CMI Qualifications

Our students answer this best. They've rated us rated Excellent from more than 10,000 independent student reviews, making us the UK's most recommended online learning centre. We're the most experienced too – we've been helping students get qualified for 130 years. 

With us, you'll have the freedom to shape your CMI course around your life. This is perfect if you've got a full-time job, a family to look after, or a busy schedule.

Our courses let you take control of when and where you learn, giving you the freedom to study at your own pace and take breaks if you need to.

You'll also have unlimited support.

That's why thousands of students each year choose to achieve their career goals with us.

The Chartered Management Institute is one of the UK's leading professional bodies for management and leadership. With 100,000 members in the UK and internationally, they're a world-class authority on management and business excellence.

Championing leadership and management skills for over 60 years, the CMI holds a Royal Charter, making it the only organisation in the world able to award Chartered Manager status.

Studying a CMI course will develop your strategic leadership knowledge and practical management skills, improving your performance at work and helping you achieve your career ambitions.

CMI students achieve great things:

• 90% of CMI students say that it has improved their performance
• 79% say that CMI allowed them to improve their team’s performance
• 80% say that CMI improved their professional recognition
• 96% recommend studying CMI‡

Whatever your reason for studying CMI, we'll help you every step of the way. 

CMI Level 5 qualifications are designed for mid-level managers who usually report to a senior manager or business owner. 

The CMI Level 5 Certificate is a shorter course, covering two modules. It's ideal if you want to focus on developing your core strategic management skills. 

The CMI Level 5 Diploma allows you to choose a wider array of modules from a selection of nine options. It's ideal if you'd like to expand your knowledge and master a wide variety of strategic skills, from change management to coaching and mentoring.

CMI Level 7 qualifications are designed for senior managers and directors. They're ideal if you have responsibility for strategically leading an organisation.

The CMI Level 7 Certificate is a shorter course, allowing you to focus on the modules that are most valuable to your progression as a leader.

The CMI Level 7 Diploma covers a wider range of modules, giving you the comprehensive management expertise you need to deliver organisational results across a range of business areas.

Completing the Level 7 Diploma also allows you to apply for Chartered Manager status, the most prestigious management accolade.

We offer leadership and management qualifications from two world-class awarding bodies, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).

Both are highly prestigious, internationally recognised, and will give a huge boost to your skills and career – so how do you choose which one is right for you?

Firstly, it depends on where you are in your management career. We offer the following CMI and ILM qualifications:

• ILM Level 2 courses are for supervisors
• ILM Level 3 courses are for first-line managers
• ILM Level 5 courses and CMI Level 5 courses are for mid-level managers
• CMI Level 7 courses are for senior managers and directors

If you’re a mid-level manager choosing between ILM and CMI, there are a few things to consider.

If you’re looking to become a Chartered Manager, then CMI is right for you. The CMI is the only professional body in the world that can bestow Chartered Manager status, once you've passed your Level 7 qualification. 

CMI qualifications are also ideal if you want to deep dive into professional leadership theory and practice. You’ll study fewer modules than on an ILM qualification, but you’ll cover each topic in greater depth.

CMI courses are strategic in focus, making them perfect if you want to develop your high-level strategic management knowledge.

ILM qualifications, on the other hand, are highly practical, focused on helping you apply your workforce management skills in real-life situations.

They’re great if you want to touch on a broader range of hands-on management topics, as the modules are shorter than CMI, allowing you to study more subjects in less depth.

Still not sure? Get in touch with our course advisors by email, phone, or online chat – we’ll be happy to help.