Upgrade to MCIPS
Once you are eligible to be upgraded to full Membership (MCIPS) we need confirmation of the Charter requirement of "at least three years’ experience in a post of responsibility in the purchasing and supply profession." This is a simple process and to make it easy, we have designed template letters for your use below.
How to apply for an upgrade to full membership of CIPS
The CIPS Charter bye-law states that to achieve full membership of the institute, an applicant must, in addition to the qualification and experiential route requirements, also have at least three years’ experience in a post of responsibility in the purchasing and supply profession;
CIPS requires that all members who wish to achieve full membership (MCIPS) on completion of the Graduate Diploma or other specialist qualifications accredited by CIPS, to apply formally to have their membership upgraded.
Applications
Applications will be accepted from individuals who meet the following qualification and experience profiles:
Accepted qualifications:
- Have completed by CIPS assessment or exemption all of the following CIPS qualifications;
o Level 4 Foundation Diploma
o Level 5 Advanced Diploma
o Level 6 Graduate Diploma,
or
- Have completed a pre September 2006 Syllabus,
or
- Have completed a qualification which has been accredited by CIPS to achieve full membership such as:
o NVQ level 4 in Supply Chain Management
o NVQ level 4 in Procurement (if applied for before 31 December 2010)
o CIPS accredited specialist Bachelors and Masters qualifications,
or
- Have completed a recognised experiential route such as:
o CIPS Management Entry Route (previously Personal Development Plan)
o CIPS Corporate Award (Advanced Practitioner programme).
Three years’ experience requirement
Typical role profiles which would be accepted include:
a. Any person who has responsibility in a post which covers purchasing and supply related activity. Responsibility can include budgets, inventory, human and physical resources, policies, procedures, processes and information
b. any person who is responsible for the provision of an advisory or consultative service at a senior management level and which relates to purchasing and supply activity
c. any person who is responsible for delivering learning to others which is related to purchasing and supply activities and which is positioned at a UK graduate level
d. any person who has made a contribution to higher level learning or research, which is related to purchasing and supply subject matter. Higher level learning is defined as being contained within a PhD or through published work in eminent higher level publications
e. any person who has ultimate, but not necessarily direct, responsibility for a purchasing and supply related function in an organisation.
Application process
To apply for an upgrade to MCIPS, members should send a testimony from their line manager which states that the individual has “at least three years’ experience in a post of responsibility in the purchasing and supply profession.” Such testimonials must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV).
In exceptional circumstances, members who are not able to obtain a line manager’s testimonial may provide a self-certified testimonial together with a copy of their CV and the names of two referees from individuals who will be able to verify the contents of the CV.
This route would typically apply to those who are self-employed, taking career breaks or who are currently unemployed.
Those individuals who are applying based on a CIPS accredited programme such as an accredited specialist degree or the NVQ in Supply Chain Management should, ensure that they meet the evidential requirements which are typically a copy of the relevant qualification certificate and notification of results.
How to apply for upgrade
To make your upgrade to MCIPS process as simple and trouble-free as possible, we have set up three template letters to help members to apply. They are:
Letter 1 – Covering letter - stating your name, membership number and route to membership. You must also include your curriculum vitae (CV).
Letter 2 – Line manager testimonial – your line manager should complete details of this letter and return it to the member.
Letter 3 – Self-certified application letter including names of two referees. You must also include your CV.
All applications should be sent to the Customer Service Team at Easton House. You can send them as e-mail attachments to qualifications@cips.org Alternatively, if you wish to print the completed letter(s) you should send or fax these to
Customer Service Advisors,
CIPS,
Easton House,
Easton on the Hill,
Stamford,
Lincolnshire,
PE9 3NZ
UK
Fax +44 (0) 1780 751610
Payment
There is no charge to apply for an upgrade to full membership of CIPS. Continual eligibility for this grade is however dependent on the individual’s membership subscription being paid annually. Individuals who do not continue payment of their annual membership fees cannot retain the grade of full membership (MCIPS) or continue to use their designatory letters.
What happens next?
If accepted into full membership a member certificate will be sent within 6 working weeks of the upgrade taking place. When applications have not been approved, CIPS will advise individual members in writing within 3 working weeks of the application being received.
Use of your data
Names of members for acceptance into CIPS full membership are provided to the CIPS Council for formal endorsement. The names of members who are upgraded may be published in relevant journals such as Supply Management Magazine, or on the CIPS website.
Use of designatory letters (MCIPS)
After full membership has been confirmed, individual members are able to use the designatory letters MCIPS after their name for as long as their membership remains paid.
Appeal process
If an individual is not awarded MCIPS and wishes to challenge the decision, they will have the right of appeal. Appeals must be made in writing, initially to the Director of Professional Development at Easton House.
Template letters:
Individual's covering letter
Line manager's letter
Self-certification letter