The CIPD yesterday launched a new level of membership - called an Associate - and I would be really interested to hear how HR professionals have reacted to the announcement.
This new level will come below the current Chartered Member and Chartered Fellow levels and is said to "allow the CIPD to recognise the professionalism and impact" that people at this level will have in the workplace.
The CIPD says those entitled to the new Associate level membership will:
But will it make a difference and is it worth it? What does gaining a level of membership like this with the CIPD actually bring HR professionals?
Do HR professionals still see value in reaching a recognised level of membership with the CIPD? Are the criteria a bit vague and so could apply to most HR professionals therefore weakening the title?
I've been at Graduate level of membership now for 9 years and have never really seen the point of upgrading my membership. I've always viewed the CIPD's constant attempts to get people to upgrade as a bit of a money making scam, and thought it was only a matter of time before they did away with the Graduate level completely.
I am concerned by the lack of guidance from the CIPD about what will happen to the membership of people who are currently Graduates or Licentiates - are we all just going to be automatically transferred onto Associate membership? I also feel there still needs to be a distinction between those studying towards the CIPD's professional standards and those who have already achieved it (and in cases such as mine, where is was achieved some time ago). Why should my level of experience be lumped in the same membership category as someone just starting out and learning about HR for the first time?
People may say I should just upgrade to chartered member level, but I have looked into this a number of times and find the application process onerous. I also find that given the criteria I am left thinking whether I would even meet the criteria for upgrading - the emphasis seems to be on influencing HR at a strategic level - but in all the organisations I have worked in, this is reserved for only the very senior members of the HR Team, and not those like myself who do the day to day bread and butter operational advice. Maybe the levels need to be more along the lines of:
Associate - has demonstrated an understanding of CIPD professional standards through a programme of study
Chartered Member - as per Associate but also demonstrates experience of putting the professional standards into practice by having responsibility for advising on day to day HR issues
Fellow - As per associate and chartered member, but also demonstrates significant input at a strategic level
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