Upgrade to Chartered Fellow

Who's eligible

You could be eligible if you are currently an Associate member who successfully completed the CIPD Advanced Diploma (or its past equivalent) or a Chartered Member. You also need to be able to demonstrate that you have a minimum of one year's experience working at Chartered Fellow level.

If you're not sure what qualification you hold, please call our Customer Services team on +44 (0)208 612 6208.

What we're looking for

Working at 'Chartered Fellowship level' means that you are thinking and delivering entirely at a strategic level and your work is at a significant level of complexity. You’ll need to have worked consistently at this level for at least one year within the last five years. This is a minimum requirement, and to demonstrate the standards it’s likely that you will need more than a year.

You're typically...

Using your significant expertise in people, work and change to create organisations that value people, and deliver long-term value for the organisation and / or the profession.
Shifting collective mindsets and influencing a wide range of senior stakeholders to change the way organisations think about their people.
Developing evidence-based thinking on topics which shape the profession or drive complex people programmes.
Role-modelling integrity and ethics in your decision making.
Having a strategic impact that fundamentally changes the thinking around people, and has a significant impact in the organisation, sector or profession.
Creating long-term value for the organisation or the profession (value which is sustained for more than a year).

All Chartered Fellows need to:

Have a full understanding of people practices across a range of specialisms, and how they integrate to create a holistic people offering.
Have an excellent understanding of your organisation’s business and people strategy, performance and sector trends.
Be a role model for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by reflecting on your work, connecting with networks of leaders, promoting a learning culture and enabling the development of others.
Comply with our Code of Professional Conduct.

Why upgrade

Upgrading your membership is rewarding, straightforward and can take as little as 60 minutes of your time.

Get recognition for your achievements and for working at Chartered Fellow level.
Use the international professional designation and letters Chartered FCIPD.
Help to shape the policy agenda and vote on key CIPD matters.

On reflection, I wish that I had upgraded earlier. The process was seamless and it feels good to be a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, and great fun to finally change the letters after my name on my email signature, LinkedIn profile, and CV.

Simon Brown, Chartered FCIPD

HR Director - Interim Projects, Simon Brown Associates Consulting

Even though I have been in this profession for over 30 years, the learning never stops. Without wishing to sound cheesy, CIPD membership has enabled me to do that.

Kathy Hampden, Chartered FCIPD

What's involved

Your steps to upgrading to Chartered Fellow:

Step 1

If you feel you meet the requirements to become a Chartered Fellow, the first step is to send us an up-to-date CV. We'll then let you know within 10 working days whether Chartered Fellow is the right grade for you, based on your experience.

In order to have the best chance of being successful with upgrading membership and to enable us to give you advice on your eligibility please ensure that your CV includes:

Employment dates and timeframes.
Your current role including key accountabilities, responsibilities and achievements which demonstrate the scope and scale of the projects you have worked on. If you are a consultant please include information about the roles undertaken/projects covered with the clients/organisations you work with.
Previous roles and organisations you have been employed by, or organisations you work with as a consultant, particularly focusing on the last five years.

Step 2

If, following your CV review, it's felt that it may be a good time for you to upgrade to Chartered Fellow, the next step is to prepare for your telephone assessment. This will be your opportunity to showcase your current people experience with one of our experienced CIPD assessors.

Upgrade by telephone assessment

Upgrading by telephone assessment:

Choose from a range of flexible times
Takes around 60 minutes
Receive your result in 10 working days

"This is a brilliant service provided by the CIPD. The only reason I actually managed to do this is due to the phone assessment. Otherwise I wouldn't have found the time to do it.'
Hema Patel, Chartered MCIPD

How to apply

Read the candidate guide for telephone assessment.
Book your assessment and pay: If you’ve had your CV reviewed and believe that you have the experience to Upgrade, please call our Customer Services team on +44 (0)208 612 6208 to book a date and time convenient for you. There’s a non-refundable assessment fee which must be paid by credit or debit card when you book.
Read the terms and conditions of the upgrading telephone assessment. You will need to agree to these before your assessment.
Request feedback: In advance of the assessment, you’ll be required to provide feedback from your line manager or client along with a copy of your current CV to the CIPD.
Sit the assessment: During your assessment you will be asked to talk about your experience with one of our experienced assessors.
Receive the outcome: Afterwards you'll receive notification of the outcome within 10 working days. If successful, we'll send you your new Chartered Fellow card and certificate.