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Platinum is CIPD’s highest level of study centre recognition. Here is what it covers, what it means for you, and what it cannot tell you about price, support and marking.
What is a CIPD Platinum Study Centre?
A CIPD Platinum Study Centre is a study centre CIPD recognises for consistently high quality. Platinum is the highest level of CIPD’s study centre recognition framework, which CIPD updated in 2025 with clearer rules for the award.
CIPD’s definition of Platinum status covers three areas:
- Marking, assessment and membership standards. How the centre assesses and marks learners’ work against CIPD’s standards.
- Administration and operations. How robustly the centre runs day to day.
- Learner satisfaction. CIPD names high learner satisfaction as part of the award.
Platinum is a mark of the centre as a whole, not of any one tutor or course.
How does CIPD check a centre’s marking?
Your study centre marks your assessments and sends the results to CIPD. CIPD then samples and verifies a portion of the marking for each unit, a process called moderation.
Moderation is part of how CIPD qualifications are run, whichever centre you pick. Platinum status recognises a centre for consistent delivery of excellent quality against CIPD’s standards for marking and assessment.
What are the benefits of studying with a Platinum centre?
- Confidence in your marking. The centre has a consistent record of meeting CIPD’s marking and assessment standards.
- A well-run centre. Your centre manages your enrolment, registers you with CIPD and answers your day-to-day queries, and CIPD looks for robust administration and operations.
- Learner satisfaction in the criteria. It’s part of the award, so the learner experience is one of the things CIPD looks at.
What doesn’t Platinum change?
- Your qualification. CIPD designs and awards its qualifications, and you receive your certificate from CIPD whichever approved centre you choose.
- Your membership. The membership grade you earn depends on the qualification level, not the centre. See our guide to CIPD membership levels.
- University programmes. Platinum is only offered to study centres that run CIPD qualifications, not to providers of CIPD-accredited university programmes. If you are weighing the two, see CIPD vs an HR degree.
What does change from centre to centre is your experience: the teaching, the marking turnaround and the support.
What doesn’t Platinum tell you?
Many centres hold Platinum, so use it to build a shortlist, then compare the details it does not cover.
| What the label covers | What you still need to check |
|---|---|
| Marking, assessment and membership standards | How long marking takes for your assignments |
| Administration and operations | Who answers your questions, and how fast |
| Learner satisfaction | Independent reviews, and the tutor support you’ll get |
| Nothing on price, because centres set their own fees | The total cost and what is included |
Ask each centre:
- Marking turnaround. How long does marking take, and is it in writing? CIPD says centres should tell learners their service levels for queries and marking, and keep to them.
- Support. Who do you contact with questions, and how quickly will they reply?
- Draft feedback. Do you get feedback on a draft before formal marking?
- Price. What is included, and what costs extra, such as CIPD membership or extra tutor time?
- Reviews. What do reviews on independent sites say, including the lower scores?
For a fuller checklist, see our guide to choosing a CIPD provider.
How do I find and compare Platinum centres?
- Open the CIPD Centre Finder.
- Choose your qualification level and study type, such as online.
- Tick Only list Platinum Study Centres.
- Look for the Platinum Study Centre label next to each centre’s name.
The Finder also lets you narrow the list by:
| Filter | What you can choose |
|---|---|
| Qualification level | Foundation, Associate or Advanced level, in people management or learning and development |
| Study type | Online (live-streamed at set times, or on-demand at your own pace), face to face, or blended |
| Time commitment | Part time (2 to 20 hours) or full time (21+ hours), as the Finder defines them |
| Location | A town or city, within a 50 mile radius |
Some centres also offer a tailored programme for experienced professionals whose workplace experience covers at least 50% of the syllabus. These centres carry a Tailored programme label in the results.
If your country isn’t listed, CIPD says to search without a country selected to see online study centres. Avado delivers CIPD qualifications online in the UK and the Middle East.
Is Avado a CIPD Platinum Study Centre?
Yes. Avado is an approved Platinum Centre provider of CIPD qualifications. CIPD’s Centre Finder lists Avado as a Platinum Study Centre, and Avado has held the status since May 2025.
Our Professional package, as listed in our cost guide, includes:
- Live online classes with expert tutor support
- Comprehensive assessment guidance
- QuickScore for two months, giving instant feedback on a draft before you submit (unlimited on the Plus package)
- Ava, a 24/7 learning assistant
- 1:1 career mentoring and peer networking
Explore Avado’s CIPD qualifications or book a call with a course advisor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an approved centre and a Platinum centre?
Every study centre on the Centre Finder is CIPD approved. Platinum is the highest level of recognition within that group.
What does Platinum status mean for me as a learner?
It shows CIPD has recognised the centre for consistent quality across its performance criteria. It doesn’t guarantee your experience, so compare marking turnaround, support and total cost as well.
Can I study CIPD online with a Platinum centre?
Yes. Filter the Centre Finder by online study and Platinum status. Online study can be live-streamed or on-demand.
What is a tailored programme?
A route for experienced people professionals whose workplace experience covers at least 50% of the syllabus. Only some centres offer it.
