CIM Qualifications
The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s qualifications are arranged in five stages – Introductory Certificate, Certificate, Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, and Charter Diploma. Each qualification is made up of self-contained units, and each of these units has its own CIM assessment.
The stages are matched to different levels in the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) run by QCDA, the UK Government regulator for education.
At each level the different units reflect the key knowledge and skills you will need to fulfil your marketing role professionally and effectively. This approach provides a clear understanding of the standard of every marketer’s knowledge and ability.
Where do I start?
This depends on the qualifications and experience that you already have:
- the Introductory Certificate is an “open” qualification, which means you don’t need any previous qualifications or marketing experience to study it.
- the Certificate is like the first year of a degree, which means you’ll need qualifications at a similar level (such as any general non-marketing degree, NVQ/SVQ 3 in marketing, NVQ/SVQ 4 in any other subject, an international baccalaureate, or sufficient marketing experience to match the Introductory Certificate (which we can check with an online test).
- the Diploma is for professional, career marketers. You’ll need either a business or marketing degree where a minimum of one third of the credits come from marketing, or significant experience in a marketing management role that has demonstrated that you meet the learning outcomes of the Certificate (which we can check with an online test).
- the Postgraduate Diploma requires both high-level marketing qualifications (at least a business or marketing degree where a minimum of half of the credits come from marketing), and wide and substantial experience working at a senior marketing management level that provides evidence that you can meet the learning outcomes of the Diploma (which we can check with an online test).
- the Charter Diploma requires you to have the Postgraduate Diploma or its equivalent.
We have to approve your intended starting level if CIM have not already done so. To do this, we will need to see evidence of your previous qualifications and/or a CV. Contact us if you want to discuss your start point.
Language requirements
You should have a minimum standard in the use of English equivalent to the British Council International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.5 proficiency or Trinity ISE III/IV.
