Summary: They are awarded to HR professionals who pass examinations of their skills and knowledge, typically after working through preparation courses.
HR Certifications
A human resources (HR) certification recognizes HR skills, experience, and knowledge.
These certifications are generally managed by professional associations and educational institutions. They are awarded to HR professionals who pass examinations of their skills and knowledge, typically after working through preparation courses. Most certifications also have a set length of validity, after which HR professionals must recertify to maintain their professional credentials.
What are the most recognized HR certifications?
Unlike legal bar associations and medical boards, there are no official professional organizations for HR professionals. There are, however, many private associations and educational institutions that provide training courses and certifications for qualified professionals. Generally, these HR professionals must have degrees in human resources and experience working in the industry to be eligible for accreditation.
Some of the most widely recognized HR certifications available include:
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR): This certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) requires four years of experience in HR. Participants study a prep course for six months before taking an exam, testing their professional knowledge of HR.
- Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP): This is a generalist certification offered by the SHRM. The basic self-study course is focused on immigration law, inclusivity in the workplace, talent acquisition, and analytics. It generally takes 40-120 hours to complete before taking an online exam.
- Strategic HR Leadership (SHRL): This certification is for new leaders in HR and is offered by the Human Capital Institute (HCI). It focuses on aligning human capital with business strategy. The certification requires in-person or online study followed by an exam.
- Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP): The Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) provides this certification in Canada, but it’s also useful to US and international HR professionals. This certification is granted to people who study nine subject areas through certified university courses across Canada and then pass the associated exams.
- Talent Management Practitioner (TMP): Offered by the Talent Management Institute (TMI), this certification focuses on talent management, pipeline and engagement. The TMI offers resources for self-study. From there, a student must pass an online exam to receive this certification.
- Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD): The Association for Talent Development (ATD) provides this certification for HR professionals with at least five years of professional experience. In-person or online study in talent development strategies and solutions is followed by a three-hour certification exam. The certification is valid for three years.
- HR Analytics Certificate (HRAC): Cornell University provides HR professionals with eight weeks of courses in using data analytics to make decisions, attract talent, and retain employees. These courses can also be credited toward SHRM recertification.
How can obtaining HR certifications benefit HR professionals and their careers?
HR certifications can help professionals display their knowledge of specific human resources fields or skills in different aspects of HR. These certifications can reinforce their professional experience and demonstrate their value when looking for new positions. Certifying in new fields also helps HR professionals make lateral moves into new areas of HR.
Authors:
Marcel is an experienced journalist and Public Relations expert with an honours degree in Journalism and bylines with a range of major brands.
