Apply for/upgrade your professional membership
Apply for a professional grade
Show how your experience meets the criteria for your grade, send your evidence and pay the £67 application fee. The membership team reviews every application personally.
- About 10 minutes online
- Save and finish later
- Membership fee only once you are approved
Questions? Call 01780 722900 or email [email protected]
What each professional grade asks for
Assessors check your evidence against the CICM Professional Standards. Use the points for your grade as a guide when you write your personal statement.
Associate (ACICM)
Operational and developing roles in credit, collections, insolvency, litigation or enforcement
Who it is for
People working in, or developing a career in, credit management, collections, insolvency, litigation or enforcement. This typically includes operational or developing roles such as Credit Analyst, Credit Controller, Collections Agent, Insolvency or Litigation Administrator and Enforcement Agent.
You can also qualify by holding the Level 3 Diploma in Credit and Collections or Money and Debt Advice.
The qualified route: ACICM(Dip)
Complete a CICM Level 3 Diploma and you become eligible for ACICM(Dip). About the Level 3 Diploma
Member (MCICM)
Supervisory and senior roles that manage or shape credit and collections
Who it is for
Supervisory and senior roles such as Credit Manager, Collections Manager, Recoveries Manager and Insolvency Practitioner.
What the assessors look for
- Managing or contributing significantly to the credit management or collections lifecycle
- Applying professional judgement to credit risk, customer assessment or account strategy
- Managing or influencing credit limits, payment terms or risk exposure
- Monitoring and reviewing customer credit performance and risk profiles
- Managing or maintaining customer credit files and records
- Investigating higher-risk or higher-value customer accounts or applications
- Contributing to the development, application or review of credit or collections policies
- Working collaboratively with sales, finance, legal or other internal stakeholders
- Managing relationships with third parties such as agencies, service providers or consultants
- Using data, metrics or reporting to evaluate credit or collections effectiveness
- Demonstrating sound commercial understanding of their organisation
- Ensuring compliance with relevant legal, regulatory or governance frameworks
The graduate route: MCICM(Grad)
Complete a CICM Level 5 Diploma and you become eligible for MCICM(Grad), if you have also achieved a CICM Level 3 Diploma, or MCICM or FCICM through the membership experience assessment route. About the Level 5 Diploma
What to send
- One sponsor statement
- A personal statement
- An up-to-date CV
- Optional: up to 3 extra pieces of evidence, such as customer feedback, credit policies, or qualifications and certificates covering the criteria
Fellow (FCICM)
Leaders who set credit strategy and represent the profession
Who it is for
Leaders who develop and deliver credit strategy and can show its impact on the business.
What the assessors look for
- Strategic leadership or senior influence over credit, risk or financial management activities
- Accountability for credit policy, governance or organisational risk frameworks
- Leading or influencing significant change, transformation or improvement in credit practices
- Acting as a subject matter expert within their organisation, sector or client base
- Mentoring, developing or sponsoring professionals within credit or related disciplines
- Contributing to the wider profession through thought leadership, speaking, writing or advocacy
- Active engagement with CICM activities, governance, panels, education or initiatives
- Representing the credit profession externally with credibility and authority
- Demonstrating sustained professional integrity, judgement and ethical leadership
What to send
- One sponsor statement
- A personal statement
- An up-to-date CV
- Optional: up to 3 extra pieces of evidence, such as customer feedback, credit policies, or qualifications and certificates covering the criteria
What happens next
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Send your application
Fill in the form, upload your evidence and pay the £67 application fee.
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We review it
The membership team checks your evidence against the grade criteria by hand, and gets in touch if they need anything else.
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Pay your membership fee
Once approved, pay the annual fee by card, monthly by Direct Debit, or ask us to invoice your employer.
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Use your post-nominals
Add ACICM, MCICM or FCICM to your email signature, CV and professional profiles.
Get your employer to pay
Many employers cover professional membership. Share a business case for your grade with your manager, and we can invoice your employer directly.
Paying yourself? Claim tax relief
CICM is on HMRC's list of approved professional bodies, so you can usually claim tax relief on fees you pay yourself.
How to claim on GOV.UKBefore you apply
Still unsure about something? The membership team is happy to talk it through.
Call 01780 722900Which grade should I apply for?
Go by your role and responsibilities, or by the CICM qualification you hold. The criteria above set out who each grade is for.
Who can be my sponsor?
Someone who knows your work and can vouch for your experience, such as your line manager, a client, a peer or a previous manager. Send them the sponsor declaration form early, so their statement is ready when you apply.
What should my personal statement cover?
How your experience meets the criteria for your grade. Use the points listed for your grade above as a guide, with examples from your own work.
Can I save my application and finish it later?
Yes. Use Save at the bottom of the form and you get a link to pick up where you left off.
When do I pay, and how much?
You pay the £67 application fee when you apply, whether you are new to CICM or upgrading. The membership fee is only due once your application is approved: £194 a year for ACICM, £238 for MCICM and £295 for FCICM, or monthly by Direct Debit (£16.67, £19.83 and £24.58).
How long does the review take?
Every professional application is checked by hand against the grade criteria, so it can take a little time. We will be in touch if we need anything else from you.
I'm already a member. Is this the right form?
Yes. Choose that you are a current member at the start of the form and pick the grade you want to move up to.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. Share a business case for your grade with your manager, and we can invoice your employer directly.
I want to join as Studying, Essentials, Affiliate or Enforcement Agent
Those grades have their own forms. Studying, Essentials and Affiliate join online in a few minutes, with no evidence needed.
Get your experience recognised
Have your sponsor statement, personal statement and CV to hand, and you can apply in one sitting.
Questions about applying? Email [email protected]
Membership keeps your skills current, and backing your team's membership keeps your best people with you. Whether you're applying for yourself or for your team, email me and we'll set it up.
Ayman Trabelsi ACICMMembership Advisor, CICM