Chartered Institute of Management Specialists (CIMS) crest
CIMS Chartered Institute of
Management Specialists
Register Member Log In Admin Log In
Contact Us
CIMS Partnership Framework
Building Professional Relationships

Partnership Framework

Across management, training and executive development — distinct pathways for institutions, independent practitioners and training firms.

CIMS CHARTERED
Partnership Framework

The Chartered Institute of Management Specialists (CIMS) works with organisations and experienced professionals internationally to advance professional management standards, executive development and competency-based professional recognition.

CIMS recognises that prospective partners operate under different structures. A university, an independent management consultant and a commercial training company do not have the same organisational capacity, regulatory position or relationship with their learners. For this reason, CIMS provides distinct partnership pathways appropriate to the nature and capacity of each applicant.

All partnership arrangements remain subject to the Institute's applicable due diligence, professional assessment, quality assurance and formal approval requirements.

Choose a Pathway

Three Routes to Partnership

Each pathway reflects the nature and capacity of the applicant, from established institutions to independent practitioners and registered training firms.

Pathway 01

Institutional Partnership

For universities, colleges, professional bodies, government training institutions, corporate academies and other formally constituted institutions seeking a strategic relationship with CIMS.

Read More ↓
Pathway 02

Independent Professional Partnership

For experienced independent consultants, corporate trainers, executive coaches and specialist practitioners who operate without a training organisation's infrastructure.

Read More ↓
Pathway 03

Training Firm Partnership

For registered training companies, professional academies and executive-education providers, potentially leading to Accredited Training Partner (ATP) status.

Read More ↓
01 · Institutional Partnership

For Established Educational, Professional and Corporate Institutions

The CIMS Institutional Partnership pathway is intended for established organisations seeking a formal strategic or professional relationship with the Institute.

Eligible organisations may include
Universities & higher education institutions Colleges & business schools Professional bodies & associations Government training institutions Corporate academies Public-sector institutions NGOs & development organisations Other formally constituted institutions

What an Institutional Partnership May Provide

  • Collaborate with CIMS on professional and executive-development initiatives
  • Establish progression or professional-recognition pathways
  • Participate in jointly approved professional-development activities
  • Refer eligible professionals for CIMS membership or certification
  • Collaborate on conferences, seminars, research or publications
  • Seek CIMS accreditation of eligible professional or in-house programmes
  • Participate in approved CPD initiatives
  • Publicly identify itself as a CIMS Institutional Partner, within the terms of the agreement

What Institutional Partnership Does NOT Mean

  • Authorise the institution to deliver every CIMS qualification
  • Permit the institution to issue CIMS certificates independently
  • Constitute university, governmental or statutory accreditation by CIMS
  • Allow unrestricted use of CIMS intellectual property
  • Confer territorial exclusivity
  • Permit alteration of CIMS assessment or certification requirements
  • Authorise representation of CIMS beyond the scope expressly stated in the agreement
Specific activities are determined by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Partnership Agreement or other formal instrument governing the relationship. Any authority to deliver specific CIMS programmes must be expressly approved by the Institute.
02 · Independent Professional Partnership

For Experienced Independent Consultants, Trainers and Executive Practitioners

CIMS recognises the important contribution made by independent management consultants, corporate trainers, executive coaches, facilitators and specialist practitioners. This pathway provides an appropriate relationship for experienced professionals who operate independently and do not necessarily maintain the organisational infrastructure of a training institution.

It may be appropriate for
Independent management consultants Corporate trainers Executive-development professionals Leadership facilitators Business advisers Management specialists Subject-matter experts Other established independent practitioners

What an Independent Professional Relationship May Provide

  • Establish a recognised professional association with CIMS
  • Refer appropriate professionals to CIMS programmes, membership and certification pathways
  • Participate in selected CIMS professional-development activities
  • Contribute professional articles, case studies or thought leadership for consideration
  • Participate in selected CIMS conferences, webinars or professional initiatives
  • Be considered for appropriate CIMS panels, speaking engagements or activities
  • Access selected professional and CPD resources
  • Progress towards other CIMS professional relationships where requirements are subsequently satisfied

What This Relationship Does NOT Mean

  • Make the individual an Accredited Training Partner
  • Authorise the individual to operate a CIMS training centre
  • Permit independent delivery of CIMS qualifications
  • Authorise collection of CIMS certification fees unless expressly appointed
  • Permit the individual to issue CIMS certificates or credentials
  • Confer authority to represent CIMS within a country or territory
  • Create an employer/employee relationship with CIMS
  • Confer exclusivity, or permit use of "CIMS Accredited Training Partner" unless separately approved
The individual remains an independent professional and must not represent themselves as an employee, officer or authorised institutional representative of CIMS unless formally appointed as such.
03 · Training Firm Partnership

For Professional Training and Executive Education Providers

The CIMS Training Firm Partnership pathway is intended for registered training companies, professional academies, consulting firms and executive-development providers that possess the organisational capacity to support structured professional learning and/or candidate development. This pathway may lead to CIMS Accredited Training Partner (ATP) status where the organisation satisfactorily completes the Institute's accreditation requirements.

Eligible applicants may include
Registered training companies Management training firms Executive education providers Professional academies Learning and development companies Management consulting firms with established training operations Specialist professional training providers

What an Approved Training Firm May Do

  • Deliver specifically approved CIMS programmes
  • Recruit and support candidates for approved professional pathways
  • Facilitate candidate preparation for applicable assessments
  • Support approved Recognition of Prior Learning pathways
  • Promote approved CIMS programmes
  • Display the authorised CIMS Accredited Training Partner identity
  • Be recognised within CIMS's official partner network
  • Submit eligible in-house training for separate accreditation where applicable
  • Receive relevant quality-assurance and administrative support from CIMS

What an Accredited Training Firm May NOT Do

  • Issue CIMS professional certifications independently
  • Confer CIMS membership
  • Make final assessment or certification decisions on behalf of CIMS
  • Alter CIMS assessment standards without written approval
  • Create unauthorised CIMS qualifications
  • Use CIMS branding outside approved purposes, or guarantee candidates a pass
  • Represent CIMS as a university or governmental awarding authority
  • Claim territorial exclusivity unless expressly granted in writing
  • Subcontract or transfer its CIMS authorisation without approval
Final professional assessment, certification and credential issuance remain under the authority of CIMS.
At a Glance

Understanding the Difference

A side-by-side view of what each partnership pathway typically involves.

Institutional Partner · Independent Professional / Consultant · Training Firm / ATP
Feature Institutional Partner Independent Professional / Consultant Training Firm / ATP
Typical applicant University, professional body, corporate/public institution Individual consultant, trainer or specialist Registered training/consulting company
Formal organisation required Yes Not necessarily Yes
Strategic collaboration ✓ Limited / professional ✓
Refer candidates to CIMS ✓ ✓ ✓
Participate in CIMS professional activities ✓ ✓ ✓
Deliver approved CIMS programmes Only if separately authorised ✕ ✓, where specifically approved
Issue CIMS certificates ✕ ✕ ✕
Make final CIMS assessment decisions ✕ ✕ ✕
Use ATP identity Only if separately accredited ✕ ✓ after accreditation
Automatic territorial exclusivity ✕ ✕ ✕
Represent CIMS generally Only within agreement ✕ Only within approved scope
Important

Partnership Does Not Equal Certification Authority

A CIMS partnership establishes a defined professional or institutional relationship with the Institute. It does not transfer CIMS's certification authority to another organisation or individual.

Where CIMS professional certifications are delivered through an approved partner, the Institute retains responsibility for the applicable chain of authority:

Professional standards→ Assessment framework→ Quality assurance→ Final approval→ Certification→ Credential issuance & verification

Partners are therefore expected to communicate their status accurately and operate strictly within the authority granted to them.

Due Diligence

Partnership Assessment & Approval

Applications are considered according to the category and proposed scope of the relationship. CIMS may request:

Approval remains subject to the applicable Professional Accreditation Evaluation, due diligence and CIMS governance requirements. CIMS reserves the right to approve, decline, restrict, suspend or terminate a partnership in accordance with the applicable agreement and Institute policies.
Not Sure Where to Start?

Which Partnership Pathway Is Right for You?

Established institution seeking strategic collaboration?

Institutional Partnership

Independent consultant, corporate trainer or specialist without a training organisation?

Independent Professional & Consultant Partnership

Registered training organisation seeking authority to deliver approved CIMS programmes?

Training Firm / Accredited Training Partner
Start the Conversation

Ready to explore a CIMS partnership?

Tell us about your organisation or practice and our partnerships team will confirm the pathway and next steps.

Enquire About Partnership Why Partner with CIMS?