I currently work as a training advisor and have a few years experience in the field. I already hold a Certificate in Training Practice, but would like to know if people think it is wise to study for a full CIPD qualification? I am concerned that if I don't hold the qualification then I will be limiting the possibilities of working for another organisation. However, I am concerned that large parts of the course may not be relevant.
Emma Bicknell
11 Responses
CIPD is very generalist.
The CIPD qualification covers all aspects of HR and is quite hard work. When I did the qualification there were some training specialists on the course and they found it difficult as a lot of the areas we covered were alien to them. If you want to move into HR you may wish to consider a foundation course such as the Certificate in Personnel Practice first. However, if you want to stay in training I would suggest doing something more related to training. However, I know a lot of training advisors who do not have the CIPD qualification and are very successful. Unless you are being sponsored by your organisation it could be quite expensive and may not be worth the investment. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Good for the CV later on!
I do mourn the loss of the ITD (Institute of Training and Development) as they had a very good programme which was lost when it merged and become the IPD. What ever happened to it?
I do agree that you may find it hard to do the CIPD certificate as a training professional – but, I do think it’s a good qualification to have on your CV for the future and a lot of the issues such as performance management and law do come up in training quite often. Not having it has never stopped me from getting good jobs, but I wish I did it ages ago.
Annah
Don’t Miss Out
I am a T & D specialist and became CIPD qualified in 2002. I was able to include Management Development and Training Operations in my qualification and was also able to benefit from studying other subjects such as Employment Law, elements of which I have been able to apply in my role.
If you think you have the time, inclination and ability – go for it!
Training qualifications
Emma
The CIPD Professional Development Scheme does have a T&D route but also requires substantial study on wider HR and management issues. I would say that it is of most value if you intend to extend your career in to HRD/T&D Management or other HR roles.
If you wish to specialise in T&D – whether in design, delivery, consultancy, procurement or management – you may like to consider as an alternative the Institute of Training and Occupational Learning Diploma (www.traininginstitute.co.uk) or the Diploma in T&D at Leicester University.
Good luck whichever route you choose!
No! Save your sanity!
Unless you have a mixed role (or want one) or want to change jobs in a traditional industry (councils seem obsessed by CIPD), please go and do something more life-enhancing instead!
Seriously, I also back the train-the-trainer or university theory courses. The training modules of the full CIPD qualification are interesting but you are forced to do at least Core Personnel & Development or its latest variant to get a training diploma, plus the tedium of Core Management for the whole caboodle.
Where do you want to go to?
Emma
i am currently undertaking the final module of my CIPD qualification. the value for me is understanding how training fits into the bigger picture of HR managament an dbeing able to “hold my” own amongst my colleagues. As a manager the core management has been very useful to me, some parts more so than others. My question is if you want to move on and up in training then understanding your colleagues, finance and IT are essential, these are all part of the CIPD syllabus.
Go for full CIPD
I think you should go for the full course if you can. It is well worth it and opens many doors. If you pick your specialisms carefully they should mostly be related to your role but who knows you may find one of the other subject areas more interesting. Having a broad range of knowledge also helps you to understand different aspects of your own company and other companies and therefore helps you to research, plan and deliver training. I am a Workforce Development Advisor and use all sorts of information I gleaned from my studies everyday. The contact and etworking opportunities with other students is also very useful. Hope this helps.
Heavy on the HR
As someone who is currently studying with the CIPD, I find i have mixed feelings in answering this question. I am moving from core management to the training electives and so far i have found a huge bias towards HR issues with training very much an after thought. Indeed, within my study group i was the only person representing the T&D function in their company. Ultimately, I believe it will have some benefit and the study material has been informative but i honestly believe that the main benefit of full CIPD membership will be to open doors within interviews. Other than that, the goals and ideals are a little too textbook for my liking.
Just do it
Hi,
If you want to gain the respect of HR colleagues and also business managers then having the breadth of CIPD is worth doing. Too many trainers ( myself in early days) just stick to what we like doing, and forget the context of business. The cipd qualification is a grind at times, but is a real buisness qualification and helps you understand that training and development with our reward and selection taken into account is like fish without chips – it just misses something. It also has become the defacto benchmark for employment of HR people ( which trainers now come under) so as Phil Nike would say – Just do it !!
Mark
Dont do it
Let me put a contrary point of view to add some balance.
I’ve never ever been asked for it and many many job trainer job adverts couldnt give two hoots if you are CIPD or not. They want a good trainer and nothing else – especially if its for a delivery only role.
Secondly if the argument had been put to bed the question wouldnt keep cropping up all the time on this and other forums including the CIPD trainers forum. Clearly there is some mileage in it although many are already tired of contributing on the subject.
Thirdly you can pick up all the information elsewhere and can even get it from the CIPD. Its easy to learn new information and function in whatever HR capacity you wish given your current qualifcation and a browse of the CIPD library/website.
“Useful, respect, some benefit, good qualification” are some of the reasons cited here for continued study, these are somewhat nebulous phrases and they seem to revolve around gaining credibility from peers, I always thought it was the individual that gained integrity not the qualifications.
Lastly if you want to learn lots of information that may or may not be relevant and may or may not be useful in the future then its a personal choice. Its ironic indeed that trainers certainly wouldnt formulate such hazy objectives for a delegate’s future study.
I prefer concrete reasons and not ‘what ifs’ on which to base my personal time and study choices.
Another string to your bow
I am studying at present for my CIPD and would suggest that it is useful for many business opportunities ( I already have various others across a range of functions including finance). Remember life long learning is the key to keep you ahead of the game, it may not help you today, but long term you can only benefit. I would encourage you to do it, one more qualifications opens many more doors.