CMI vs ILM

ILM or CMI – Compare the Qualifications

If you’ve ever considered doing a management qualification, you will certainly have come across the names ILM and CMI. As the UK’s principal management institutes, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the ILM both offer a range of professional services and qualification programmes geared towards equipping managers at all levels with the skills needed to excel and progress in their careers.

With independent research commissioned by the Consultative Committee for Professional Management Organisations (CCPMO) showing that individuals with professional qualifications earn an average of £152,000 more over the course of their careers, managers should be only too happy to have two such prestigious institutions to choose from for their development. But while this is certainly a blessing, it also complicates the already tricky process of picking a course even further.

So how should you choose between them?

We outline some key differences between the institutes and their qualifications below to help you decide.

Origins & Reputation

What this means

Royal Charters have always been prestigious and, now that they are no longer the only means of incorporating a body, are reserved for eminent bodies that are financially sound and have an outstanding record of achievement.

As the UK’s only chartered professional body for management, the CMI has a long history that originates in the 1950s – much longer than the ILM’s, which dates back to 2001 when the NEBS (National Examining Board for Supervision and Management) programme merged with the Institute of Supervision and Management (ISM).

In practice, this means that the CMI is seen as the “blue chip” institute, with a more established reputation for reliable, high quality services. In addition, it is better known for its top-end qualifications at Levels 5 and 7 (equivalent to foundation degrees and Master degrees respectively) and its more traditional focus.

The ILM, on the other hand, is better known for its supervisory and first line management programmes at Level 3.

These tend to have a more vocational focus than the CMI’s, which means they generally include more competence-based units rather than knowledge-based units.

Qualifications & Courses

Units & Credits

In England, Wales & Northern Ireland, both bodies offer qualifications from Level 2 to Level 7 in the form of Awards, Certificates and Diplomas. The rules relating to the credits required at each level are governed by the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and are thus exactly the same. There are, however, some slight differences in terms of unit content and qualification structure.

One of the key distinctions is that ILM units are smaller (i.e. worth less credits), which means that learners need to combine more of them in order to achieve the final qualification. This translates into increased flexibility and the opportunity to study a broader range of different topics within the scope of a given qualification.

The CMI units are instead bigger and, by virtue of requiring a greater number of study hours, allow for a topic to be studied in more depth.

Sector-specific qualifications & other courses

Both institutes offer accreditation for in-house management & leadership training.

Training centres & support

When it comes to choosing a centre, it may be important to note that the CMI works with 600+ study centres, while the ILM works with 2,500 training providers worldwide. In both cases, learners have the possibility of completing the qualifications in different formats – via online or distance learning, as classroom courses or as in-house programmes for groups of employees.

In terms of learning materials and support, both bodies supply a range of resources to training centres that deliver their qualifications, as well as having quality assurance processes in place to maintain high levels of training across the board.

Membership

The CMI has approximately 130,000 members worldwide where the ILM has around 25,000. Both institutes offer free membership to current learners throughout the duration of their studies.

Membership levels for the two bodies are as follows:

Which institute and qualification will ultimately give you the most in terms of recognition, influence and possibilities for career development is impossible to say, but we hope the overview above will give you some important insights into which potentially suits you best.

The benefits statement from each awarding body

Why study with CMI?

Study with us

As the only chartered professional body in the field of management and leadership, you are assured that CMI qualifications are of the highest quality.

Perhaps the statistics from recent research better summarises what achieving a CMI qualification will do for you:

Each year over 30,000 people study a CMI qualification. Here’s why:

What are the benefits of a professional qualification with CMI?

Investing in a professional qualification takes time and dedication but the results are worth the effort:

Boost your career earnings

Independent research proves that individuals with professional qualifications and membership stand to earn an additional £152,000 throughout their career. You’ll also be part of an extensive management community, opening doors for career progression.

Improve your management skills

For managers who want to sharpen their professional edge and enhance their effectiveness, membership offers access to qualifications, courses, mentoring and unrivalled support resources. You can also achieve the ultimate management accolade, Chartered Manager status.

Why choose an ILM qualification?

Adaptable programmes customised for you

ILM recognise that we all have different expectations, experiences, skill-sets, abilities, and roles and have designed flexible management and leadership qualifications that can be tailored in collaboration with your organisational needs.

ILM training providers can tailor qualifications to suit you.

Accreditation and Regulation

All ILM qualifications are awarded by City & Guilds of London Institute and accredited by the relevant qualifications frameworks. This means they have the government’s stamp of approval, and have been certified as being of a high standard.
This is crucial for employers, who can use them to gauge your level of ability and experience.

Learner support

Individuals studying an ILM qualification receive free member benefits with the ILM for 12 months or the duration of their programme (whichever is longer). This gives learners access to specialist e-learning resources and support and the chance to network with like-minded professionals.

View our courses

Results Driven Group (RDG) has put together a diverse selection of courses to assist and develop business professionals and entrepreneurs. With a consistently proven track record over many years, you can be assured of receiving the highest support and tuition available from our instructors across the entire course catalogue.