Foundation Certificate in People Practice
If you are looking to lay the foundations for a career in the people profession, this is the qualification for you.
CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice
The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice will give you a thorough grounding in the essentials of both People Management (formerly HR) and Learning and Development (L&D).
You do not need any prior qualifications to join and it is a Level 3 qualification – equivalent to an AS Level.
This qualification will show that you have a strong base of knowledge and it will begin to build your credibility as a professional.
Who is this for?
This qualification is ideal if you are:
- Starting out on a new career in the profession.
- Currently in a support role as an administrator or officer but looking to progress.
- Someone with an interest in people management.
What will I learn?
You will learn how to make confident, effective decisions. You will study real-life challenges to develop your skills.
The four core units of this qualification are:
- Business, culture and change in context.
- Principles of analytics.
- Core behaviours for people professionals.
- Essentials of people practice.
What are my study options?
You can choose from our Essential, Professional, or Immersive study plans. You have the freedom to study in a way that suits your lifestyle and the way you like to learn.
Essential
Essential lets you study online, on demand and at your own pace, perfect for independent, tech-savvy learners. It is the most affordable of our three plans, yet still includes our unique Student Care service. You’ll always have access to real people for help and support, not just automated systems. Add flexibility with optional extras such as webinar tickets, recordings, and one-to-one planning or feedback sessions with a subject specialist.
Professional
Professional is designed to replicate the experience of studying in college, but online. You will join a group of fellow students and learn from a dedicated tutor in a virtual classroom, with structured lessons and regular feedback. A clear timetable shows exactly when you’ll be studying, helping you stay on track. Alongside this, you still have access to Student Care for individual support whenever you need it, giving you the best of both guided learning and personal assistance.
Immersive
Immersive offers a personalised one-to-one learning experience tailored entirely to you. A private tutor provides coaching, guidance and ongoing support, while you set the pace and agree on a timetable that works for your lifestyle. This approach is ideal if you want to qualify quickly, or if you are returning to study after a break and would like to build your confidence. With individual attention at every stage, Immersive ensures your learning journey is both flexible and deeply supported.
What level of CIPD membership will I achieve?
You need to join the CIPD as a student member. That fee is payable direct to the CIPD as soon as you have registered to start your studies.
Current CIPD membership fees can be found here.
You must be in membership to claim your completed qualification. When you have completed your qualification, you will be awarded CIPD Foundation Membership and the designation ‘Foundation CIPD’ after your name.
The Foundation Certificate in People Practice is Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 in England and Northern Ireland; Credit and Qualifications Framework (CQFW) Level 3 in Wales; comparable to Level 5 in Ireland, Level 6 in Scotland, Level 4 European Qualifications Framework (EQF).
CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice Handbook
