Even though HR certifications aren’t mandatory to get into an HR role. Certifications, however, can add substantial value to resume and add to the list of accolades for HR professionals. A certification justifies a demonstrated skillset.
Is earning an HR certification important?
Most employers don’t keep HR certification as a mandatory qualification for an HR role.
Still , several certifications from SHRM and HRCI are well-recognized in the human resources community. If HR certifications are not mandatory, should professionals invest their time and money in taking HR certifications?
The HR industry seems to have an affirmative answer to this question. Career progression
From breaking into HR to growing in an HR career, a certifcation from reputed HR organizations can bolster moves. In a study conducted by HRCI, it found that 96 percent of employers preferred certified HR, while a Payscale study found that a certified HR can expect to earn up to $19,000 more than non-certified ones.
International recognition
There are a few certifications which are globally recognized and focus on helping HR professionals to manage global workforces. These certifications aren’t limited to one geographic area. For instance, PHRi and GPHR are globally-recognized certifications from HRCI. SHRM-CP from SHRM and GTML from TMI are world’s leading HR certifications for people looking to move into global HR leadership roles.
Further, as you don’t need a specific certification related to international market, these certifications are valuable. In addition, HRCI, in the study mentioned above, found that certifications were the second preferred credential which employers preferred after degrees. This means that even if you don’t hold a degree, an HR certification can help you break into HR roles.
Best HR certifications
Several HR certifications are available from organizations, including HRCI, SHRM, TMI, World at Work, and ATD among others. These certifications are available for professionals with all experience levels. Following are some prominent certifications in the HR space--
1.APTD (Associate Professional in Talent Development) – APTD is offered by ATD, short for Association for Talent Development. This is a leading HR credentialing body in the HR space and focuses on equipping candidates with latest HR practices for talent development. This certification is meant for entry-level as well as mid-level career professionals to acquaint them with better practices in talent development.
2.CPLP (Certified Professional in Learning & performance) – This is another certification from ATD. It is targeted towards learning and development professionals. The certification equips takers in 10 areas of learning and development.
3.TMP (Talent Management Practitioner) – This certification is offered by Talent Management Institute, frequently referred to as TMI. This certification is meant for fresh graduates as well as early career HR professionals. The certification equips you with skills in talent development.
4.SMTP (Senior Talent Management Practitioner) – Again, this certification is offered by TMI. However, this one is meant for professionals with at least 7 years of experience in the HR field. This is among the best HR certifications in the talent development space, equipping candidates with strategic processes and frameworks to manage talent.
CCP (Certified Compensation Professional)—This credential is offered by World at Work -- a renowned organization for total rewards strategy. As you can guess, this certification equips professionals to strategically integrate compensation as part of larger total rewards, while maximizing organizations returns.
