Member and membership FAQs

The Profession Map is relevant to our profession and our wider community. If you're involved in the people profession, you have a stake in the Profession Map.

All people practitioners - CIPD members and nonmembers - can use it to navigate change, benchmark capabilities and maximise impact.

Employers, managers, leaders, educators and policymakers can use the Profession Map to gain insight into people, work and change.

The Profession Map is an essential, valuable, internationally recognised resource for all people professionals, whether they are a member of the CIPD or not.

By defining the knowledge, behaviours and values underpinning our profession, it can be used by individuals and organisations to navigate change, benchmark capabilities and maximise impact.

It is the most effective way for people professionals, globally, to make sound decisions and bring about change for people, work and organisations.

CIPD membership grades are aligned to the impact levels in the Profession Map. Your CIPD membership grade reflects your level of knowledge and impact, as well as your ongoing commitment to best practice and to your own professional development.

Becoming a member of the CIPD raises your profile and credibility with professional recognition. It enhances your career prospects and shows your commitment to high standards and ethical compliance.

CIPD membership demonstrates to employers, clients and peers that you meet the rigorous requirements and professional standards for good practice in the people profession, underpinned by the Profession Map.

As the professional body for people professionals, we believe in the power of good practice. And as the only body for the people profession with the authority to confer Chartered status, it’s our responsibility to lead the way in setting the benchmark for excellence across different career stages, specialisms and geographies.

People professionals, armed with the right knowledge, behaviours, values and purpose, can do amazing things. Our profession has a real impact on people, organisations and wider society. The Profession Map shows how we do it. And it underpins our learning, career progression and good practice.

Our membership structure reflects the breadth and depth of the people profession and is now more closely aligned with the Profession Map. The Foundation grade provides a clear route into membership for individuals meeting these standards.

Foundation Members have successfully completed the CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice. This grade of membership illustrates that you have the knowledge aligned with the foundation level of the Profession Map.

This new membership grade does not affect members who have studied, or are currently studying, a CIPD qualification.

Yes. Foundation Membership is based on the foundation level of our Profession Map, the established and widely accepted international benchmark of standards and behaviours for the people profession. It identifies four different impact levels and details the knowledge and behaviours required to excel at each of them. 

This means organisations can see exactly what it takes to make a positive contribution, whether you’re a senior leader, a dedicated specialist or just starting out in your field. Once qualified you can use the designation Foundation CIPD, showcasing the knowledge and behaviours you have accomplished.

No. Only those studying the new CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice will become Foundation Members.

If you are an Associate Member, regardless of route, you should be demonstrating or working towards the Associate level standards.