You may have already heard from CIPD direct about the changes they are making to the upgrading process- from student member to associate membership? But I wanted to make sure all DPG participants had been given this great message as soon as CIPD permitted.
Yesterday I was with CIPD where they explained the change to the existing membership upgrade process to centres, as you can imagine we were really pleased about this for you all. Here are the changes for you:
All changes will come into force on 31 January 2014, so from 1 February 2014 upgrade from student membership to the CIPD associate membership grade will to be automatic for some qualifications, at the point of award of the qualification at CIPD.
What this means for you:
If you are on a DPG CIPD Foundation Certificate or Intermediate Diploma programme and will complete this before 31 January 2014, when we claim your certificate for this qualification with CIPD, the CIPD will automatically award you with the associate membership grade. You will not need to go through the membership upgrade process. Your confirmation of this will come with your certificate via DPG.
If you are on a DPG CIPD Foundation Certificate or Intermediate Diploma programme and will complete this after 31 January 2014, when we claim your certificate for this qualification with CIPD they will also now automatically award you with the associate membership grade. You will not need to go through the membership upgrade process. Your confirmation of this will come with your certificate via DPG.
If you have completed your qualification already but not gone through the membership upgrade process, or were unable to upgrade at the time you will also now be able to get the automatic upgrade to associate member, as long as you are in CIPD membership. IE you are still in paid student membership.
Will I have to pay for upgrade to associate grade?
No. The upgrade is free as part of the qualification award process, it is also free for past participants as long as you are still in CIPD membership.
What qualifications will get me the automatic upgrade?
The qualifications which fall under this automatic upgrade are:
CIPD Foundation Level Three Qualifications:
- Certificate in LDP
- Certificate in HRP
- CPP
- CTP
- Foundation Diploma in LDP or HRP
CIPD Intermediate level 5 Qualifications
- Level 5 Intermediate Diploma in HRM and HRD
- Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HRM and HRD
I applied for upgrade but was unable to as I hadn’t any /insufficient work related experience, can I now get the upgrade?
Yes you can! The CIPD have now decided that the associate grade is not now looking at the competence of a person in their HR/Land D. Competence will only be looked at on higher level qualifications. I.e. level 7. At level 7 the application for upgrade process still applies.
I have applied for upgrade, so what should I do?
CIPD have now frozen all applications to upgrade for level 3 and 5 students from the end of October 2013 and have informed all current applicants and are in the process of doing their upgrade. So you should have heard from CIPD direct regarding this.
I have an award at level 3 do I qualify for this automatic upgrade to associate?
Unfortunately not. Award level qualifications at levels 3 and 5 don’t qualify for this auto upgrade. But if you contact our sales team and add to these so you complete the certificate level, you will be able to get this automatic upgrade.
Some other past CIPD qualifications also don’t qualify, these are:
CBAAPs
CERLAP
CRS
What do I need to do to get my upgrade?
You don’t need to do anything. You will be getting a communication direct from CIPD regarding this which outlines the following:
If you are on one of our programmes, when you complete, you will get the upgrade with your CIPD qualification certificate. If you have just completed and are awaiting your certificate you will also be sent the automatic upgrade certificate for membership when it is available.
If you have completed previously, got the appropriate qualification but not upgraded then CIPD will be writing to you direct informing you of how you will get the upgrade.
I am not in CIPD membership but have the appropriate qualification for upgrade, what should I do?
CIPD are writing directly to all lapsed members to inform you of what to do to get this upgrade, if you do not hear from them over the next few weeks please contact the CIPD membership department direct.
I am sure you will agree this is great news, DPG have been working with CIPD closely to pass feedback from our participants about the upgrade process and this change has come through this close communication and through the CIPD listening to its students and centres.
As I get more information on this I will make all our DPG facilitators aware and keep you all posted here.
Warm regards
Gail Power
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