What Does Upgrading a CIPS Membership Involve?

Updated

Upgrading a CIPS membership means moving to a higher grade of membership than the one you currently hold. On cips.org, this is handled through a dedicated membership upgrade area, and one named route shown there is the Management Entry Route (MER). The site does not publish upgrade fees, eligibility rules, or a step-by-step process on the pages available here, so treat the upgrade section as the starting point and confirm your specific grade and requirements with CIPS before applying.

What the site tells you

CIPS describes itself as the world's largest professional body serving procurement and supply, and its stated purpose is to help people get qualified and improve their career prospects. Membership and qualifications sit at the centre of that offer, which is why the site separates ordinary membership from an upgrade path.

From the available site information, three things are clear:

  • There is a membership upgrade entry point at cips.org/membership/upgrade.
  • Upgrading is tied to membership grades — you upgrade from something to something.
  • The Management Entry Route (MER) is one recognised upgrade route, with its own page under the upgrade section.

Anything beyond this — the full list of grades, the criteria for each, fees, and assessment methods — is not supported by the material available here.

Why members upgrade

A higher membership grade generally signals a higher level of professional recognition, which is the practical reason most people look at the upgrade page. If your goal is to demonstrate seniority or management-level competence in procurement and supply, the upgrade route is the relevant part of the site to read. If you are simply starting out or exploring the profession, the qualification pages are likely more useful than the upgrade pages.

The Management Entry Route (MER)

The MER appears as a distinct path within the upgrade section, which suggests it is designed for people entering at a management level rather than progressing through every lower grade first. That is an inference from how the site structures the page, not a published rule. Before relying on it, check the MER page directly for who it is intended for and what evidence it requires.

How to decide whether to upgrade

Use these questions to work out whether the upgrade section is worth your time:

  1. Do you already hold CIPS membership? Upgrading applies to existing members; new applicants follow the normal joining route instead.
  2. Are you aiming for a management-level recognition? If so, look at the MER page first.
  3. Can you evidence the level you are claiming? Upgrade decisions normally rest on qualifications and/or professional experience — confirm the exact requirement with CIPS rather than assuming.
  4. Is cost a factor? The site shows an upgrade link but no prices in the material available, so request current fees before committing.

Practical next steps

  • Open cips.org/membership/upgrade and read the grade descriptions.
  • If management entry looks relevant, open the MER page and note its stated requirements.
  • Contact CIPS with your current grade and target grade to get the definitive criteria and cost.
  • Keep records of your qualifications and experience ready, since upgrade assessments typically depend on them.

The main pitfall is assuming the upgrade route is automatic or free — neither is confirmed by the site, so verify both before you plan around an upgrade.