Terms and conditions for Management Entry Route
Term Term reference Terms for the Applicant
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1) CIPS Competency The CIPS Competency Assessment must
Assessment be successfully completed in order for
applicants to pass to the next stage of
the assessment process.
2) Internet Access The assessment must be completed
requirements online.
You will need uninterrupted access to
the internet for the duration of the CIPS
Competency Assessment.
The interview assessment is via Skype
and so you will need good internet
connection for this.
3) Timescale for Completion The CIPS Competency Assessment must
be completed within a maximum of 15
calendar days from receiving the
assessment instructions.
4) Failure to complete within If the assessment is not completed
the deadline within the set calendar day timescale,
you may be subject to rejection from the
MER assessment process. In this
circumstance, fees are non-refundable.
All deadlines are clearly stated in the
guidance.
5) Extenuating personal If you are unable to complete within the
circumstances allowed timescale you must inform CIPS
in writing via mer@cips.org.
6) Results and outcomes Once you complete the assessment,
from online assessment CIPS will contact you to organise the
Interview assessment. You will receive
the results from your competency
assessment in your final outcome
candidate report that you receive up to
30 days after your interview assessment.
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Terms for Management Entry Route
CIPS
CIPS provides applicants one attempt
at the CIPS Competency Assessment.
Failure to complete this within the set
timescale means the assessment
process is stopped and the applicant
may be advised to reapply in the
future
CIPS accepts no responsibility for
individuals internet access and will
not accept appeals based on issues
with internet connection as a reason
for not being able to complete the
assessment within the allowed
timescale.
The 15 day period starts from the date
the email is sent to the applicant
CIPS will confirm rejection from the
process.
CIPS will acknowledge the letter and
provide a suitable response.
CIPS Standards department reserve
the right to accept or reject any
request for an extension at their
discretion.
CIPS will send you your outcome by
email within 30 days after you have
completed the interview assessment
Term Term reference Terms for the Applicant
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7) Ethics Test You must have an up-to-date CIPS on-
line Ethics, and you will not be able to
register for an interview assessment
until you have successfully completed
the CIPS Ethics Test. If you have
undertaken the current test prior to
making your MER application, the test
must have been completed within the
12 months preceding your MER
application..
.
8) Registration You must contact CIPS to register for the
for Stage 2 interview assessment within 60 calendar
interview days of completing the online
assessment Competency assessment.
Registration is complete
when the interview date is set up.
The interview must take place a
maximum of 90 days after you
completed the online assessment.
9) Payment Registration is complete when you
successfully make payment for the MER
assessment.
Payment can be made by credit or debit
card (subject to processing fees)
Payment must be received in full.
Credit card charges are 2%.
10) Refunds You are entitled to a full refund of MER
fees within 14 days of making
payment. You will waive your right to a
refund within this timeframe once you
access the Competency Assessment, as
this stands as an agreement for the
services to begin before the refund
period has ended. CIPS will not
otherwise refund fees unless there are
exceptional circumstances, and will
not refund fees if you are withdrawn
from the assessment process at any
stage.(See also Terms 4, 11, 14)
11) Cancellations Cancellation or rescheduling of
interviews must be done in writing to
mer@cips.org . A minimum of 7 days
notice is required. Failure to attend or
give the 7 days notice may result in a
cancellation fee being applied.
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Terms for Management Entry Route
CIPS
Failure to complete the Ethics Test
will prevent you from registering for
the interview assessment, which may
mean that you are withdrawn from
the MER process. If you are then
interested in pursuing MCIPS via the
MER route, you would need to start
again and would be subject to the full
assessment fees on reapplication.
Failure to register to undertake the
interview assessment within 90 days
undertaking the online assessment will
mean you are automatically withdrawn
from the process. If you are then
interested in pursuing MCIPS via the
MER route, you would need to start
again and would be subject to the full
assessment fees on reapplication.
CIPS will contact you to invite you to
make your payment. We accept credit
or debit card payments.
Other than in accordance with
statutory requirements, CIPS will not
be able to offer any refund except in
exceptional circumstances with
independent evidence ( for example,
medical reports) to substantiate the
claim. Refunds, if made, will be
credited to the applicants account.
CIPS reserves the right to cancel or
reschedule interviews to the earliest
convenient date at short notice to the
applicant.
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Term Term reference Terms for the Applicant
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12) Deadlines and If you do not meet the required
extensions deadlines, you will be automatically
withdrawn from the MER assessment
process. In this circumstance, fees are
non-refundable.
If you are unable to meet any deadline,
you must inform CIPS in writing via
mer@cips.org and request an extension
before the deadline date has passed.
13) Format and The format and structure of any written
word count element should follow the guidance
provided.
Word counts must be met. Where a
word count is set, there is a permitted
tolerance of +/- 10%
All submissions must be made
electronically in normal acceptable
Microsoft Word or PDF format.
14) Authenticity Statement of Authenticity:
and plagiarism By participating in the MER assessment,
all applicants agree that all work is their
own.
Your submission must be your own
work.
15) Resubmissions If you are unsuccessful at meeting the
or reattempts required standard for any of the
elements of the assessment, CIPS, at its
own discretion, may choose to offer you
one resubmission opportunity.
16) Interview The Interview may be recorded for
recording quality, training and verification
purposes... The applicant agrees to this
by undertaking the interview.
.
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Terms for Management Entry Route
CIPS
Late submissions will not be accepted
(they will not be marked) unless there
are very exceptional circumstances
such as a serious illness.
CIPS will confirm rejection from the
process in writing.
For extensions, CIPS will acknowledge
the letter and provide a suitable
response.
CIPS reserves the right to refuse
requests for extension.
CIPS will consider requests for
extensions where the individual is
experiencing extenuating personal
circumstances.
Where word counts have not been met
CIPS reserves the right to request a
rewrite or reject the submission.
Any submissions not submitted
electronically in globally acceptable
formats such as Microsoft Word or PDF
may be rejected
CIPS will take cases of plagiarism very
seriously. CIPS reserves the right to
reject any applicant they suspect is in
breach of either the Statement of
Authenticity or plagiarism.
CIPS also reserves the right to take
further steps relating to any breaches.
No refunds of fees will be made in
cases of plagiarism.
If this is the case you will receive a
message from CIPS making that offer,
and providing you with a deadline for
completion of your reattempt.
Failure to submit, or meet the required
standard means the assessment
process is stopped and the applicant
may be advised to reapply in the future.
CIPS will use any recordings for quality
assurance, training and validation
purposes only. Recordings of interviews
will not be made available to applicants
CIPS complies with relevant data
protection legislation.
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Term Term reference Terms for the Applicant Terms for Management Entry Route
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17) Outcome; You should expect to be informed of the CIPS will advise you of the outcome of
timescales for outcome from the MER assessment your MER assessment within 30
notification within 30 calendar days of completion of calendar days of you completing the
the interview. interview assessment .

18) Appeals Applicants have the right to request a CIPS will review all appeals according to
review (stage 1) or appeal (stage 2) by the CIPS review and appeals policy and
following the standard CIPS review and process.
appeals process Reviews and appeals
carry a fee which is refundable if the
appeal is upheld.

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