HR and L&D.

The CIPD organization has been active for more than 100 years and has 150k members across the globe.

CIPD organization has its bodies in uk, Ireland, the Middle East, and Asia that provide the chartered status to the learning and development and human resource professionals.

Factors to Consider while Selecting a Suitable CIPD Qualification for Yourself

1. The subject: What is your preference? Hr or l&d?

HR subject includes professional hr skills, including recruitment, reward management, employment law, and managing the employer-employee relationship. Moreover, the L&D subject includes planning, designing, delivering, and evaluating employee training, as well as organizational building.

2.     The advancement level: Are you seeking a Foundation (Level 3), Associate (Level 5), or Advanced (Level 7) qualification?

CIPD Level 3 Foundation

This is the foundation level and is suitable if you want to start your career in HR or L&D.

If you have little or no experience in hr or L&D or are aiming for operational roles, then this level is for you.

CIPD Level 5 Associate

This level is suitable for you if you have some experience in hr or L&D and have a university degree.

This level will lead you to mid-level positions like HR/L&D Manager or HR/L&D Advisor.

It is equivalent to an undergraduate level of study.

CIPD Level 7 Advanced

These qualifications are suitable for experienced hr and L&D professionals. So, if you’re looking for advanced and senior roles like Business Partner, etc..

Details of CIPD Level 3, 5, and 7

CIPD Level 3

This is designed to provide you with the basic operational skills to begin your career in hr and L&D and get into the entry-level roles.

Experience

It doesn’t require any previous hr and L&D experience. Therefore, this is a suitable course for new individuals who want to start their career in hr and L&D.

Usual Job Roles after the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate

• HR Officer
• Trainer
• HR Coordinator
• L&D Assistant
• HR Administrator
• HR Assistant
• Training/L&D Coordinator

Average salary

The annual salary of a professional with having CIPD Level 3 foundation certificate is around £28,000.

Time Required for CIPD Level 3 Qualification

It depends on the method of study you choose. Moreover, it typically takes 7-9 months if you also work part-time.

Course Content

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

CIPD Level 5

If you have been working in hr and L&D for a while, this certificate will provide you with the skills to move forward to mid-level managerial or advisory HR/L&D roles.

There are two CIPD qualifications at this level:

• CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management (HR)
• CIPD Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development (L&D)

Experience

If you want to pursue this CIPD level, then you should have some experience in an entry-level HR or L&D role or a CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate.

Usual Job Roles after the CIPD Level 5 Associate Certificate

• HR Manager
• HR Advisor
• People & Culture Manager
• People Advisor
• Training/L&D Officer
• Training/L&D Manager

Average salary

The annual salary of professionals at this level is around £42,000.

Time required for CIPD Level 5 qualification

It takes 9 to 12 months if you are a full-time working professional. However, if you are unable to balance studies with work, then you can also take assistance from CIPD Assignments Help London UK.

Course content

CIPD Level 5 Course Content (HR)

Core modules

• Professionals’ 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

CIPD Level 5 Course Content (L&D)

Core modules

• Professionals’ 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

CIPD Level 7

In difficulty level, this qualification is equal to postgraduate/Master’s degree qualifications. This qualification gives you expertise for senior strategic HR or L&D roles. Moreover, the assignments for this qualification are also difficult, but you can always take guidance from assignment writing UK.

There are two CIPD qualifications for CIPD Level 7

• CIPD Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management (HR)
• CIPD Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development

Experience

If you want to enroll in such a high-level course, then you should have extensive experience in the field of hr and L&D, or cipd Level Associate certificate.

Usual job roles after CIPD Level 7 Advanced Certificate:

• HR Business Partner
• HR Consultant
• Head of HR
• Head of People and Culture
• HR Director
• Training/L&D Director

Average salary

The annual salary for a professional with this qualification is around £65,000.

Time required for CIPD Level 5 qualification:

It takes around 18-24 months, if you’re also working full-time.

Course content

CIPD Level 7 Course Content (HR)

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

CIPD Level 7 Course Content (L&D)

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
• Advanced Employment Law in Practice
• Managing People in an International Context

To sum up, depending on the level of experience, you can choose the most suitable CIPD qualification for yourself. CIPD Level 3 if you have no experience, CIPD Level 5 if you have some experience, and CIPD Level 7 if you have extensive experience.

However, each qualification prepares you for the next greater role in hr or the L&D field!