What is level 5 equivalent to?

February 17, 2025

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The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma is a professional qualification in Human Resources or Learning and Development. In terms of academic and professional standards, it is equivalent to the following:

1. Academic Equivalency

The CIPD Level 5 is broadly considered an undergraduate-level qualification. It corresponds to the second year of a three-year university degree program.

Framework	Level	Equivalent Qualification
RQF (England/NI)	Level 5	Foundation Degree, Higher National Diploma (HND), DipHE
SCQF (Scotland)	Level 9	Ordinary Degree, Graduate Diploma
NFQ (Ireland)	Level 7	Ordinary Bachelor Degree
CQFW (Wales)	Level 5	Foundation Degree, HND
EQF (Europe)	Level 5	Higher Education Level 5

2. Professional Standing

Upon successful completion of the Level 5 Associate Diploma, you are eligible for Associate Membership of the CIPD (Assoc CIPD). This is a professional designation that demonstrates you have the knowledge and skills to operate at a management level within HR or L&D.

3. Career Context

This level is designed for those who already have some experience in HR or L&D and are looking to progress into more senior roles such as:

HR Manager or HR Business Partner
People Analyst
Employee Relations Manager
Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
Talent or Resourcing Manager

In summary, while it is not a full “Honours Degree” (which would be Level 6), it is a highly respected professional equivalent to a Foundation Degree or the midway point of a Bachelor’s degree.