What Are the CIPS Levels and Which One Do You Need?

Monday, 20 July 2026

How the CIPS levels fit together

The CIPS levels are best understood as one connected pathway rather than a set of separate courses. CIPS structures its qualifications from Level 2 through to the Level 6 Professional Diploma, with each level building on the one below and Levels 4 to 6 forming the main qualification route towards full Member status, known as MCIPS (CIPS 2025). The lower levels introduce procurement language and process, the middle levels build management capability, and the top level develops strategic leadership. For anyone weighing where to start, this means the question is not whether to climb the ladder but where to step onto it.

Level 2 and Level 3: getting started

The first two levels exist for people who are new to procurement or working in support roles. The Level 2 Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations suits school leavers and those with little business experience, while the Level 3 Advanced Certificate builds operational skills for buyers and procurement officers already handling routine tasks (CIPS 2025). These levels focus on the fundamentals of sourcing basics, stakeholder engagement and the mechanics of raising and managing orders. If procurement is new to you or sits at the edge of your current role, starting here builds a foundation that later levels assume you already have.

Level 4 Diploma: the most common entry point

For most working professionals, the Level 4 Diploma is the natural place to begin. CIPS describes the Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply as the highest entry point to its qualifications, open to those with a minimum of Australian Year 12, a CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate or at least two years of relevant business experience, and made up of eight modules worth 60 credits. It is built around the CIPS Procurement and Supply Cycle and covers scoping, sourcing, contracting, negotiation and risk, which is why it maps so closely to a real buying role. If you already work in procurement without a formal qualification, the AcademyGlobal CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply formalises what you already do and opens the path towards MCIPS.

Level 5 Advanced Diploma: stepping into management

The Level 5 Advanced Diploma is where the qualification shifts from doing procurement to managing it. CIPS positions the Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply at the same academic standard as the second year of an undergraduate degree, built from five core modules and three electives, with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations added to the syllabus in 2025. It develops the capabilities that mid to senior roles demand, including managing teams, category management, supply chain risk and the legal side of contracts. If you have completed the Level 4 Diploma and are moving into managing people, categories or significant contracts, the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply is usually the level you need next.

Level 6 Professional Diploma and MCIPS

The Level 6 Professional Diploma is the strategic capstone of the CIPS ladder. CIPS sets the Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply at the level of an honours degree and describes it as the final qualification step towards MCIPS, aimed at senior professionals working on policy, leadership and complex strategy. Completing Levels 4, 5 and 6 and evidencing at least three years of relevant professional experience is what qualifies you to apply for the MCIPS designation. For those moving into senior or strategic procurement roles, Level 6 completes the pathway, and the AcademyGlobal CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply is how you take that final step.

Which level do you need?

Choosing your level comes down to matching the qualification to your current experience and role rather than your ambition alone. As a rough guide, start at Level 2 or Level 3 if you are new to the field or in a support role, at Level 4 if you have a couple of years of buying experience, at Level 5 if you are managing teams or contracts, and at Level 6 if you are operating strategically. For context, the CIPS Procurement and Supply Salary Guide 2025 reports an association between holding MCIPS and higher pay in Australia, with MCIPS holders earning an average of A$197,373 compared with A$153,544 for those without it. The safest approach is to enter at the highest level you genuinely qualify for, since that avoids repeating content you already know while still giving you the recognised credential.

How AcademyGlobal helps you choose and progress

Choosing and moving through the CIPS levels is easier with a study centre that knows the pathway inside out. AcademyGlobal (AG) is Australia and New Zealand’s first and only CIPS Centre of Excellence, and it delivers the full CIPS qualification pathway from Level 4 through to Level 6. AG teaches through a blended model that combines self-paced eLearning with tutor-led virtual workshops, typically run as weekly evening sessions, and its tutors are experienced practitioners and CIPS-qualified, including MCIPS and FCIPS members. AG also provides exam support and coordinates your CIPS exam bookings, along with structured end-to-end support on your pathway towards MCIPS. Because it delivers every level from Level 4 upward, AG can help you enter at the right point and progress without gaps.

Whether you are starting out with the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply or stepping up to the CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply, explore the pathway with AcademyGlobal and talk to the team about the next intake.

Frequently asked questions

How many CIPS levels are there?

There are five CIPS levels, running from Level 2 Certificate to Level 6 Professional Diploma. Together they form a connected pathway that builds towards full Member status, known as MCIPS.

Which CIPS level should I start at?

It depends on your experience. Newcomers and support staff usually start at Level 2 or Level 3, while most working professionals with at least two years of experience begin at Level 4, the highest entry point.

Do I have to complete every CIPS level?

No. You enter at the level that matches your experience, so if you qualify for Level 4 you do not need to complete Level 2 or Level 3 first. From Level 4 you then progress through Level 5 and Level 6.

What is CIPS Level 5 equivalent to?

The Level 5 Advanced Diploma sits at the same academic standard as the second year of an undergraduate degree. You need to have completed the Level 4 Diploma before starting it.

Which CIPS levels do I need for MCIPS?

To become eligible for MCIPS you complete the Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6 qualifications and evidence at least three years of relevant professional experience, after which you can apply for the designation.

References

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (2025) Procurement qualifications, available at: https://www.cips.org/qualifications

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (2025) Diploma in Procurement and Supply, available at: https://www.cips.org/qualifications/diploma-in-procurement-supply

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (2025) Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply, available at: https://www.cips.org/qualifications/advanced-diploma-in-procurement-supply

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (2025) Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply, available at: https://www.cips.org/qualifications/professional-diploma-in-procurement-supply

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (2025) Procurement and Supply Salary Guide 2025: Australia and New Zealand, available at: https://salaryguide.cips.org/regions/australia-new-zealand-2025/