Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

When you’re considering whether to take the plunge and study for a CIPD qualification to progress your HR career, there’s often one big question in the back of your mind. Will it all be worth the effort? Studying for a professional qualification is a major commitment of time, money and hard work. Will the end result really benefit your career prospects?

Well, the answer is a resounding YES.

Professional qualifications are like keys, they open doors to new opportunities. Having a CIPD

Diploma under your belt shows employers you have the required level of skills and knowledge to make a real difference to your organisation. When you’re job hunting it gives you an edge over the competition and enables you to stand out from the crowd.

But, probably the most important factor for most of us is that you will earn more money at every career level if you are CIPD qualified.

You’ll earn more with a CIPD qualification

Key findings from a report by the CIPD revealed that between March 2022 and February 2023:

People professionals with a CIPD qualification earned on average 12% more than those not qualified.

HR manager-level roles requesting CIPD Chartered Membership offered up to £17,200 more than those not asking for CIPD membership.

Entry level roles for HR administrators and assistants paid up to £5,600 more than those not requesting CIPD qualifications.

And, hot off the press, latest figures from Reed’s human resources salary guide 2024 confirm that investing in your own training and development really does make a difference to your HR career, particularly at a senior level.

Not only are HR salaries likely to continue their upward trajectory, the guide reveals that there will be a strong focus on attracting and retaining top talent.

"The demand for skilled practitioners will remain high as organisations recognise the strategic value of effective talent management. This means that experienced HR leaders such as HR directors and chief human resources officers, can anticipate substantial increases in their pay packages as they play pivotal roles in shaping organisation culture and performance,” Bukola Odofin, Human Resources Expert, Reed

So, with all the evidence suggesting that being CIPD accredited makes a real difference to climbing the professional ladder, we’d like to help you take control of your own HR or L&D career.

Introducing our CIPD qualifications

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

The perfect course to kickstart your HR or L&D career whether you are new to the profession or currently working in a support role. Gain a solid grounding in the people profession and become qualified in as little as six months.

Entry level salaries for HR Administrators in the South East average at £26,100 and are expected to increase to £27,400 in 2025.

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

Our most popular CIPD course and ideal if you have some HR experience or a degree. Taking as little as nine months to complete, this Diploma will give you the skills and knowledge you need for mid-level roles such as HR Manager or HR Adviser.

Employee Relations Managers in the West Midlands now expect salaries around £55,500, up from £51,000 in 2023.

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development

Want to specialise in Learning and Development, then there is no better place to start than this CIPD Level 5 Diploma. We are one of the few CIPD centres to offer the full range of L&D units and specialist tutors in L&D.

Salaries for L&D managers are on the rise and are projected to hit £64,400 in London in 2025.

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management

If you want to take your HR career to the very top and gain the strategic skills for positions such as HR Consultant, HR Business Partner or even Chief People Officer, then this prestigious course will get your CV noticed. The Advanced Diploma leads to CIPD Chartered Membership and usually takes up to two years to complete although, with determination, you can progress through in as little as 16 months.

Business Partners in Scotland earn on average £51,100, up from £44,300 in 2023.

CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development

This course is right for you if you are an experienced people practitioner and are keen to develop the strategic skills to lead and influence others. There are specialist units in Organisational Design and Development and Leadership and Management Development to ensure you gain the knowledge to accelerate your career.

Chief Operating Officers in London on average receive £126,700 a year, a rise of over £4,000 on the previous year.

Choose how you learn

You’re in control of your learning so simply decide where, when and how you want to study and get started right away. Depending on which CIPD course you do, we offer different study options:

  • Fast track

  • Live online

  • On demand

  • Residential - from our Reed Business school in the Cotswolds

  • Tailored

If cost is an issue, we’ve got it covered!

We want our first-class learning to be available to everyone which is why we offer flexible interest free monthly payment plans to self-funders to help spread the costs during your first year.

Our Price Match Guarantee on all like for like CIPD courses means you can enrol with us knowing that you are getting the best deal around. Our CIPD qualifications at all levels already represent some of the best value on the market but if you find the same course for less, then once verified, we will happily match our competitors.

Not ready to commit to studying for a full CIPD qualification? Then why not do it in stages? With our CIPD Pay As You Go programme you can choose what you want to do, when to do it and get qualified on your own terms.