5 Reasons Why It's Important to Choose the Right CIPD Provider

CIPD qualifications have long been considered the highest standard of training in the people profession, with tons of virtual and in-person providers offering CIPD HR and L&D courses at levels 3, 5, and 7.

Choosing the right CIPD provider, however, can actually be quite a challenge depending on your availability, the size of your wallet, and how you’d like to be taught it.

So, whether you’re an aspiring or current HR and L&D professional who’s looking to develop in your career, here we go into detail about the 5 reasons why it’s important to choose the right CIPD provider for you.

1. You Want an Experienced Provider

With so many CIPD providers out there it can be tough to narrow down the ones that you can most depend on to help you gain and retain the professional level of knowledge and skills you’re looking for.

To this end, your best bet in choosing the right CIPD provider the first time around, is finding one that has a high level of experience and credentials.

Take a look at their website, typically under the ‘About Us’ section, for example, you should be able to find a brief history of the company and how long they’ve been delivering CIPD qualifications. 

If a provider has been around for quite some time, this should give you peace of mind that they’re not only a trusted provider but a reliable one too.

2. You Should Know What You’re Getting Into

Speaking of trusted and reliable, what better way to know what to expect from a CIPD provider than to read about what past and current learners have to say about them?

While you can typically rely on websites like Trustpilot to give you a fair review of the organisation you’re looking to study with, some providers also proudly advertise their student testimonials on their websites or social media.

By researching and reading reviews, you’ll gain the confidence you need to take the next step towards your CIPD enrolment, knowing that there have been hundreds or even thousands of like-minded professionals who have walked the same path as you to gain their qualifications.

3. You’ll Want a Provider That Caters to You

When we say you’ll want to find a provider that caters to you, we don’t mean one that will supply you lunch (though wouldn’t that be incredible?). What we do mean, however, is that finding the right CIPD provider is about finding one that works well for you, one that shapes around your lifestyle and not the other way around.
If you’re currently working full-time, then the likelihood of you being able to study full-time is probably null and void, so you’ll be looking for a flexible way to study on your own time, at your convenience.

That being said, online learning providers are often the best way to go if this sounds like you as most distance learning organisations (like us!) don’t require you to start on any specific date and give you ample periods of time to work through your course material and assignments. This takes away the stress of strict deadlines that are often associated with in-person course models, however, keep in mind you’ll need to set yourself up with a dedicated study schedule for the utmost success.

If you’re someone who does prefer some face-to-face time and more guided learning, on the other hand, there are CIPD providers out there that offer both in-person and hybrid learning options if you so choose. These are both great options if you have the time to attend in-person classes or enjoy a blend of virtual and online learning with a hybrid model.

4. You Don’t Want to Break the Bank

While impressive marketing might convince you otherwise, choosing the best - and right - provider doesn’t always mean choosing the most expensive one.

These days, CIPD providers are making it accessible and affordable for everyone to advance their professional careers. 

At ICS Learn, for instance, we offer the option to pay a low initial deposit as well as benefit from low, interest-free monthly payments for those looking to stick to a budget and spread the cost of their course over time. We also offer a Price Match Guarantee*, so you’ll never pay more to study online with us!

In other words, you really don’t have to break the bank to get ahead. 

5. You’ll Need Adequate Support

Whether you’re learning online, in-person, or via a mix of hybrid learning, one thing is for certain: you want a CIPD provider that can offer you support if and when you need it.
This means choosing an organisation that has adequate facilitator or tutor support, ideally unlimited, so that you can ask questions and discuss any material or assignments you may need clarity on.

If you’re learning in-person or via the virtual route, it’s simple enough to ask questions as you learn, however, if you choose to study online, check to see the availability of online tutors that are associated with your course. You want them to be accessible, especially if you’re studying during odd hours.

To add, it’s also important to research who your course advisor, facilitator, or tutor will be. Do they have a background in HR or L&D? Will you feel confident learning from them? CIPD providers often provide information on who their tutors are and what they bring to the table.

You do, after all, want to know you’re learning from accredited industry experts who have confidence in the material they’re delivering and the provider they work for. 

All in all, choosing the right CIPD provider really all comes down to you, your personal learning preferences, and the available time you have to study. We only hope that this blog has helped you know what to look for when making your final decision.

About ICS Learn

For more than 130 years, ICS Learn has been an award-winning pioneer in professional distance learning as well as a leading CIPD centre for over 30 years.

We offer 1:1 expert tutor support, affordable course rates, and an online learning schedule that’s catered to you, making it easy to shape your CIPD qualification around your busy lifestyle - entirely at your own pace, on your own time.

With more than 25,000 students in 100+ countries, ICS Learn is also the UK’s CIPD centre that’s most recommended by students. We’re so proud to be part of your learning journey.

Interested in advancing your HR or L&D career with us? Enrol on our 100% online professional CIPD qualifications today to get started.