The Association of Business Executives (ABE) is a professional membership body and an examination board that specialises in management courses. ABE offer a range of management courses are from Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma level levels. In addition, ABE qualifications provide progression routes to degree and Masters programmes.

Add your comments: have you studied an ABE course? Let us know your thoughts.

CAM (Communication, Advertising and Marketing) used to be independent but the organisation merged with the Chartered Institute of Marketing as a communications course provider. CAM offer four communications, PR and digital based diplomas.

Students interested in CAM diplomas should also have a look at courses offered by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Add your comments: have you studied a CAM course? Let us know your thoughts.

The stated CTH mission is to provide the highest standard of tourism and hospitality qualifications. CTH achieves this through robust monitoring supported by industry, universities and the UK government regulator, Ofqual. Of interest, CTH has partnerships with major international employers and academic institutions and the tourism institution is a member of the Federation of Awarding Bodies.

Organisations such as Virgin Atlantic and Star Alliance work with CTH on their Professional Skills Programmes while the management programmes lead to final year undergraduate and Masters degrees with many British and international universities.

Add your comments: have you studied a CTH course? Let us know your thoughts.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has over 10,000 environmental health professionals worldwide

Add your comments: have you studied an CIEH course? Let us know your thoughts.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is possibly the best known accountancy organisation, (many might argue ACCA to be more recognised). In any event, CIMA with over 175,000 members is an enormous accountancy institution offering training and qualification in management accounting and related subjects.

Add your comments: have you studied a CIMA course? Let us know your thoughts.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the world's largest professional institute for people management and development with over 135,000 members, and achieved chartered status in 2000.

There are various levels of CIPD membership from Non Chartered Grades (Affiliate, Associate, Licentiate or Graduate) to the actual Chartered grades of membership such as becoming a Chartered Member CIPD member(Chartered MCIPD), Chartered Fellow (Chartered FCIPD) and Chartered Companion (Chartered CCIPD)

Most of the CIPD qualifications listed and covered in more details above lead to a professional grade of membership. The CIPD Professional Development Scheme (PDS) is regarded as being the leading qualification for those interested in a career in Human Resources.

Add your comments: have you studied an CIPD course? Let us know your thoughts.

For those interested in a career services or whom would like to work for an accountancy firm, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) is certainly a professional institute worth investigating further

With over 15,000 members the CIPFA is the only UK professional accountancy body to specialise in public services. CIPFA qualifications include the benchmark professional qualification for public sector accountants as well as a postgraduate diploma for accountants already working in management roles.

CIPFA have several partnerships including, for example, the Certificate in International Treasury Management in Public Finance, offered with the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) and with the Society of Management Accountants of Canada. CIPFA and CPA Australia have also signed a mutual recognition agreement in June 2007.

For those interested in an accountancy career and studying an accounting course it might be worthwhile to compare CIPFA courses to those offered by CIMA, ACCA, and AAT.

Add your comments: have you studied a CIPFA course? Let us know your thoughts.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the only Public Relations-recognised instiution in the UK. The organisation offers courses from a Foundation Level, i.e. the Foundation Award which is aimed at school-leavers through to Advanced Certificates and a range of diplomas.

For more information please refer to the above links which all explore CIPR courses further.

For those interested in a career in Public Relations and Communications, it might be worthwhile to compare CIPR courses to those offered by CAM which is part of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Add your comments: have you studied a CIPR course? Let us know your thoughts.

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) is the qualification to complete and institution to join for those interested in a career in purchasing and supply and chain management. CIPS assists individuals, organisations and the profession as a whole and is highly respected.

CIPS offer a series of qualifications ranging from Level 2 to Level 7. Typically students new to the purchasing space should start with the Level 3 Certificate in Purchasing and Supply.

Successful completion of the CIPS Level 4 Foundation Diploma, Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Graduate Diploma will provide the professional with a progression to degree level with full CIPS membership and the designatory letters, MCIPS. In addition the applicant must also have three years' experience in a purchasing and supply role.

Add your comments: have you studied a CIPS course? Let us know your thoughts.

With over 96,000 members the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is clearly a highly recognised insurance instiution in the UK.

CII offer two ranges of courses: General Insurance and Financial Services. Your decision should be influenced by where you see yourself in the future.

Add your comments: have you studied a CII course? Let us know your thoughts.

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is the only body able to award Chartered Manager status in the UK. The benefit of having this recognition is that as a Chartered Manager you are "certified" as having the skills to make a real business impact.

There are three levels of CMI courses in the UK that can be studied online or part-time. They are: General Management and Leadership from levels 2-8, Coaching and Mentoring Awards levels 3,5,7 and N/SVQ's levels 2-5. The above course listing in not fully comprehensive of the CMI management courses.

Add your comments: have you studied a CMI course? Let us know your thoughts.

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has over 20,000 members worldwide working in various sectors such as education, the public sector and throughout commerce. Many view membership as being benefical to a career in accountancy which is generally obtained by being company sponsored by an accountancy firm (to complete the accounting courses).

The student will be required, like all the other courses we mention throughout our directory, to complete certain exams and assignments. The designation "Chartered Accountant" and letters "CA" are what students will strive to achieve. ICAS is the world's first professional body of accountants, receiving its Royal Charter in 1854 .

Generally it takes 3 years to qualify as a CA during which time students will combine work experience with classroom-based study of relevant education syllabus. The ICSA accountancy course enables students to develop their professional knowledge, skills and attributes essential to qualify as a CA.

In order to be enter the programme to achieve chartered accountant status, prospective CA students must hold a UK degree (or overseas equivalent).

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators offers several pathways to membership. Generally, an individual with no university degree can start the process by completing the Certificate and Diploma in Business Practice or Offshore Finance and Administration, and progresses to the International Qualifying Scheme.

If you already have a qualification then it is possible to progress to the International Qualifying Scheme. Please note that this is scheduled to change in 2011 to the CSQS (Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme).

The Institute of Directors (IoD) has three membership grades: Associate, Member and Fellow.

Members of the institute are able to use the letters MIoD and Fellows may use FIoD. The IoD deliver an award named the Certificate in Company Direction and the Diploma in Company Direction, which covers fundamental topics such as role of company director, financial responsibilities of directors and key subjects under strategic business direction. These courses are suitable for directors across different sectors, niches and backgrounds and ultimately progress to becoming a Chartered Director.

The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) is the professional body for legal executives in England and Wales and an examination board providing qualifications for legal executives, paralegals and legal secretaries.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a professional body for those working in engineering and technology with over 150,000 members. The instiution has offices in Birmingham, Glasgow, Edison, Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangalore.

The IET is the second largest engineering institution in the world after the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in the US.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is recognised nation wide for health and safety professionals with over 35,000 members. The institution offers five levels of membership:

Chartered Fellows of the Institution are allowed to use the designation Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner with the designatory letters CFIOSH. Chartered Fellows must have been able to demonstrate an outstanding contribution to the profession of health and safety. All Chartered Fellows must maintain Continuing Professional Development. The slightly lower level is the being a Chartered Member (CMIOSH). Chartered Members of the Institution use the designation Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner with the designatory letters CMIOSH.

The next level are Graduates of the Institution that use the designatory letters Grad IOSH. Typically these individuals are academically qualified to become Chartered Members, and are participating in completing the diet of courses and qualifications. The next level down is a Technician Member using the designatory letters Tech IOSH and are required to have professional experience.

The entry level is the Affiliate level which is aimed at those with an interest in, or are employed in occupational safety and health.

The Institute of Sales & Marketing Management (ISMM) is the UK's only professional body for salespeople.

Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM) has awarded over 1,500 digital marketing qualifications, trained more than 47,000 marketers on open courses and more than 11,000 through in-company programmes across 28 countries. In addition the organisation claims to have tutored more than 9,000 students through their professional direct marketing qualifications

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation is a qualification for finance and investment professionals. The courses, or levels, written in latin numerals rather than numbers, i.e. CFA Level I, II, III are aimed at the management and financial analysis of stocks, bonds and their derivative assets. The finance courses also provide generalist knowledge of other areas of finance.

As of August 2011, CFA Institute has more than 109,000 members around the world, including more than 94,000 CFA charterholders.

In addition to the professional marketing qualifications mentioned above, the Market Research Society (MRS) also offers MRS Accredited Masters Degrees.

With members in more than 60 countries, the MRS is the world’s market research organisation.