Professional registration and qualifications

Resources to help you gain chartership, accreditation or undertake a professional qualification.

Gaining a chartership, registration or professional qualification can help you:

  • show your commitment to the profession 

  • learn more about the wider profession 

  • with career development 

  • gain recognition for your skills 

  • develop new skills

Pathways to professional registration

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) provides several different pathways for chartership and certification.

CILIP Certification

CILIP Certification is one way to take the next step on your career. It is recognised within the NHS Knowledge and Library Services (KLS) and can open opportunities and help you develop in your current role.  

Professional registration proves to your employer and colleagues that you are committed to developing and maintaining the knowledge, skills and competency needed to meet today's knowledge and information needs. 

Once you have gained a level of Professional Registration you will be able to use the postnominals ACLIP and you can be included on CILIP’s public register of practitioners.  

Certification can be the first step to holding a professional post within the NHS Knowledge and Library Service as after certification when the time is right you can move on to Chartership. 

CILIP Chartership (including Knowledge Management Chartership)

CILIP Chartership (including Knowledge Management Chartership) demonstrates that you have achieved the gold standard as an information professional or knowledge management (KM) practitioner.

CILIP Fellowship (including Knowledge Management Fellowship)

A CILIP Fellowship (including Knowledge Management Fellowship) is the highest level of professional registration and recognises your work leading innovation and change, and your contributions to the sector, your organisation or the public. 

CILIP Revalidation

By undertaking professional registration, you’ve already shown your commitment to improving your professional knowledge.

One way to demonstrate your ongoing commitment is to revalidate to ensure you get the professional recognition you deserve for keeping your skills up-to-date and staying in touch with the latest developments in the profession. 

Information:

Find out more information about professional registration and certification.

Qualifications

Apprenticeships

The Level 3 Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant apprenticeship may be a suitable route for you if you want to develop your knowledge with a professional qualification.

With the support of your employer, you may be able to complete the award whilst working. You should discuss this with your manager. 

Information:

Find out more information about the Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant apprenticeships programme on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website.

Degrees

Alternatively, a degree may be the right choice for you. It is possible to work as a library assistant whilst doing a degree. However, you may decide that once you have spent some time working as a library assistant,  a degree is the right route for development.

There are multiple universities, both in the UK and aboard, that offer a degree qualification. Links to all the universities and the different courses they offer can be found on the CILIP website.

Information:

Find out more infomation about CILIP accredited qualifications.

Page last reviewed: 17 August 2023
Next review due: 17 August 2024