Guidance for those who have finished studying

When will I receive my qualification certificate?

We check results submissions for accuracy at the verification stage ; if any discrepancies arise we may return them to your study centre, which may delay the despatch of your certificate. Click here to view a larger version of the timeline.

If you've been waiting for longer than the usual processing time as shown above, call us on +44 20 8612 6208 to check the status of your certificate.

When will I be notified about my final results?

Study centres

Following moderation results release, we’ll confirm your results with your study centre and within the next four weeks we'll provide you with a PDF copy of your qualification certificate via email and dispatch a hardcopy of your certificate in the post*. Please see timeline above for further details.

If you’re in active membership, you’ll gain CIPD accreditation (letters after your name). We’ll send you a membership certificate at your new grade in the post. This will arrive shortly after your qualification certificate.

*If you live in the UK, we will post your certificates to your preferred address. If you live outside the UK, your CIPD qualification certificate will be posted to your study centre to send to you.

Please ensure that your name, postal and email addresses are up to date. You can do this by checking your details held on your profile on the CIPD website.

University accredited programmes

The centre will contact you directly to let you know when they will award you with your qualification. Once the centre submits this notification to the CIPD, we’ll issue your membership certificate within six weeks.

When do I become a Foundation or Associate Member?

Qualification certificates for University Programmes will be awarded by the university. They'll contact you about this as part of your graduation.  Your university will also notify us when you've successfully completed your qualification.

Once we've processed your results, we'll email you a PDF result confirmation letter to your preferred email address within four weeks.

If you're an active CIPD member, we'll send you a membership certificate at your new grade in the post.

It's important that you keep your contact details up to date. Check that your name, postal and email addresses are up to date. You can do this by checking your details held on your profile on the CIPD website.

I’ve already completed a CIPD qualification. How do I become a member now?

If you've already completed an accredited CIPD qualification but didn’t join the CIPD as a member during your studies, you can join the CIPD now directly at the Foundation/Associate Member grade.

Please note: We’ll require evidence of your achievement from your study centre before issuing your certificate.

Call us on +44 (0) 20 8612 6208 or email us at membershipenquiry@cipd.co.uk to discuss the membership application process.

I've just successfully completed my Level 7 Advanced qualification, can I now upgrade to CIPD Chartered Membership?

Anyone who has successfully completed a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma qualification can apply to upgrade to Chartered Member via the form-based assessment. This is free of charge if done within 12 months of holding Associate Member grade. If you are unsuccessful at your first attempt, subsequent applications are subject to fees. The first step is to complete our online Pre-Assessment Tool to find out if you're ready to upgrade. See our page on Upgrading to Chartered Member for more information.

I’ve already completed an HR or postgraduate degree. Can I use what I’ve learnt to apply for CIPD membership?

If you have an existing qualification that isn’t recognised by the CIPD, you may be able to apply for an exemption towards a CIPD Awarded qualification that leads to membership.

The application process will involve a mapping exercise between the qualification you studied and the CIPD Awarded qualification you want to study. You can gain up to 50% of a CIPD Awarded qualification through this process; you’ll be required to take the rest of the qualification at a CIPD centre in order to achieve CIPD membership.

Many employers are asking for HR work experience. How can I gain this?

A great way to make yourself stand out is to gain some work experience while you study. St John's Ambulance along with many other charities, is often looking for volunteers to work in HR for them; this can be as little as three hours per week.

We also have a list of volunteering jobs available, which you can view on the People Management website.