Guidelines

Chartered membership application guidance notes

Introduction

  • Please complete the application fully in Word, using this document as a guide
  • Treat your application as a ‘paper interview’ and use the form to promote your experience. Single line answers or blank sections will be detrimental to your score
  • Ensure that supporting documents complement and work to supplement and enhance your application
  • Using referencing and naming when referring to supporting documents, otherwise, the panel will be unable to see what you are using to evidence your answer. For example: see appendix one; see appendix two
  • All answers should include detailed evidence of your skills and how you have applied them to meet KPIs and organisational objectives: what, how, why, what was the outcome
  • The minimum word count for sections B and C is 250. There is no maximum limit
  • Use spell check
  • You will be scored between 0 and 3 for each answer. Successful applicants need to score 80% to be awarded Chartered membership
  • Applications that have not been completed fully or without adherence to this guide will not be forwarded for formal panel assessment

Section A - The applicant

A1. Personal details

Please fully complete this section.

Please record your name here as you would like it to appear on your certificate in the event that you are successful.

A2. Employment details (at least five years’ history)

Your CV should highlight your main job responsibilities and achievements in roles that are relevant to your application. However, your CV is not scored so if it contains any information that you would like to be assessed, you will need to include this in your answers on the application form.

A3. If you do not work for an organisation, use the statement option. If you wish to include an organisational chart (s) include as an appendix (appendices), however ensure that you reference any supporting documents

A4. Education

Please fully complete this section. Provide evidence of your qualification(s), ensure that you use referencing to ensure the panel can find it easily

Holding one of the qualifications below allows you to complete the application without completing the experience section B3.

CIPP qualifications satisfying the criteria:

  • Advanced Diploma in Payroll Management
  • BA (Hons) in Applied Business and Management (CIPP)
  • Diploma in Payroll Management
  • Diploma in Pensions Management
  • Foundation Degree in Payroll Management
  • Foundation Degree in Pensions Administration and Management
  • MSc in Business and Reward Management
  • MSc in Payroll and Business Management
  • MSc in Payroll Management
  • MSc in Strategic Leadership

External qualifications satisfying the criteria:

  • CIPD level 5 Diploma in Human Resource Management
  • CIPD level 7 Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management
  • Payroll Alliance Advanced Diploma in Payroll Management (level 5)
  • PMI Diploma in Retirement Provision
  • The Payroll (Learn) Centre – Pearson Edexcel BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma in Payroll Management

A5.  Membership of other professional bodies

Please provide the name of the professional body, your grade of membership and approximately the year that you were awarded that grade. Any supporting evidence must be named and referenced.

Section B – Technical assessment

Here you will be demonstrating your technical payroll/pensions competence from two of the five competency areas:

Payroll applicants: Supporting the organisation, Managing the payroll, Producing the payroll, Managing payroll staff, Managing payroll information systems. Experience route applicants must also complete section B:3. Producing the Payroll.

Pensions applicants: Supporting the organisation, Managing pensions information systems, Managing the pensions function, Managing the pensions staff. Experience route applicants must also complete section B:3. Administering pensions.

You must select the competency for each of each answer in section B by using the dropdown menu.

The competencies are available online.

Rating/scoring: you are providing evidence in order for us to assess you as a highly proficient payroll professional. Your assessment is based purely on the evidence provided within this application form. It is your job to make clear. Evidence can be included from previous roles if required.

The minimum word count is 250. There is no maximum limit.

Use spell check.

Presenting your evidence:  

  • Use projects, operations, challenges, opportunities in your career
  • You may wish to draw on one or more specific examples to demonstrate how you meet the criteria. Do not use more than three examples per competency area, it is better to expand on specific examples rather than submitting a list as this would not provide evidence
  • Be clear about what you did, why did you do it? how did it align with you or your organisation’s objectives? did it align with the CIPP’s values? what was the outcome? What skills did you use?
  • Clarify the facts around the examples, remember to use naming and referencing for any evidence supplied to enhance your answers

Section C – Business and management assessment

Here you will be completing all three sections (customer focus, commercial awareness, results delivery)

The competencies have been sent to you.

Rating/scoring: you are providing evidence in order for us to assess you as a highly proficient professional. Your assessment is based purely on the evidence provided within this application form. It is your job to make clear. Evidence can be included from previous roles if required.

Note that, depending on your experience, it is acceptable for you to provide evidence relating to ‘stakeholders’ rather than ‘customers’.

The minimum word count is 250. There is no maximum limit.

Use spell check.

Presentation best practice:

  • Ensure you have covered the sub-elements within each competency area
  • You may wish to draw on one or more specific examples to demonstrate how you meet the criteria. Do not use more than three examples per competency area, it is better to expand on specific examples rather than submitting a list as this would not provide evidence
  • Be clear about what you did, why did you do it? how did it align with you or your organisation’s objectives? did it align with the CIPP’s values? what was the outcome? What skills did you use?
  • Clarify the facts around the examples, remember to use naming and referencing for any evidence supplied to enhance your answers

Section D – professional commitment

D1. Tick to agree to maintain 40 CPD points per subscription year.

D2. Chartered members are ambassadors of the profession and must read and adhere to the CIPP Code of Conduct.

Section E – supporter declaration  

E1. Supporters name, occupation, email address and box signature

Examples:

  • Line manager
  • Company director
  • Full, fellow or Chartered member of the CIPP

E2. Second supporter required for experience applications

  • For self-employed or a consultant applicants this is optional
  • Examples as above

Section F – applicant declaration

F1. Sign here to confirm that everything on your application is honest and accurate.