What Type of Human Resources Certification Do You Need?
If you’re in the field of human resources, getting certified could boost your career and potentially increase your salary. Click here to learn which type of human resources certification you need for your particular area of expertise.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a job in human resources, you might have noticed that many jobs list special certifications in the requirements.
These certifications can be costly and time consuming to get. It can be hard to know for sure if they’re the right choice for you in your career path.
Are these certifications the right path for you?
This guide is here to help. We are going to walk you through some of the different human resources certification that are available for qualified candidates.
Are Human Resources Certifications Worth It?
We live in a hyper-competitive business world. There are so many reasons why getting certified in human resources matters.
One out of every two hiring managers prefers candidates with certification. This is a growing field. As the industry gets more fierce, human resource professionals with certification stand out.
As a professional in the human resources industry, you have to have a bachelor’s degree. But it might be worth it for you to earn a voluntary certification. HR professionals who do can increase their area of specialty.
Certified human resource specialists make more money than those who aren’t certified. When you’re in a lower level position, you might not notice the difference in pay as much. But, as you advance, it becomes much more evident. This is especially true as you work your way through to human resource management.
A candidate with human resources certifications is a lot more likely to get hired than someone without them.
The Importance of Human Resources Certification
When you show your future or current employer how dedicated you are to your career, it makes a world of difference. To earn respect as a professional in the human resources field and to be considered for a higher level position, you need a certification.
Certified human resources professionals inspire more trust and confidence from their colleagues and their employers than other professionals working in their field. Some places believe that hiring certified professionals gives their businesses a competitive advantage.
Some business leaders find certified human resources professionals more motivated. They see them as more knowledgeable than non-certified competitors. They also tend to report that they impact their financial performance in a positive way.
Human Resources Certification
Here are some of the different certifications that you can achieve in HR management.
Professional in Human Resources (PHR(R))
This certification focuses on implementing programs, tactics, and logistic orientation. It teaches U.S. laws and rules in different HR practices.
If you’re in charge of someone in your department, this is the certification you’re looking for.
This is also useful for the professional who focuses on the HR department, not the organization.
PHR certification opens up many career opportunities. You could seek employment as a benefits administrator, payroll manager, and HR coordination.
In order to earn a PHR certification, you need to have one of the following things:
- 1 year of experience in an HR position and a master’s degree
- 2 years of experience plus a bachelor’s degree
- 4 years of experience plus a high school diploma
The test to earn this certification is 175 questions long, costs $400, and is valid for up to three years.
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR(R))
The SPHR certification is for HR managers with seniority. The focus in SPHR certification is planning for the big picture.
If you have ultimate accountability in the HR department, this is the one for you.
Some of the career choices a person with SPHR certification would be directing an HR department, consulting for an HR department, or managing labor relations.
In order to earn the SPHR certification, you need to have one of the following qualifications:
- 4 years of experience in an HR position and a master’s degree
- 5 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree
- 7 years of experience plus a high school diploma
The test to earn this certification is 175 questions long, costs $525, and is valid for up to three years.
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
The SHRM-CP certification is for professionals who put policies and strategies into place. These people are typically a point of reference for employees and stakeholders. They deliver HR services and perform most operational functions of an HR professional.
This is a similar type of certification to the PHR we talked about earlier.
If this is the certification you choose to go for, you could move towards a senior HR consultant. You could also choose HR director or an HR manager. You will be able to bring best practices and an enhanced global perspective to your organization
To be eligible for the SHRM-CP certification, you have to have one of the following qualifications:
- 3 years of experience plus an HR related associate’s degree, 4 years if your degree isn’t HR related
- 1 year of experience and a bachelor’s degree, 2 years experience if your degree isn’t HR related
- Or currently in an HR role if you have ah HR-related graduate degree, 1 year of experience if that degree isn’t HR related
This test is 160 questions long, costs $400, and is valid for three years.
SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
The SHRP-SCP certification teaches the strategy development. It teaches about leadership roles in the HR department. This course explores many topics. Some of them are analysis, performance metrics, and the development of organizational goals.
Someone with a certification in SHRM-SCP could reach for a career as the VP of HR. They could also choose talent acquisition management, HR management, or HR direction.
To be eligible for the SHRM-SCP certification, you have to have one of the following qualifications:
- 6 years of experience plus an HR related associates degree, 7 years if your degree isn’t HR related
- 4 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree, 5 years experience if your degree isn’t HR related
- 3 years of experience if you have an HR-related graduate degree, 4 years of experience if that degree isn’t HR related
This test is 160 questions long, costs $400, and is valid for three years.
Senior Professional in Human Resources – International (SPHRi)
This certification is global and it validates your professional level HR knowledge. When you achieve this certification, it shows that you have mastered all the principles of human resources that are generally accepted around the world.
A certification in SPHRi shows that you are a credible HR professional. It shows that you and your organization are invested in your craft.
You could move into a position in HR specialist fields, HR generalist, or HR global management.
In order to qualify to earn the SPHRi, you need you have one of the following qualifications:
- 4 years of professional-level HR experience and a master’s degree
- 5 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree
- 7 years of experience and a high school diploma
There are some additional requirements, though. You have to have some knowledge of employment law, demonstrated in one of these ways:
- Having a national certification
- Having a bachelor’s degree
- Completing a college-level course in employment law
- Finishing a formal training or certificate program in employment law by an approved training provider
The test is 130 questions long, costs $595, and is valid for three years.
Professional in Human Resources – International (PRHi)
This certification is more focused on operational skills. It shows that you have mastered the technical and operation side of HR. When you earn this certification you could add HR business partner, HR supervisor, or performance and talent analyst to the pot of your career opportunities.
In order to qualify to earn the PHRi, you need you have one of the following qualifications:
- 1 year of professional-level HR experience and a master’s degree
- 2 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree
- 4 years of experience and a high school diploma
The test is 170 questions long, $495, and is valid for 3 years.
Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR(R))
With the GPHR (R), you will explore cross-border HR duties. You’ll learn how to globalize. It will show you how to develop HR policies.
You’ll also be able to support global growth within your organization.
This certification is perfect for someone looking for a global position.
When you get HR certifications, you can show your organization how competent you are. You show how experienced, credible, and dedicated to your industry and your career.
To be eligible for the GPHR certification, you have to have one of the following qualifications:
- 2 years of global experience plus a master’s degree
- 3 years of experience (2 of those have to be global experience) and a bachelor’s degree
- 4 years of experience (2 have to be global) and a high school diploma
This test is 165 questions long, costs $525, and is valid for three years.
HR Specialist Certification
There are many opportunities for people with certification in human resources management.
These types of human resources certification aren’t only for those in the HR field, though. Anyone in a high-level position could improve their skills through HR management.
If you’re interested in learning more about Human Resource Certification, visit us today!