Professional registration and qualifications

Resources to help you with chartership or to join the profession

This section of the Learning Zone will help you: 

• showing your commitment to the profession 

• learning more about the wider profession 

• career development 

• gaining recognition for your skills 

• developing new skills 

Think about professional registration 

From CILIP: the library and information association.

CILIP Certification

One way to take the next step on your career. It is recognised within the NHS Knowledge and Library Services, 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)

This demonstrates that you have achieved the gold standard as an information professional or KM practitioner by becoming a Chartered (KM) Member of CILIP.  

CILIP Fellowship (including Knowledge Management Fellowship)

This 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. 

Find further information about professional registration.

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 and 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. 

Think about qualifications  

Apprenticeship: level 3 library, information and archive services assistant 

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

Have a look at the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education information.

Find out more information about this apprenticeship.

Some people work as a library assistant whilst doing a degree. For other people once they have spent some time as a library assistant, they realise that a degree is the right development for them.

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 may be found on the CILIP accredited qualififcations page. 

Find out more infomation about CILIP accredited qualifications.