Human Resources | CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice | Northbrook College (2023)

FAQs

What is CIPD Level 3 equivalent to? ›

CIPD courses, both in HR and L&D, are available at three levels: Level 3 (Foundation) — Equivalent level to A-Levels. Level 5 (Associate) — Equivalent level to an undergraduate degree. Level 7 (Advanced) — Equivalent level to a postgraduate degree.

Because you'll have clear career progression

This is the certification for you. Every time you complete a new level of CIPD, you instantly open up more doors when it comes to your career. Looking for your first HR role? A CIPD Level 3 certification will help find your perfect position as an HR Assistant.

The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is what's best known as the entry-level qualification for those looking to get started in HR or L&D and formalise their existing knowledge and skills.

This Level 3 qualification, which leads to CIPD Foundation Membership, includes four core units designed to provide a solid grounding in the people profession and can be completed in as little as six months.

This mean the CIPD qualifications are recognized nationally and internationally.

It's going to be tough but once you get the functional skills bit out of the way it'll calm down a bit and you should feel more comfortable.

A CIPD Level 3 qualification will take you 6 months – or with our self-paced On Demand programme you'll have up to 12 months to complete.

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

New to the People Profession. An HR Administrator/Officer looking to progress. Looking for expert support along the way.

Do you need a CIPD qualification to work in HR? While there's no legal requirement for you to have a CIPD qualification to have a HR role, most employers don't consider candidates who aren't CIPD accredited.

What is the lowest level of HR certification? ›

The Associate Professional in Human Resources™ certification is perfect for entry-level human resources professionals because it doesn't require any previous work experience.

There are no formal entry requirements for you to enrol on this CIPD Level 3 Foundation course. It's perfect if you're just getting started in your HR or L&D career and want to develop the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful people professional.

This course is equivalent to one-and-a-half A Levels in UCAS points. You will need to complete TWO other A Levels alongside this course to build a full Study Programme.

Foundation or access courses are usually one-year, pre-university courses at Level 3/4 that aid entry into degree level study.

The rough equivalent to the CIPD in the US is SHRM (https://www.shrm.org/).

In conclusion, while both CIPD and SHRM offer valuable resources and qualifications for HR professionals, CIPD may be the better option due to its global recognition, focus on professionalism, broad range of qualifications, and emphasis on continuous learning.

CIPD Level 7 is the most prestigious qualification you can attain as a HR or L&D professional. It's an advanced diploma equivalent to a postgraduate/masters degree and the only level where you can apply for Chartered CIPD membership.

Level 3 L&D Practitioner

The available grades are: Fail, Pass, Merit, and Distinction which are determined based on a combination of the two assessment methods. Grades are achieved for each assessment method based on these rules: Fail is where not all grading descriptors have been sufficiently evidenced.

CIPD Offers Professional Membership

Once you've completed a CIPD Level 3 qualification, for instance, you'll automatically become a Foundation Member of CIPD alongside nearly 150,000 other innovative professionals around the world, giving you exclusive access to insights and guidance from distinguished HR experts.

How long does it take to become a CIPD? ›

It takes eight to 12 months to complete our new Foundation qualification, 12-16 months for our Associate qualifications, 16-24 months for our Advanced qualifications.

This can be any version of the qualification. If you continue your membership once you have completed your studies you can use 'Foundation CIPD' after your name. You can move to these membership levels either by completing a CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 qualification respectively or through an experience assessment.

A fail in one of the assessment methods will require that assessment method to be repeated. If both assessment methods are failed, then the entire EPA must be repeated. The maximum grade for an apprentice who resits or retakes an HR EPA is a Pass.

There are three levels of CIPD qualifications - taught by external study centres but awarded by the CIPD: Foundation Certificate, Associate Diploma and Advanced Diploma. This is the firmest foundation for your career in the people profession, incorporating both HR and L&D.

Depending upon the size and structure of the company, a HR advisor most often reports directly to the HR Manager, although sometimes they may report to the HR Director, a Senior HR Advisor, or to the General Manager in smaller companies.

HR generalists are superior to HR administrators, and their duties vary based on their skill level. Human resources generalists work on people-related tasks, while HR administrators perform paper-related tasks.

Associate-level in HR typically refers to an entry-level or lower-level position that reports to senior-level or higher-level positions like HR manager. Those at the associate level typically have previous experience in roles such as HR assistant or administrative assistant. They may have even been an HR coordinator.

In short, the cost of a CIPD qualification not only includes the course materials but also expert tutor support, access to a community and resources that can help you thrive long past your course completion.

Another way to break into human resources without experience is by starting off as a recruiter at a staffing company. Extroverts comfortable in the sales and networking aspect of talent acquisition could leverage that experience into an employee services (customer service) role at the UCPath Center, for example.

Even if you do not have experience in a human resources position, you can identify and highlight some of the skills you have gained through your other work experience that make you a top candidate for a job in HR.

Is HR low paying? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $123,500 and as low as $24,500, the majority of Hr Human Resources salaries currently range between $43,000 (25th percentile) to $77,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $103,000 annually across the United States.

Working in human resources (HR) can be very stressful, especially for management level professionals, due to their efforts to comply with company policies and governmental laws.

SPHR is the highest level of certification offered by HRCI for U.S.-focused professionals. Requiring at least four years of HR experience, this is a great certification option for senior HR professionals or those in HR management hoping to become a director, vice president, or even a CHRO.

aPHR (Associate Professional in Human Resources) is the best choice for someone who is a new HR professional, or someone who is considering a career in HR but has little-to-no industry experience.

The Foundation Certificate in Higher Education is an online 60-credit, level 3 foundation course designed to provide you with the English, Maths and study skills required in order to study at a higher education level.

Also known as a foundation course, the CIPD Level 3 study level is equivalent to an A-level qualification standard.

CIPD qualifications are highly prestigious and valued by employers worldwide. The additional esteem of a Diploma is even more resonant with international employers. While the Certificate programmes give you a core understanding of HR or L&D, a Diploma gives you a deeper knowledge across a wider range of subjects.

It is a practical, one-year work-related course, focusing on the development of a range of specialist business skills.

How do you get a Level 3 qualification? ›

Level 3 qualifications are designed for further education students who are bridging the gap between GCSEs and university. In full-time education, the courses take two years to complete, so most often, students aged between 16 and 19 take Level 3 qualifications.

Qualification overview

The BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design is a vocational qualification at Level 3. It is the equivalent of 1.5 GCE A Levels.

A diploma is a higher qualification compared to a foundation and is viewed as equivalent to a first year degree at university. And if you intend to enter the workforce quickly, a higher qualification is generally preferred. However, this doesn't mean that a diploma is superior to a foundation.

What level is a foundation degree equivalent to? A foundation degree is the academic equivalent of two-thirds of a Bachelors degree, a Higher National Diploma (HND) and Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) - at Level 5 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Foundation degree – Level 5

FdAs are Level 5, so sit just below a Bachelor's degree, but once you complete a Foundation degree, you'll be able to 'top-up' to a full Honours degree with extra study when you're ready. Entry requirements vary depending on the subject.

Master's degree

These programs often require a relevant bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The two most common types of master's degrees you can earn for an HR career are a master's in human resource management (MHRM) or a master's in business administration (MBA) with a focus on HR.

How Long Is An HR Course? It can take between 6-12 months to complete one NATED Human Resource Management Course.

CIPD Level 7 is the most prestigious qualification you can attain as a HR or L&D professional. It's an advanced diploma equivalent to a postgraduate/masters degree and the only level where you can apply for Chartered CIPD membership.

A CIPD Level 3 qualification will take you 6 months – or with our self-paced On Demand programme you'll have up to 12 months to complete.

Is CIPD just for HR? ›

While there's no legal requirement for you to have a CIPD qualification to have a HR role, most employers don't consider candidates who aren't CIPD accredited.

There are three levels of CIPD qualifications - taught by external study centres but awarded by the CIPD: Foundation Certificate, Associate Diploma and Advanced Diploma. This is the firmest foundation for your career in the people profession, incorporating both HR and L&D.

It's roughly equivalent in difficulty to an A-level. You can choose the HR pathway or the Learning & Development pathway (or a mixture of the two). If you qualify with a Certificate or Diploma, you'll become an Associate Member of the CIPD and be able to add Assoc. CIPD after your name.

Apply for a graduate development programme

A number of large employers offer university graduate programmes in HR. Although you don't always need an HR degree to apply, employers may sometimes help you gain a CIPD-approved postgraduate qualification if you successfully secure a place on their programme.

Level 3 Diploma

The Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma is a full time two-year course of study which will develop specialist knowledge, practical skills and understanding within a vocational area and will give you a qualification that is the equivalent to three A Levels.

Your course is completely valid as your certificate will be. CIPD qualifications do not run out or elapse. They will be just as valid in 15 years as they are now.

The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma generally takes around 9 to 12 months to complete. The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma usually takes between 18 to 24 months to complete.

It's equivalent to postgraduate study – typically the same level as a masters degree.