What is ILM: Levels and Qualifications in Detail
The final instalment of our ‘What is ILM?’ series explores the various levels for both Leadership & Management and Coaching & Mentoring qualifications.
Leadership & Management Qualifications
ILM Level 3 Award & Certificate in Leadership & Management (available online with tutor support)
Who is this for?
- Aspiring and practising first-line managers
- Previous formal education or qualifications are not required
What is involved?
The Award
- Consists of two modules which provide a broad coverage of the key skills required to practise as a first-line manager.
- This provides a solid foundation for personal development and valuable insights into a variety of situations.
The Certificate
- Builds on and broadens the skills and knowledge gained in the Award.
- Students complete a further four modules, covering a range of different subject areas, all essential to being a first-line manager in today’s challenging world.
Next steps
- The Level 3 Award and Certificate equate to A level study and can provide students with up to 13 credits.
- They can be used as a steppingstone into an ILM Level 5 qualification, and through this to advanced entry to undergraduate degrees at several UK universities.
ILM Level 5 Certificate & Diploma in Leadership & Management
Who is this for?
- Aspiring and practising middle managers
- People who have a college or university degree in an unrelated subject and are keen to study leadership and management
What is involved?
The Certificate
- Covers key skills required to practise as a middle manager across six modules.
- Provides insight into different situations along with building a solid knowledge base for personal growth.
The Diploma
- Builds on and broadens the skills and knowledge gained in the certificate.
- Students work with their coach to develop a personal development plan, based on an analysis of the challenges faced by themselves and their organisations.
Next Steps
- On competition of the course, students can gain up to 60 credits at Level 5, which equates to year 2 of a Bachelors degree.
- They can be used as a steppingstone into an ILM Level 7 qualification or an undergraduate degree at a number of UK universities.
- For students who are keen to broaden their knowledge, a qualification in coaching & mentoring would be a logical step.
ILM Level 7 Certificate & Diploma in Leadership & Management
Who is this for?
- Aspiring and practising senior managers and leaders who wish to develop their professional capability and personal ‘brand’.
- The ILM Level 7 Certificate and Diploma in Leadership and Management are among ILM’s most senior qualifications.
What is involved?
The Certificate
- Consists of one, flexible mandatory unit that allows students to identify and work on the areas of leadership and management specific to their own work context and career path.
- Their work will focus on ways in which effective leadership and management skills can make a real difference to their organisation and to them as a senior manager.
The Diploma
- Consists of two additional units.
- The first focuses on presenting arguments for change, constructing business cases and leading change implementation.
- The second focuses on the creation and maintenance of a high-performance culture.
Next Steps
- Provides students with up to 60 credits at Level 7. These credits are equivalent to a PG Certificate and one third of a Masters in most university business schools
- The Level 7 Certificate and Diploma are prestigious qualifications in their own right and are ILM’s most senior awards.
- A qualification in coaching and mentoring would compliment this learning and further boost students’ knowledge.
Coaching & Mentoring Qualifications
ILM Level 3 Courses in Coaching
Who is this For?
- Team leaders, first time-line managers, and those who have a coaching role
What is involved?
- The programmes are centred on professional coaching and supervision for introducing coaching in the workplace.
- The programme of learning offers a combination of coaching and supervision sessions, set readings, individually defined CPD, online learning and reflective reviews.
Next Steps
- Achievement at this level offers a progression route to the ILM Level 5 qualifications in Coaching and Mentoring
ILM Level 5 Courses in Effective Coaching and Mentoring
Who is this for?
- Practising and aspiring managers and consultants
- People who are planning on setting up their own coaching business
What is involved?
- Students build a business case for a coaching or mentoring programme that will have a real impact for their organisation or client.
- Students use reflective practice in supervision sessions to review and develop their performance.
- Students will attend a number of coaching supervision sessions with expert coaching supervisors
Next Steps
- Achievement at this level offers a progression route to the ILM Level 7 qualifications for Executive and Senior Coaches and Mentors.
- ILM Level 5 qualifications in Effective Coaching and Mentoring are highly respected professional development.
Level 6 Certificate in Professional Supervision
Who is this for?
- Senior leaders, middle managers and aspiring leaders and managers who currently provide supervision or will be progressing into such a role.
What is involved?
- The course is split into learning modules which cover the knowledge required for successful supervision, the practice of working as a professional supervisor and reflections on personal and professional success.
- Each module is assessed through a mix of written assignments and the completion of a reflective portfolio, using evidence of supervision work, reflective practice, feedback and further development planning.
Next Steps
- Level 6 equates to final year honours degree level
- Provides progression routes to further professional development, including entry to Level 7 programmes in Leadership & Management, Coaching & Mentoring, and to Masters level study.
ILM Level 7 Courses for Executive and Senior Level Coaches and Mentors
Who is this for?
- Senior managers and consultants, (both practising and aspiring)
- Future coaching business owners
- HR Professionals who would like to expand their skillset
What is involved?
- The programmes are centred on delivering executive coaching or mentoring in the workplace.
- Students design an executive coaching or mentoring programme that will have real impact in their workplace, or in an organisation they are working with in a freelance capacity.
- Students receive coaching supervision sessions with expert coaching supervisors
Next Steps
- Provides students with up to 40 credits at Level 7
- These credits, which are at postgraduate level, can be used as a steppingstone into Masters level qualifications.
- The Academy of Leadership & Management has developed strong links with several universities and can facilitate advanced entry to MSc and MBA qualifications, providing exemption from the entry requirements of the universities.
ILM Level 7 Certificate & Diploma for Coaching Supervisor
Who is this for?
- Professionals who wish to develop their own coaching expertise
What is involved?
- Both the certificate and diploma are comprised of three compulsory units.
- A blended approach to learning combines the structured framework of an ILM qualification with a flexible approach to learning.
- Ability to demonstrate the aptitude to plan, deliver and review for 20 hours will earn the student a Certificate, and 60 hours will earn the Diploma
Next Steps
- The course provides the student with up to 40 credits
- These credits are on par with a postgraduate level.
- Successful completion of these qualifications combined with relevant experience, may also provide eligibility for Fellowship of the Institute of Leadership & Management and membership of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC).
For more information, contact us by email, info@academylm.co.uk or call 0141 611 7640.