CIPD Qualifications

Name

CIPD Qualifications

Legal name

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Website

https://cipd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CIPD (The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) is the UK-headquartered chartered professional body for HR, L&D, and people professionals, offering qualifications, memberships, and learning products to ~165,000 members and 45,000+ students across 130+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Body Membership and HR Qualifications

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE), Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)

Keywords

• HR professional membership
• People management qualifications
• Chartered HR credentials
• Learning and development
• Workforce professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: CIPD generates revenue through multiple membership tiers including Affiliate, Student Member, Foundation Member, Associate Member, Chartered Member, Chartered Fellow, and Chartered Companion. Each tier provides different levels of access to resources, community, and professional recognition.
2. Qualification programmes: Revenue from CIPD qualifications at Foundation (Level 3 Certificate), Associate (Level 5 Diploma), and Advanced (Level 7 Diploma/Advanced Higher) levels. These globally recognised qualifications lead to different membership levels and support career progression in HR, L&D, and people practice.
3. Learning courses and masterclasses: CIPD Learning offers short courses, masterclasses, and training programmes including Introduction to AI for HR, Employment law for Managers. Members receive 15% discount on courses. The Learning Hub offers nine new courses expanding the catalogue.
4. Events and conferences: Revenue from CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition, Festival of Work, regional events, webinars, and the CIPD HR Awards in Ireland. Conferences like the Festival of Work feature 150+ sessions with speakers including CEO addresses.
5. Publications and bookshop: Partnership with Kogan Page for CIPD bookshop offering textbooks, professional titles and toolkits. Members save 20% on purchases.
6. CIPD HR-inform Pro subscription: Self-service online subscription product for HR professionals with accompanying advice line. Operated as partnership between CIPD and Croner.
7. Business journals database: Member-only access to over 200 leading HR, L&D, business and management journals through EBSCO Information Services partnership.
8. Advisory and consulting services: Services for organisations including advisory services, capability assessment, HR function development aligned to Profession Map, training programmes, and bulk membership. Delivered by associates who are CIPD members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CIPD Qualifications delivers tiered professional membership, CIPD-validated qualifications at Foundation, Associate and Advanced levels, and continuing professional development for HR, L&D and people professionals. It also runs the CIPD Learning Hub, the HR-inform Pro subscription, events and conferences, a bookshop partnership with Kogan Page, and proprietary standards such as the Profession Map, awarding chartered status (MCIPD, FCIPD) under its Royal Charter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CIPD Membership Tiered professional membership for HR, L&D, OD and people professionals offering access to resources, community, learning discounts, events, publications, and chartered status. Available to individuals globally and as corporate/enterprise packages to organisations.
• CIPD Qualifications Globally recognised HR and people practice qualifications at Foundation (Level 3 Certificate), Associate (Level 5 Diploma) and Advanced (Level 7 Diploma) levels, leading to corresponding membership tiers and career progression. Delivered via approved study centres across 130+ countries.
• Experience Assessment

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of Experience Assessment candidates gain the membership level they were looking for
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandmark HR Leaders Development Project - building leadership capability, cohesion and mutual trust across the Ministry of Justice's HR leadership team. Example of government partnership for HR professional development.
• NHS EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeople Development Partner status. NHS partnered with CIPD to develop people professional capabilities across the health service organisation.
• Royal Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for HR and people development within the Royal Air Force.
• UK Ministry of DefencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership targeting workforce planning capability. CIPD working with MOD on building HR professional capabilities.
• NatWest GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating model partnership - working with CIPD on HR and people development strategy and implementation.
• Powys County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchieved CIPD People Development Partner status, demonstrating commitment to HR professional development.
• Leeds City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUsed CIPD's People Impact Tool to share key HR benchmark data. Supported by Local Government Association.
• BiffacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CIPD to achieve full endorsement of new management development programme.
• Skillnet Ireland / CIPD SkillnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Sustainable People Practice Framework in Ireland. Partnership to advance sustainable HR practices.
• Irish Civil ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCase study partnership showcasing people development practices in government.
• Healthy IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Healthy Ireland Workplace Wellbeing Framework - promoting wellbeing in workplaces across Ireland.
• ESB (Electricity Supply Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeople Development Partner status. ESB committed to HR professional development standards.
• Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIPD Partnership with People Development Partner status. Also hosts CIPD Ireland podcast and annual conference highlights.
• CronercoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for CIPD HR-inform Pro - self-service online subscription product for HR professionals with advice line. CIPD provides brand and content, Croner provides technology and operations.
• EBSCO Information ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership providing CIPD members access to curated library of over 200 leading HR, L&D, business and management journals and magazines.
• Kogan PagecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for CIPD Bookshop offering textbooks, professional titles and toolkits. Members receive 20% discount.
• Haymarket Media GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublishes People Management magazine on behalf of CIPD. Also handles some CIPD conferences and events ticketing.
• Business Disability ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on disability workforce reporting guidance and resources. Created The Case for Disability Workforce Reporting together.
• Local Government AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Leeds City Council and other councils in using CIPD's People Impact Tool for HR benchmark data sharing.
• CIPD TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable arm of CIPD harnessing expertise and talents of the profession to tackle barriers to better work. Supported 1,110 people facing barriers to work with 360+ volunteers.
• National College of IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Ireland's first HR apprenticeship programme. Partnership advancing vocational HR education in Ireland.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chartered Management Institute (CMI): UK-based chartered body awarding management credentials (Chartered Manager) with similar Royal Charter structure, qualifications portfolio, and membership-based revenue model. Closest UK analogue to CIPD's professional body structure.
• WorldatWork: US-based professional association for compensation, benefits, and total rewards professionals. Direct adjacency in HR specialisation with certifications, research, and community focus similar to CIPD's L&D offerings.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): US-based chartered professional body for HR with global membership, certifications (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP), and policy advocacy. Direct comparable in scale, mission, and credentialing model, competing for international HR standard authority.
• Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM): UK-based leadership and management qualifications and training provider, part of City & Guilds group. Directly competes with CIPD on management qualifications, training programmes, and accredited learning for HR-adjacent professionals.
• Association for Talent Development (ATD): US-based professional association for talent development and L&D practitioners offering certifications (CPTD, APTD), memberships, and learning programmes. Directly overlaps with CIPD's L&D qualification and community offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Global online learning platform partnering with universities and companies to offer credentials and degrees, including HR specialisations. Represents the broader digital credentialing ecosystem competing with traditional chartered body models.
• LinkedIn Learning: Microsoft-owned subscription learning platform offering HR and L&D courses at scale with employer integrations. Competes with CIPD Learning Hub on price, convenience, and content breadth, particularly for self-directed professional development.

Others

• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB): UK chartered body for construction professionals with Royal Charter, membership tiers, and qualification programmes. Comparable as a UK-anchored chartered professional body with similar governance and member-service economics.

Regional players

• Australian HR Institute (AHRI): Australia and APAC-focused HR professional body with similar membership, certification (AHRI Certified HR Practitioner), and standards-setting role. Key regional competitor in CIPD's Asia expansion markets.
• Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM): Nigeria and West Africa chartered HR body with similar credentialing and membership structure. Comparable as a regional chartered body competing for influence in emerging HR markets where CIPD is expanding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cipd-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIPD Qualifications