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Is MCIPD equivalent to Level 5 or 7 CIPD qualification?

Steph

Hello community

I am unfortunately having to search for a new role: The Company I have worked for for the last 15 years is struggling a bit and are cutting my hours (and salary) by 25%.  I can't afford to make that cut so have begun to search for alternative jobs.  I've worked in HR for 28 years and have been MCIPD since 2005.  However, every job I look at that is suitable is asking for a Level 5 or Level 7 CIPD qualification.  My understanding is that this is a degree or postgraduate qualification in HR.  This is not something I have and I'm not really sure such a thing really existed 30 years ago - I have a degree in Psychology and then did the CIPD Certificate in Personnel Practice back in the 1990's and in those days you then just moved through the membership grades as you gained experience.  So my query is....does holding Chartered membership actually count as a 'qualification'?  Can I legitimately claim to hold a relevant qualification as MCIPD or am I going to have to try to justify that I'm qualified by experience and that is equivalent?

In people's experience is my lack of a formal HR degree going to badly damage my chances of getting a new role?  I suppose I could begin a new qualification but I'm not sure I can afford to take on the cost of a degree!

Many thanks for any advice or suggestions.

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  • every job I look at that is suitable is asking for a Level 5 or Level 7 CIPD qualification.

    It's interesting to hear you say that, because I've been hearing the opposite - that fewer HR roles are asking for CIPD qualifications, especially in the commercial field. I've had a lot of members and people considering membership asking whether it's actually worth it if businesses aren't looking for CIPD.

    So, my first piece of advice is to look harder and longer, because it's unlikely that *every* suitable role has a CIPD qualification as a mandatory criterion. In fact, I know for a fact that my organisation is trying to fill three senior (sub-Director) HR roles at the moment, and they all list MCIPD as mandatory, but an actual paper qualification as desirable, so you'd be perfectly well qualified.

    Strictly, a Level 7 qualification and Chartered MCIPD are not equivalents. You can get one without the other, after all. Being professionally chartered and academically qualified are not the same thing. In most business contexts, the former is more important. However, if the role requires the postholder to mentor subordinates through their own academic pathways, it would be difficult to do if that's a path you've never personally walked.

    The old CPP was equivalent to a Level 3 qualification, so I'm guessing you grandfathered in when individual chartership was introduced.

    In short, no, you cannot claim to hold the equivalent qualification. But you can either (1) apply anyway and let them decide for themselves whether they really meant that a Level 7 qualification was essential, or (2) call them and ask if they make themselves available for such queries.
  • in reply to Robey
    Yes, strictly speaking, sure Robey is correct and I therefore stand corrected!

    However, it’s always real workplace competence that should be key to it all
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