Before you opt for CIPD, you must know what this certificate is about. It is an association for human resources management. The abbreviation of CIPD is Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. It has a huge community of members all across the world and many people consider it a great career option. It consists of three different levels like Level 3 Foundation, Level 5 Intermediate, and Level 7 Advanced.

Each level has three types of qualifications like Award, certificate, and diploma. The award is a type that is very basic and also known as foundation whereas certificate and diploma are considered to be under and postgraduate levels of CIPD.

In this article, we are going to discuss the difference between a CIPD diploma and a certificate course. The reason for doing this is to let the aspirant know which type is worth a shot in this field.

What is a CIPD certificate?

This level of qualification in CIPD is equivalent to an undergraduate degree. It gives you a strong foundation of HR and L&D. Credit hours can vary from different types of qualifications. For instance, if you are going for an award level CIPD. It will be equivalent to A levels. Apart from the fact that the award level is for beginners and freshers who do not have any idea about CIPD. So even if you opting a certified qualification at this level, it has a lot of perks for you.

What is a CIPD diploma?

Moving onto diploma, as we all know that diplomas help you to develop new expertise whether it’s CIPD or any other field. But since we are talking about diplomas then we should discuss specifically it. This level is equivalent to a post-graduate degree. Which isn’t a small thing. In the CIPD diploma course, you dive deep into specific areas of different subjects. And this dive helps you to gain as much knowledge about human resources and learning and development as you can. This is the final type of this course.

When you finally decide which qualification you’d like to enroll in, you’ll get to know about those three levels we mentioned above. To make it easier for you to understand, if you are new to this field, you have to start from the foundation level 3. But if you have a little bit of exposure to it and your base is strong, you can go with level 5 which is intermediate. The final level of CIPD is 7th or usually known as Advanced. You can only enroll in level 7 if you are an experienced practitioner. This might be sounding complex but once you start, it gets easier. And you can also get assignment writing help for the time being.

Diploma VS Certificate

The first and foremost difference between a diploma and a certificate is what time duration or credit hours you can say. Diplomas usually take much more time than certification courses. So it is not just a matter of time the knowledge you are getting in those credit hours.

Difference between CIPD diploma and certificate

Forasmuch, we have explained the complex stuff, it’s time to move on to the difference between a certificate and a diploma. However, both levels of qualification are worth a shot but people are more slant towards diplomas than certified courses. For instance, let’s take the CIPD intermediate-level diploma and certificate. Be mindful that you need to complete level 3 to enroll in the next level because you are going to be judged by your previous expertise.

University or College levels?

Another thing that differentiates between a diploma and a certificate is that diplomas are usually offered or conducted at university levels but certifications are offered by colleges.

Credit hours

The duration of a normal or any ordinary diploma is a maximum of two years whereas a certificate requires fewer credit hours. Whether you go for a CIPD diploma or a certificate, make sure that you have an interest in the subject because it also requires a lot of attention. You’ll be composing too many assignments and at level 5 you might need CIPD Level 5 assignment help.

What is better – Diploma or Certificate?

Apart from all the differences that have been mentioned above, there are many other perks and reasons, why you should opt for a CIPD diploma than a certificate. We are going to discuss some of them below and will try to let you see CIPD’s clearer and wider image:

Ocean of knowledge

Once you enroll in a diploma program, you’ll get to study deeply about human resources and L&D. However, certificate programs are a great way to get core knowledge about certain subjects but diplomas help you to see the bigger picture. That is why most of the candidates choose a diploma.

Recognition at the international level

What can be better than getting international recognition? CIPD is one of the most prestigious qualifications and if you want to establish your career in this field. Just know diplomas are highly preferred on international levels than a CIPD certificate.

Specialization in learning and development AKA L&D

Specialization in learning and development helps you to get exposure and insight into the management and professional pathways. This diploma will assist you to know what you are lacking. While in certifications you only learn what’s on the surface.

An eminent qualification

This is considered to be the most distinguished qualification at your level and if you have a diploma in CIPD, know that this is going to open many doors to success for you in the future. Certification might do that too, but there will always be a benefit of the doubt but not in the CIPD diploma.

Conclusion!

We are hoping that this piece of writing will help you to understand what differentiates a diploma from a certificate. This will also assist you to make a better career choice. No matter what you choose, it has to be what you want to do in life. Every career has perks and downfalls, we just need to learn how to deal with it wisely.