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Human Resource Certification – Scope & Value of HR Certification

HR Certification is rapidly going from being something preferred to something that is a requirement, which becomes apparent after you review the necessities for applying for a human resource management job. This is an obvious indicator that organizations, both from the profit and non-profit sector, see certification as something worthy of respect.

Nowadays, HR certification is being viewed as a necessary element for every HR professional’s CV, mainly because contemporary professionals who work in human resource management have to deal with complicated situations such as a high demand of qualified workers and the way business has been globalizing.

Value of HR certification

HR certification’s value has been studied in depth by the HR Certification Institute who authorized a company to do an independent research in which they gave a detailed insight on the true value of certification for human resource professionals. The findings of this study helped them to conclude that professional certification is the most valued credential, second only to graduate degrees. The study also found that professional certifications tend to have a more positive perception that management certificate programs do. For professionals who hope to continue their education, professional certification is viewed as the most suitable path. HR professionals consider it to be a credential of both high value as well as being quality-based. Employers see professional certification as the perfect opportunity to position the organization towards advancement and help it grow. The only credential that recruiters showed a huge willingness to pay for was professional certification as well. All of these findings help to prove the worth of professional certification for someone who works in human resource management.

In order to understand the value of professional certification, you must know that it is basically identified as being credential that is exam-based for which the requirements include work experience and educational eligibility. Students are generally provided with the preparatory exam material by the certifying bodies. This prep material is made with the help of a knowledge base that is professionally developed and validated.

For re-certification, professional development courses need to be completed and experience in the field is required. Human resource professionals and recruiters tend to view re-certification as something valuable because ensures that the human resource professional’s knowledge is not outdated as well as continuing education, honing their skills and keeping the certification validated and relevant.

A survey conducted by the HR Certification Institute found that a great majority of HR professionals (almost 96%) agreed that professional certification was something of importance to them.

Another finding of this survey was that according to HR recruiters in the US, professional certification in human resource demonstrated the commitment an employee had towards the HR profession, added credibility to the human resource department and made it more valid,ensured that the knowledge that the employee possessed was up to date and current, and provided development opportunities. For US employees, the survey found that they cited professional certification as having several benefits such as giving them greater value for the company, giving them an edge when they would apply for a new position, allowed them to show their understanding and commitment towards the HR profession and showed them as being genuine in their dedication towards continuing their education. The employees also saw professional certification as having personal advantages, such as increasing their knowledge, adding strength to their resume, ensuring that their knowledge of human resources was keeping up with the times, demonstrating their commitment for human resources and lifelong education and learning and also increasing their confidence in their ability to perform in their work position.

For employers, the advantages for the organization from professional certification were that it increased the knowledge of the employees and ensured that this knowledge was up to date as well. Professional certification also demonstrated the employees commitment to both learning and HR while also being beneficial for the organization’s reputation, giving it a good name. For instance, CHRP course is termed as one of the most recognized and demanded HR certification by companies.

Available Options for HR Professional Certification

Many human resource designations that are recognized on a national level exist, some of which are:

  • Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)– For SHRM-CP candidates it is a point of contact for stakeholders and staff, is used to deliver HR services and operational HR functions are performed by it, it also implements strategies and policies. Three years of experience in a role related to human resource is required if the candidate has achieved less than a Bachelor’s degree.If the candidate has obtained a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to human resource then they need at least a year of experience in an HR role. Professionals that have a Graduate degree need one year of experience in an HR role as well if their degree is not related to HR.
  • HRacademia.com – HRacademia is truly one of the most latest and tech based HR certification company. The best thing about HRacademia is that they are hassle free, although a relatively new name, but they have a very professional learning course and latest material for study and they provide exams online. HRacademia provides convenience to HR professionals around the world to learn at their own pace and then attempt the exam for certification at their own time and when they feel they are ready to take the exam. At the same time because of online learning and online testing method, you get HR certified at a very low cost!
  • HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
  • International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA)

The Past and Present of Human Resource

In current times, the HR field has significantly advanced from when it was mainly restricted to administrative duties. While HR professionals still partake in traditional tasks such as answering benefits questions and employment screening, they have also become rudimentary in planning of high-level with responsibilities such as consulting with top executives in order to map out strategic direction and the shaping of key policies of the organization.

The way human resources is continually evolving has yielded huge opportunities for people who have the right credentials and have received proper training. If a professional has obtained certifications recognized within the industry then they are on the path to success.

Success of your HR Career

In order to be an effectual human resource professional, a candidate does not just require the ability to grasp concepts such as workforce planning and strategic management, but also need to have the practical skills so that these concepts can be applied by them.

What Jobs Can You Get With an HR Certification

HR professionals can obtain high paying salaries when working as a manager, director, generalist, coordinator, specialist, administrator or business partner in the human resource field. Based on a research conducted by Payscale.com, human resource professionals with an HR certification earn a significantly higher amount that professionals that have not been certified. A senior HR certification helps you earn almost ninety percent more overall money as opposed to those who do not have a certification. An SPHR certification also ensures around fifty percent more money as compared to the ones who do not go further after acquiring a PHR. HR professionals in any position tend to earn almost ninety thousand dollars with an SPHR certification, almost sixty thousand with a PHR certification and a little over forty thousand dollars if they have no certification. This shows that every HR professional should definitely look into trying to obtain an HR certification in order to ensure that their career will be boosted and a key element will be added to their resume. This way they will also be getting the most out of their career as a human resource professional.

Is an HR Certification necessary?

When you advance in your field and career there will be a great competition for you with other people who will have obtained certification of the same nature. Organizations tend to search for more financial and strategic development skills from their human resource staff as they do not make it evident that these credentials are necessary for hopeful applicants. For most of it, a majority of them advertise these credentials as something optional or they may choose to not find them necessary, even though they could be a significant boost to the success of your career. Gaining any of the possible certifications requires the candidate to invest in the required books and courses for preparation. Time is also consumed when several hours of studying need to put in and classroom sessions need to be attended in order to gain the credential. If you speak to people who work in the human resource field currently in your area they will be able to give you an informed and satisfying answer regarding whether you are in need of an HR certification. The necessity of an HR certification often relies on where you live and is based on the conditions of your local area which might be different from what you may read online or from a career office.

HR professionals looking into whether they should attempt to procure an HR certification should definitely give it a go as it not only has great value in the HR field but will also shine up their resume and give it an added boost that is sure to appeal to recruiters and help set you apart from the rest of the competition while also ensuring you a high-paid position. It also shows your enthusiasm and commitment towards your field and your dedication towards being an exemplary in the human resource field. Obtaining an HR certification is one of the fundamental steps in moving forward in your HR career.

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