Need to be CIPD qualified? Confused who to study with?

The questions that YOU should ask:

If you’re looking for a new job or your first appointment in HR, you’ll have noticed that advertisements for 75% of permanent HR jobs require applicants to be CIPD qualified – and it’s probably a desirable requirement for the rest.

You don’t have to be looking for a move to need a CIPD qualification – you may need it within your current post or to progress within your organisation.

Whatever your circumstances are, becoming a Chartered Member of the CIPD is now more crucial than ever before. The choice of study methods and conflicting information from providers can be very confusing.

That is why YOU need to ask the following questions of any potential provider:

1 Are all of your tutors current HR practitioners?

Some leading providers may state that their tutors are current HR practitioners, but this is not necessarily the case with all of the tutors that you will experience on the programme.

With MOL, you will benefit from current HR practitioners who are engaged by MOL to facilitate specific CIPD workshops based on their strengths and specialisms. When not engaged by MOL, they are actively working in HR with major organisations and bringing the best practice from the work place. The feedback that we receive indicates that that this adds immense value.

2 Do you offer the full range of CIPD-awarded Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates?

At MOL, we provide a full portfolio of programmes from Certificate level through the Professional Development Scheme (PDS), to the unique Action Learning MA and Edexcel Professional Diplomas. The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Personnel and Development, within our CIPD Flexible Learning⁺, are awarded by the CIPD!

Even better, you can commence programmes with MOL at several points throughout the year.

3 Can you provide a fast-track CIPD membership route for senior HR professionals?

MOL is one of the few CIPD providers in the country to be able to offer the Professional Assessment of Competence (PAC) route to gain Chartered Membership of the CIPD.

Senior HR professionals are able to achieve Chartered Membership in as little as 12 months by working with MOL PAC advisors.

4 Can you provide further Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes?

MOL is able to offer a range of high quality continuous professional development programmes. This includes achieving an MA in Strategic Human Resources for CIPD Graduate Chartered Members or Chartered Fellows within ten months, plus specialist, nationally recognised Diplomas in Managing Organisational Learning & Development (MOLD) and Employment Law.

5 Can I contact my tutor directly in the evenings and at weekends for the support that I need?

At MOL, we pride ourselves on offering unrivalled support. Our team of highly experienced tutors is available for you to contact at any reasonable time (including evenings and weekends) by telephone, fax or email.

6 Are all your HR programmes externally accredited?

Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas from MOL are CIPD accredited/awarded, unlike some other providers who only offer ‘in house’ awards. In addition, our Advanced Professional Diploma in Employment Law and Managing Organisational Learning and Development are accredited by BTEC Edexcel, plus our MA in Strategic Human Resources is accredited by Liverpool Business School. Therefore, if you study with us your qualification will be internationally recognised.

7 Are your most recent CIPD national exam results well above the national average?

MOL students’ exam results are consistently well above the national average, and are the best in many subjects, with MOL students regularly receiving awards from the CIPD based on their success.

8 Have any of your students recently won CIPD awards based on their achievements with you?

Yes, for the eighth time in seven years, an MOL student has achieved the highest mark in the CIPD’s national examinations – a unique feat for a flexible learning provider.

9 If I need to defer my studies, can I recommence within six months?

Yes, we understand that everyone experiences pressures and events at home and at work which can affect their ability to study. We work with our students to help them stay on the course, deferring their studies if necessary, rather than give up the course completely. Because MOL's programmes start several times per year, you don't need to wait for up to 12 months as with many other providers.

10 If my job takes me to another part of the UK, can I still follow the programme with you in the new locality?

Yes, you can move between venues, if a different venue would suit you better. MOL can provide a smooth transition between venues.

11 Does your programme minimise the time I have to spend away from the work place?

Yes, our flexible learning courses are designed to help busy people fit studying into their home and work commitments. Our workshops are planned to minimise the amount of time you need to spend away from your work place, with an average of about one workshop per month. MOL's blend of flexible learning materials and tutor support ensures that you can study effectively outside of workshops.

12 Will I have to pay VAT on top of my fees?

At MOL we do not tax learning and you will therefore not have to pay VAT on top of fees.

13 Do you evaluate feedback from students at every single workshop?

At MOL we evaluate every workshop as part of our extensive Quality Assurance procedures, which means that this valued feedback from students plays an important part in shaping and developing our programmes.

Comments made by students who have joined MOL after completing part of their CIPD studies with other providers indicate that many providers either do not evaluate their programmes or only obtain feedback following completion of the programme.

As you can see, you will experience a lot of added value with MOL, but for some providers these questions may turn out to be unlucky 13. To find out more about the ‘MOL Difference’ please call the Enquiry Team on 0161 203 2103.