Welcome to the ILM Legacy Management Accreditation Programme (LMAP), a brand-new qualification designed to help legacy professionals demonstrate their professional knowledge and understanding.
Sitting alongside the existing Certificate in Legacy Administration (CiCLA), the LMAP is designed to appeal to candidates who prefer practical hands-on study rather than exam-led qualifications.
With three knowledge-based modules and support from a dedicated mentor, the qualification focuses on skills gained through day-to-day legacy activity, culminating in the submission of a written portfolio and a professional discussion with an independent assessor.
New student registration
Click here to register your place on the course. The cost is £1050, payable in advance. There is no further fee for assessment. VAT is not applicable.
Please note, you must be an ILM member to register for LMAP.
LMAP Documentation
To learn more about the LMAP, please click on the below icons to view and download our useful guides.
Should I choose CiCLA or LMAP?
CiCLA and LMAP are comparable qualifications. Neither is ‘better’ than the other, they simply offer different ways of learning.
Take a look at our simple flowchart to help signpost you towards which option may suit you best:
Why study LMAP?
Legacy income is now the single biggest source of funds for many charities. Every year, Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) members manage approximately £4bn worth of charitable legacy gifts that generous benefactors have left in their Wills. The legacy management role demands ever-increasing skills and knowledge, both to ensure those gifts are dealt with in a professional, accountable and timely manner, and to meet the necessary professional and legal requirements.
The Legacy Management Accreditation Programme (LMAP) is an exciting new addition to ILM’s training portfolio. It is designed to offer a more flexible and accessible approach to learning, requiring less formal study time and participation in online assessments.
Developed in conjunction with experienced members and our partners as an alternative to CiCLA’s more traditional examination-led approach, the LMAP focus is on a series of modules and assessments to support your on-the-job learning and development.
By completing the course, you will acquire an in-depth knowledge that can be used in your everyday activities and, in turn, produce a portfolio of work to demonstrate your learning and increase your career proression opportunities.
The LMAP qualification gives you
- Flexibility – The LMAP offers a work-based learning approach and is designed to appeal to candidates who prefer practical hands-on study rather than exam-led qualifications. It can be taken at your own pace during working hours and can be fitted around a busy schedule.
- Comprehensive in-depth knowledge of Legacy Management Principles – The focus of the course is on developing skills to enable you to operate effectively as a Legacy Manager, either within a team or as a solo legacy officer.
- Professional recognition – the LMAP qualification is an approved standard of achievement recognised by employers and increases your career progression opportunities.
Benefits to employers
- Motivated and qualified staff – provides career development which improves staff retention
- Evaluation of present information – an understanding of the processes, applicability and usefulness of general principles to specific situations in your organisation
- Positive quality culture – equip your organisation with quality legacy professionals.
HOW THE LMAP IS STRUCTURED
The LMAP has been divided into three modules:
1. Technical Knowledge and Skills
2. Business Skills
3. Communicating with Key Stakeholders
HOW THE LMAP IS ASSESSED
The new accreditation is based on a two-step assessment process:
· Step 1 – Submission of a Written Portfolio
· Step 2 – Professional Discussion (face-to-face or online) with an independent assessor.
At the end of the course you will be able to:
- Apply key legal and accounting principles in order to manage your day-to-day caseload
- Appraise the need for further information, learning or advice in the context of:
o your day-to-day practice, or
o specific situations you may encounter
- Evaluate potential solutions to challenges you may face in your charity, which balance legal, ethical and reputational issues
- Plan your work effectively, synthesising multiple sources of information and the needs of multiple stakeholders
- Make decisions, based on an appraisal of multiple sources of information
- Judge when and how to seek support when faced with challenging situations
- Assess the communication needs of multiple internal and external stakeholders
- Judge the most appropriate channel, content and tone of communication for an intended audience
- Synthesise multiple sources of information into clear and compelling written and oral communications
-
Evaluate others’ communications through different lenses e.g. understanding legal positions; understanding emotional reactions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was there a need for the new LMAP, isn’t the CiCLA ‘good enough’?
We are very proud of our training programme and continually look for ways to build our professional qualification offering, while also ensuring we make training as inclusive and available to everyone as possible. Developing the LMAP is our response to members who have been telling us for some time that the CiCLA is unsuitable for those with limited time available or who do not enjoy the formal exam process. In launching the LMAP, our aim is to offer a suitable (and equal) professional and recognised qualification that sits alongside the CiCLA and ensures opportunities to learn are there for everyone, no matter what their learning style.
Who has designed the LMAP qualification?
The curriculum has been created by experienced legacy managers, with support from Legacy Link and an expert consultant with long experience of designing qualifications.
How is the LMAP different to the CiCLA?
The LMAP offers a work-based learning approach, ie: the activities and training you undertake in your day-to-day role will form part of your qualification portfolios, so you are effectively completing your coursework during your working day. This is different to the CiCLA, which is more focused on studying in your own time and then taking formal exams.
How does the LMAP actually work?
The LMAP has been divided into three modules, covering Technical Knowledge and Skills, Business Skills, and Communication Skills. There is a two-stage assessment process. Firstly, you submit a written portfolio together with supporting evidence, which will be based on topics within these modules. The portfolio will draw on your day-to-day work activity and, in doing so, you will be demonstrating you have acquired the necessary practical and technical skills to be an expert legacy professional. The second stage is a professional discussion (face-to-face or online) with an independent assessor who will have reviewed your written portfolio and ask questions about your work and the supporting evidence you have provided.
What are the word count restrictions on the portfolio?
The word count for each topic is a minimum of 200 words and a maximum of 400 words.
For topics where a distinction is available, the word count is a minimum of 200 words and a maximum of 800 words.
Word counts will be strictly enforced.
How is the LMAP ‘judged’ if there’s no exam?
The written portfolios will be assessed as part of the qualification process and, following the second stage discussion, the independent assessor will determine if the qualification has been achieved.
What if I need help?
All students will have the opportunity to be supported by a mentor, but they will need to register on our mentor matching platform and give details of their requirements. It’s very much a two-way process. In addition, they will be able to access the ILM’s extensive knowledge library, as well as request support from our Corporate Partners.
What if my line manager isn't a legacy management specialist?
If your line manager is not a legacy management specialist we would strongly recommend that you make use of the ILM mentoring programme, as our mentors will be able to support and guide you to identify the development areas you need to focus on.
Will studying for the LMAP be quicker to achieve?
We anticipate that most LMAP students will take 18-24 months to complete the qualification.
When can I register for the LMAP and how soon before I can start working towards it?
The LMAP will be available for registration from 29th September 2025 and the first students are expected to be able to start from this date. After this time, you can start the course at any time to suit you – there are no specific in-take windows or assessment periods, so you can work to a timetable which best works for you.
Which qualification is best - LMAP or CiCLA?
Neither the CiCLA or the LMAP are designed to compete with each other, they offer different ways of learning. Our diagram may help you decide which qualification is best suited to you.
How much does the course cost and how does this compare to CiCLA?
Both qualifications are the same cost. The course is £1050 (VAT is not applicable). This is payable in advance by bank transfer or by cheque. Details of who to pay can be found at the bottom of the LMAP invoice.
Is there any discount on ILM training for LMAP students?
The ILM is not able to further discount our courses for members. Please do bear in mind that we offer a range of free training and resources via our Knowledge Hub and you can also access extensive training via our Corporate Partners. If financial concerns are a barrier for your charity in accessing training, please do reach out to [email protected] to see if we can help.
Which qualification is most likely to help me further my career?
Both the CiCLA and the LMAP will demonstrate a high level of competency and understanding, so whichever qualification you choose, your employer will recognise your knowledge and expertise.
Is the CiCLA still worth doing?
Absolutely. The CiCLA qualification is (and will remain) a valuable qualification to have on your CV.
Will the ILM continue to support the CiCLA?
Yes, the CiCLA will continue to be supported by the ILM and all registered CiCLA students will be able to complete their studies.
Help, I’ve just signed up for the CiCLA, should I cancel?
It’s up to you to decide which form of learning is likely to suit you and your lifestyle best. Take a look at our diagram to help you in the decision-making process. As long as you haven’t started any CiCLA exams, then you have the option to change to the LMAP.
I’ve already begun my CiCLA studies but the LMAP sounds much better suited to my way of learning. Can I swop over?
It depends where you are in the CiCLA programme. If you have either registered for the CiCLA or have only studied as far as Level One, you may swap to the LMAP at no additional cost. If you have completed the Level 2 assessment, then we would encourage you to continue your CiCLA studies as we will be unable to refund your registration fee.
I already have the CiCLA, do I need to study the LMAP too?
No, they are both comparable qualifications, it is the way of learning that is different. You do not need both.
If I wanted to do the Diploma course in the future, which qualification gives me the best grounding to do that?
The CiCLA and the LMAP will both help to build your knowledge and expertise and, combined with your day-to-day understanding and experiences, studying either qualification will be your first step towards the Diploma course.
You haven’t answered all my questions!
You can email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to help.