What Is HR Certification and Why You Need It

HR certification is now available for generalists, specialties and geographic regions. If you loved studying and taking exams, you could spend all your time getting various HR certifications. But what we all likely need is one or two to show our current and future employers that we know our specialty and are committed to the field.

Today I’m going to dive into what the different HR Certifications are and which ones you should consider to fit your HR career goals and aspirations.

Understanding the Various HR Certifications

When looking to achieve your certification in human resources, there are a number of available options to consider. Here’s a quick breakdown of the four most common HR certifications from HRCI and SHRM.

PHR and SPHR

The two original HR certifications were the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). These are both given by the HR Certification Institute, or HRCI. These certifications are for HR professionals to show that they have mastered an overall body of knowledge. The SPHR shows a more strategic level of involvement in business overall.

Each of these certifications has different requirements that you must meet before being eligible to take the exam. Here’s a quick outline of the requirements:

PHR®

• A minimum of 1 year of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Master’s degree or higher, OR
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Bachelor’s degree, OR
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with less than a Bachelor’s degree

SPHR®

• A minimum of 4 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Master’s degree or higher, OR
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with a Bachelor’s degree, OR
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in a professional-level HR position with less than a Bachelor’s degree

For those newer to HR, such as a recent college graduate or someone working with administrative team members, the aPHR is another certification option. The Associate Professional in HR designation proves valuable to those early in their career, as it signifies an understanding of basic HR knowledge.

HRCI offers other variations of their certifications. You can learn more about all of them HERE.

SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP

In 2015, the Society for HR Management (SHRM) introduced their human resource certifications: The SHRM-CP (Certified Professional) and SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional).

Just like the HRCI certifications, to be eligible to take the SHRM exams, you must meet certain requirements. Here’s a chart that outlines the various requirements.

Any of these four certifications are equally respected by employers to demonstrate professionalism as a Human Resources professional with breadth and depth of knowledge.

Specialty HR Certifications

For the international human resource market, there are two certification options.

The Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) designation is for the US-based HR professionals to demonstrate cross-border HR expertise. The GPHR demonstrates your expertise of multinational HR responsibilities, including strategies of globalization development of HR policies and initiatives that support organizational global growth.

For those not based in the United States or who would like a certification independent of geographic location, there is another set of exams. These include the Professional in Human Resources – International (PHRi) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources – International (SPHRi).

For HR professionals based in, or working with populations in, California, the PHRca is available. This certification addresses the unique and specific laws and HR management practices of California.

SHRM is now offering a new set of certifications they refer to as their Specialty Credentials. These are interesting because they are much smaller and do not require extensive study – but demonstrate your knowledge in a particular area of expertise.

The California Employment Law Micro-Credentials, People Analytics Specialty Credential and Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential are now available. These are 50 question exams specific to each specific subject area. We have been told that there are also credentials being developed now for the HR Department of One market as well.

Is HR Certification Really Necessary?

Certifications are becoming the norm for every industry and human resources is no different. This is mostly because employers want to see a level of commitment to the field and ongoing learning.

All other things being equal, an employer is more likely to lean toward a certified job candidate over an uncertified one. HR Certification shows you are truly proficient in your area of expertise.

If you’re ready to start preparing to take one of the certification exams, our upcoming HR Certification Test Prep Live Class starts soon. This class is designed to provide tons of practice answering HR multiple choice questions and to generally prepare you for taking any of the HR certification exams. It offers the pace and guidance you need to help you obtain your HR Certification.

If you’ve been considering getting your HR Certification or are already have one certification and are looking to add another, both HRCI and SHRM offer tons of great information about the differences and how each may influence your HR career. I am always happy to answer questions as well – so just ask your questions in the comments below or shoot me an email!