Where to Find CIPS Membership Upgrade Information

Updated

The CIPS membership upgrade information is on the official CIPS website at cips.org, under the membership section. The site lists an "Upgrade your membership" page at https://www.cips.org/membership/upgrade, and a separate page for the Management Entry Route (MER) at https://www.cips.org/membership/upgrade/mer. Use these pages when you already hold a CIPS membership and want to move to a higher grade, or when you are checking whether the MER route applies to you.

Direct entry points

What you need Where to go
General membership upgrade information cips.org/membership/upgrade
Management Entry Route (MER) details cips.org/membership/upgrade/mer
CIPS overview and membership context cips.org (main site)

The main site describes CIPS as a professional body serving procurement and supply, so the membership area is the correct section to browse rather than the qualifications or training pages.

How to use the pages

  1. Start at cips.org and navigate to the membership section, or go directly to the upgrade URL above.
  2. Read the upgrade page to understand what an upgrade involves and which route matches your current grade.
  3. If you are considering the Management Entry Route, open the MER page for its specific conditions.
  4. Check the requirements and any fees on the page itself before starting an application — the site does not state on the pages referenced here that upgrading is free, so confirm costs and eligibility directly.

Expected result: you land on the official upgrade page and can identify the route and next step for your situation.

Common sticking points

  • Confusing upgrade with joining: the upgrade pages assume you are already a member. New applicants should use the main membership pages instead.
  • Assuming the MER is the default route: the MER is a distinct entry route with its own page; check it only if the standard upgrade path does not fit your experience.
  • Expecting pricing on the landing page: the site references upgrading but the referenced pages do not publish prices in the material available, so verify fees and any login requirements on the page before applying.

For background on what CIPS is and how qualifications fit a procurement career, the related questions on this site cover those topics separately.