Certifications give a tremendous boost to an otherwise stagnant career or knowledge base. Like everyone else, this applies to the HR professionals as well. Competition for HR professionals has increased and organizations are now seeking validation of employee skills before hiring them.  Certifications are the best way to prove commitment and add credibility to the CV. They are also one of the most suitable ways to ask for that long pending pay hike. And it is not only us who say so. According to payscale “Employees with the SPHR certification make 93 percent more money”. Certifications also improve the employee’s chance of getting promoted. 42% of employees at the VP position are certified employees.

A growing number of HR professionals themselves realize the importance of certifications. A study presented that 98% of responders say certifications add value to their profile and 56% of respondents say that best hr certifications are extremely important for professional growth. In addition to bringing credibility and value, HR certifications also help in:

• gaining global perspective.
• keeping jobs.
• pursuing interests.
• gaining different skills.
• developing relationships in the industry.

HR certifications become all the more necessary in global hiring scenario when trust and recognition become a critical issue. Institutions and organizations have recognized this need and are facilitating better and flexible study options for professionals. Many more employers are coming forward to sponsor their employee’s education. Certificates and diplomas are available for professionals at all levels in the organizations. We have outlined the basic ones below:

Types of HR certifications:

Though certificates and diplomas in HR are multifarious, here are the most recognized ones:

APHR (Associate Professional in Human Resources): APHR certification is for people who are beginning their careers in human resources. The participant needs to appear for a short 2-hour online exam to receive this certificate.

PHR (Professional in Human Resources): PHR certification is meant for junior HR professionals who report to other senior leaders within the organization. The certification is done online through a 3-hour test. Results are valid for 3 years.

STMP (Senior Talent Management Practitioner): There are 6 different tracks to apply for this certificate. Minimum 5 years of experience is required.

SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources): SPHR certification for senior HR Professionals who are invested in HR policy-making and strategic planning. The certificate is valid for 3 years. 

SHRM-CP: SHRM-CP test has very specific job and work experience requirements.  It is a 4-hour exam and certification is valid for one year.

That brings us to the question where to get these certifications from:

Professional Organizations:

A number of organizations are facilitating certifications. Here are few institutions providing Top HR certifications:

International Association for Human Resource Information Management:

International Association for Human Resource Information Management facilitates education through various means. Their Human Resource Information Professional (HRIP) course is meant for practicing HR people who deal with information systems.

Society for Human Resource Management:

Society for Human Resource Management has two levels of certifications for HR professionals. Beginners and mid-level HR Professionals can go for SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP®) and Senior HR professionals can opt for SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP®).

Talent management Institute (TMI):

Talent Management Institute offers two courses for mid-level and Senior HR leaders. Its Associate fellow program is for mid-level HR professionals who want to go for larger, more impactful roles. The Global fellow program is for Senior HR professionals. Details of the courses can be seen on their page tmi.org.

HR Certification Institute®(HRCI®):

HRCI is an independent nonprofit organization and provides four different levels of certifications to HR practitioners: Associate professional in Human Resources, Professional in Human Resources, Senior Professional in Human Resources and Global Professional in Human Resources. Their certification is valid for 3 years.