There are education and experience requirements for becoming becoming certified in human resources.
Human resource (HR) management professionals are responsible for managing a company’s employees by overseeing hiring, training, job evaluations, promotions, compensation and benefits. Becoming certified ensures current or potential employers that individuals are up-to-date on the core principles and practices within HR management. It is also an opportunity for a HR professional to make themselves more marketable for job openings and raises their profile among peers.
Education
In order to gain certification, applicants must have experience in HR management, and to gain experience, individuals need to have a strong educational background in human resources. While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement needed in , those with a master’s degree often receive promotional opportunities and salary increases. A bachelor’s combines general education requirements with foundational human resource courses, such as business management, accounting, ethics and communications. A master’s degree offers students an opportunity to gain the specific skills necessary to work in human resource management, including negotiation, organizational management employee benefits and compensation, business strategies and motivational tactics.
Experience
Individuals need to have two years of HR work experience to be eligible for certification. An applicant’s position must include some supervisory responsibilities or require them to originate work that advances HR knowledge. The HR Certification Institute provides a number of job titles that qualify professionals for certification, including assistant HR manager, compensation and benefits specialist, employment administrator, employee relations manager, health and safety specialist, organizational development analyst and staffing director. If an applicant’s job title does not fall into one of these categories or others, they must demonstrate that at least 51 percent of their responsibilities include supervision or origination of work.
Examination
The Professional in Human Resource certification is available through the HR Certification Institute and requires that applicants pass an examination. The exam is 224 questions and takes four hours to complete. The content covers topics in strategic management, risk management, employee and labor relations, workforce planning and employment, total rewards and human resource development.
Tags: human resources, Certification Institute, compensation benefits, human resource, management employee