Associate level

For those delivering operational work to meet wider business needs

Are you working at the Associate level?

At this level you are typically using your professional expertise to deliver short to medium-term value for organisations and the people in them.

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Foundation level

Associate level

Chartered Member level

Chartered Fellow level

Nature of your work: Your work will usually be operational in nature, reacting to business need, and will have some complexity to it. You'll be contributing to the thinking around the work as well as delivering outcomes for the people profession.

How you use information: You'll analyse information from different sources to use in your work, and to inform your choices and actions.

Your influence and impact: You’ll usually be working with, and influencing, immediate people professional colleagues and/or customers. Your work creates short-term value for a wider customer base than those you immediately work with.

If this reflects your current role, you’ll also:

  • work with a number of stakeholders to deliver work which values people, and support the well-being and success of organisations and the people who work for them
  • seek to ensure fairness in the way people are treated and managed, and encourage people to share their opinions and have their voices heard
  • work with integrity, making ethical and evidence-based decisions
  • demonstrate your professionalism through your commitment to your CPD, and take opportunities to share your learning with others.

CIPD membership grade: The standards in this level equate to Associate Membership.

Interested in becoming an Associate Member? Find out how.

Who should look at the standards at this level? If the descriptions at this level are a reflection of your role, then you should use these to make sure you’re having your best impact.

This may also apply to the following: Student members studying towards Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced qualifications, or Affiliate members who meet the descriptions above.

Explore the Associate-level standards in depth

The standards inside the Profession Map will help you to:

  • expand your capabilities to become a better practitioner
  • explore opportunities to advance your career
  • prove the value of your work.

This document (PDF, 933 KB) is your reference guide to good practice. It contains the full set of standards relevant to each level, and allows you to identify development areas for yourself, teams and others.

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