CMI

First things first, CMI stands for The Chartered Management Institute. 

Being ‘Chartered’ means the institute has been given Royal power to award a member with ‘Chartered Status’. 

CMI offers qualifications for all levels of management, from junior managers with no or only a few years of experience, all the way up to strategic managers and CEOs. 

Whilst CMI offer a range of levels, the most commonly studied are CMI Level 3, Level 5 or Level 7.

CMI Level 3 – Equivalent to an A level

CMI Level 5 – Equivalent to a HND (higher national diploma) or foundation degree

CMI Level 7 – Equivalent to a master’s degree

Within every CMI level, there are 3 qualifications available:

1. Award
2. Certificate
3. Diploma

You will only receive Chartered Manager status if you achieve the CMI Level 5 or Level 7 Diploma. 

All CMI qualifications are made up of units that correspond to learning topics. When you join a course, you need to select a certain number of units based on the ‘credits’ associated with them. 

The minimum number of units and credits for each qualification type can be seen below.

Diploma

37+ credits

6 to 8 units

(Note: there is also an  extended diploma option that requires you to do a certain number of ‘core’ units, as well as a selection of units that you choose.)

Being able to choose your own units means that you can tailor your qualification to your own or your organisation’s needs. At the very least, it allows you to focus on the topics that you find most interesting.

Is CMI a respected qualification?

In short, yes! 

CMI has over 143,000 members worldwide and a further 30,000 people enrol on CMI qualifications annually, so you’ll be in good company!

Research conducted by CMI found that 81% of CMI accredited managers could share their new skills with their team, and a similar number agreed that their new skills had increased overall team performance. 

88% of CMI members said it increased their confidence as a leader, and once you reach the pinnacle of Chartered manager status, there is an average pay rise of £13,000.

As a CMI tuition provider, Astranti can vouch for CMI’s credibility as we have first-hand experience of the very high standards the institution sets for both tuition providers and its students. CMI’s high expectations means it is not an easy job to get qualified, making the qualifications, and those who hold them, incredibly valuable to employers!

CIPD

CIPD stands for The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and, as you can tell by the name, it also has Royal Charter status so its  members can gain Chartered Manager status.

CIPD qualifications are aimed at those looking to develop their skills and knowledge of Human Resources (HR) or Learning and Development (L&D). So, CIPD qualifications are focused on people practice, people management and L&D. 

There are three different CIPD levels designed to suit people at each stage of their career:

When it comes to picking your optional units, be aware that different CIPD course providers may offer different units. You should aim to study with a CIPD provider who provides units that will best serve your own or your organisation’s needs.

Identically to CMI, within every CIPD level, there are three qualifications available:

1. Award 
2. Certificate
3. Diploma 

Is CIPD a respected qualification?

Absolutely it is! In fact, because employers recognise and respect the value that a CIPD qualification can add to an individual’s skill set, it is often a requirement included in HR-related job ads.

As a result, if you’re CIPD qualified, there is potential to earn more money, with an average pay rise of £10,000. Organisations’ desirability for employees to have CIPD qualifications means CIPD has over 160,000 members worldwide! This means that by undertaking a CIPD qualification, you’re guaranteed to gain an in-demand set of skills that employers recognise all over the globe.

Key benefits of CMI and CIPD at a glance

• You can undertake either a CIPD or CMI qualification in a way that suits you; you can work towards both qualifications from home, in person or a blend of both!
• Both CIPD and CMI courses offer you the opportunity to choose your own modules or units so you can focus your learning on what will most help you improve
• Both CMI and CIPD qualifications are awarded by Chartered bodies, meaning they’re recognised and respected by employers
• Gaining either a CIPD or CMI qualification is likely to lead to a pay rise or promotion at work

Key differences at a glance

• CIPD qualifications are designed specifically for those looking to progress in the fields of HR and L&D, whilst CMI is aimed at people looking to progress in all managerial roles
• CIPD qualifications are often critical to getting an HR-related role. Many HR job adverts advise that it is a ‘must-have’ requirement. Typically, CMI qualifications are an added bonus for employers, rather than an essential requirement
• CIPD qualifications are internationally recognised, whilst CMI qualifications potentially have greater influence within the UK

CMI

CMI qualifications have a broader focus because, unlike CIPD courses, they are not specifically aimed at personnel professionals. CMI qualifications aim to introduce you to a broad range of topics, techniques and skills to improve your ability to manage individuals and teams who are working to meet your organisation’s needs.

CMI is most often pursued by:

As mentioned earlier, there is a catalogue of courses to choose from within which  you often have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional units, including such things as Equality and Diversity, Coaching and Mentoring and Operational Planning. This all  means you are more able to design your CMI course to suit you!

CIPD

CIPD qualifications are usually undertaken by those who are specifically looking to develop their skills and knowledge within HR or L&D

It is designed for people in positions such as:

Exemptions can save you time, effort and money, so it’s definitely in your best interest to apply for them if you can.

CMI

Yes – CMI offers exemptions on Certificates, Diplomas or Extended Diplomas but NOT Awards. 

CMI will only award exemptions to learners who have gained qualifications from recognised Professional Bodies or Awarding Bodies which appear on the list of regulated qualifications within the last five years. 

CMI does not accept requests for exemptions directly from learners. All exemptions applications are considered on a case by case basis and are agreed upon between the learner’s chosen centre and CMI.

CIPD

Yes – if you have relevant existing qualifications, up to 50% of a CIPD qualification can be gained by an exemption. 

CIPD has produced a flowchart to help you understand whether you are eligible for an exemption.

If your qualifications were gained from an institution outside the UK, CIPD will still consider you for an exemption if you can provide a comparability statement and certificate from the UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC).

CMI

CMI qualifications are made up of units. Units will show you roughly how long it will take to complete the qualification because one credit is about 10 hours of work. 

So, how long it will take you to complete a CMI qualification will vary depending on what level you choose to take and whether you decide to do an Award, Certificate or Diploma. 

Let’s have a look at the differences

CMI Level 7

Level 7 Award

Credits: 6-9 credits

Learning time: 60-90 hours (1-3 months)

Level 7 Certificate

Credits: 13-14 credits

130-140 hours (3-6 months)

Level 7 Diploma

Credits: 37-46 credits

Learning time: 370-460 hours (6-12 months)

CIPD

The amount of time it will take you to complete a CIPD qualification will depend on the type of qualification you choose (Award, Certificate or Diploma) and the level you are going to study at:

Level 7 Diploma

Average completion time is 18-24 months

Level 3 qualifications will take you the least amount of time and level 7 the most. Award and Certificate qualifications will take less time to complete than a Diploma at all levels. For example, a Level 3 Award will take less time than a Level 5 Award.

You must remember though that these are only rough estimates! Depending on things such as the course delivery method you choose, whether you study on a full or part-time basis, and how quickly you write your assignments, it may take you more or less time to complete your CMI or CIPD qualification.

Your CMI centre will be able to give you a more accurate indication once you have chosen a course and qualification to complete.

The cost of your CMI or CIPD qualification will depend on various factors such as:

• Your course provider
• Your chosen teaching method – You could complete both CMI and CIPD courses in-person in a classroom which would be the most expensive option, or as self-study using online materials which would be the cheapest option, or some combination of self-study and live events (either in person or online) which would be somewhere in between! 
• The level and qualification you choose to study – The lower levels and qualifications are the cheapest and prices rise as you climb up the levels and qualification type 

CMI

Given the earlier comments regarding the options available, the below represents the potential range of fees for Diploma qualification across all levels:

Level 3 (Diploma)

Between £1,500 and £2,400

Level 5 (Diploma)

Between £1,050 and £2,500

Level 7 (Diploma)

Between £1,050 and £2,500

Award and Certificate qualifications are cheaper than Diplomas. The fees follow the same pattern – Level 3 Awards and Certificates are the cheapest and Level 7 Awards and certificates are the most expensive.

Level 3 (Diploma)

Between £1,500 and £2,400

Level 5 (Diploma)

Between £1,050 and £2,500

Level 7 (Diploma)

Between £1,050 and £2,500

You will also have to pay registration and annual membership fees to CMI. The cost of your membership fees will depend on what course you are undertaking – here is the full list of fees.

Generally, your CMI registration and marking fees will be included in your tuition provider fee, as they will be the ones creating your registration and submitting assignments for marking.