Introduction
Human Resources covers a wide range of professional expertise in staffing, compensation, development, and compliance. You can earn various HR certifications to demonstrate your knowledge of a specific area or industry. Becoming a certified professional in the HR field will help you increase your professional abilities and expand your credentials to current and prospective employers.
What are HR Certifications?
HR Certifications are credentials that verify knowledge of HR practices, regulations, and programs. Many professional organizations within the Human Resources industry offer specialized certifications that are relevant to various HR positions.
Most of these certifications require some previous work experience in the HR field, related degrees, and passing scores on certification exams. The certification exam could also vary in length and question style based on the area of Human Resources expertise. Some certifications also require routine recertification within a period to remain active and updated with the latest information.
Best HR Certification Courses for HR Professionals
Human resources certifications and courses are a great way to obtain new skills and knowledge, explore potential new career paths, and connect with the wider community. HR Professionals are not the only ones that can benefit from these certification courses, in fact, anyone in the HR field can take help from them. Here are some of the best HR Certification Courses that can help you elevate your career:
1 – HRIP Certification from IHRIM
The International Association for Human Resources Information Management, also known as IHRIM, has been around since 1980. It has helped both novice and experienced HR professionals to adapt to the technological revolutions in the field of HR.
Moreover, the Human Resource Information Professional (HRIP) Certification Exam is a Human Resources exam designed to assess the knowledge and competencies of professionals in the technological field of HR. The certification course is mainly designed to help HR professionals build their credibility, demonstrate their expertise, and send a message that they have the relevant knowledge and are committed to quality.
- Price: The fee ranges from $445 to $1,100, depending on your membership status.
- Duration: Exam Review Courses are scheduled and last 3 weeks
- Exam Required: Yes
- Examination Held: Online
- Hours of Instruction: 75 minutes per session, 6 sessions in total
- Eligibility Requirements: None. However, 3 to 5 years of experience in HR technology solutions and/or management is recommended.
2 – SHRP-Online Certification from HRAcademia
HRAcademia offers a comprehensive Human Resources program that includes 3 certification courses, i.e., SHRP, CHRP, and CTDP. All of these courses are globally recognized and are accredited by the American Institute of Chartered Certifications (AICC), which is an online global body that checks course material and examination methods of online certification websites and accredits them.
The Online Senior Human Resources Professional (SHRP) certification exam is developed by HRAcademia to meet the needs of senior Human Resources Professionals throughout the world while adopting a universal perspective with respect to the Human Resources discipline. This Online HR Certification gives you all the power tools that you need to make a mark in the industry with your HR knowledge and unique strategies.
- Price: $279
- Duration: 26 weeks
- Exam Required: Yes
- Examination Held: Online
- Hours of Instruction: 10 to 30 minutes per session
- Eligibility Requirements: You should either have at least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position, or at least two years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a Bachelor’s degree, or at least seven years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a high school diploma.
3 – SHRM-CP Certification from SHRM
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a popular website in the HR space, and therefore their certifications need no introduction!
SHRM offers two certifications depending on your HR experience. The certification of SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) is for those HR personnel who want to start earlier in their careers and focus on the operational side of things. However, the certification for SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) is for those professionals who are working at a more strategic level.
- Price: Starts from $500 for exams
- Duration: Variable. Depending on the individual.
- Exam Required: Yes
- Examination Held: Online or In-Person, depending on timings
- Hours of Instruction: Various. Because you can take courses elsewhere before the exam.
- Eligibility Requirements: None. Having a basic working knowledge of HR is recommended.
4 – STA Certification from HCI
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Human Capital Institute (HCI) delivers certification programs and conferences that are virtually available worldwide. HCI has 3 core beliefs:
- The greatest accelerator of organizational success is in aligning human capital with business strategy.
- Businesses with aligned human capital strategies outperform others
- To enable organizations to perform certain tasks, Human Resources and talent management professionals must have the right strategic skill sets and mindsets.
The Strategic Talent Acquisition (STA) Certification of HCI features case studies, trends, best practices, and the latest innovations in the field which will finish you with an action plan and tools that support on-the-job implementation.
- Price: $1,995
- Duration: Over 4 to 6 weeks
- Exam Required: Yes
- Examination Held: Online and In-Person
- Hours of Instruction: Depending on the individual. Videos are posted online.
- Eligibility Requirements: None.
5 – Digital HR 2.0 Certification from AIHR
The Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR) offers an entire online library of HR certification programs and courses. The academy offers a specialized full program that allows students to choose unlimited, multiple certifications to be completed during an extended period of time or you can even choose to specialize in one particular area and earn your certification in subjects such as Strategic HR Leadership, Digital HR and HR Metrics, and Dashboarding.
In the Digital HR 2.0 Certification Program, you will be working on real-world projects to develop the skills, industry-leading expertise, and hands-on experience needed to lead the digital transformation of HR.
- Price: $975
- Duration: Approximately 9 weeks
- Exam Required: Yes
- Examination Held: Online
- Hours of Instruction: Depending on the individual. All lessons and learning materials are posted online.
- Eligibility Requirements: None.
