Certification and Professional Credit

Many of our monthly programs are provided to members for HRCI credit. Attending these programs will enhance your ability on the job and in your career, and will assist you in reaching the required number of continuing credits to maintain your status as either SPHR or PHR.

You can also improve your career potential and professional status by completing the Professional Development program using the SHRM HR System. Designed for Human Resources professionals, these courses are officially sanctioned by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) as study materials.

For more information about certification, kateculley@gmail.com

PHR/SPHR Certification and the HR Bottom Line...a message from HRCI

During these challenging times, an effective HR staff must be able to demonstrate more than “good people skills.” “Good people skills” won’t help overhaul an organization’s compensation structure, won’t develop and assess an organization’s training program, won’t help an organization be proactive in developing a culture free of sexual harassment, and won’t develop an OSHA-compliant health safety program.

One way to assess the effectiveness of an HR professional is through certification. An HR department whose staff is professionally certified can—and should—make a significant contribution to the management and strategic direction of an organization. They can ensure that the organization’s people strategy is correctly aligned with its business strategy.

How do you determine which professional certification to look for when staffing your HR department? The most respected certifications for HR professionals are the Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Earning one or more of these designations validates that a professional possesses significant knowledge and experience in all areas of HR, including strategic management; workforce planning; human resource development; compensation and benefits; employee and labor relations, and occupational health, safety and security. Today there are more than 70,000 HR professionals certified by HRCI.      

Most HR professionals who take on the challenge of the PHR, SPHR, and GPHR exams demonstrate more than knowledge. They display a true dedication to the HR management profession. They show it when they agree to study in excess of 40 hours and when they arrive at the testing center to take the four-hour multiple-choice examination. Certificants continue to demonstrate their dedication to the profession when they maintain their designation by re-certifying every three years through professional development or by retaking the examination. They are leaders in the HR profession.

Recruiters take note of the designations as well. Although there may not be an abundance of jobs available today, the lack of jobs has not eased the skills shortage. The lack of a skilled labor pool is still a serious long-term issue. Recruiters routinely include “PHR, SPHR or GPHR preferred” in advertisements for professional-level HR jobs. Recruiters need not worry that adding this preference may decrease the applicant pool. In fact, stating this preference may likely increase the pool of qualified candidates for the position and help separate the wheat from the chaff.

Many certified professionals are members of their local chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). This organization is an excellent source for certified HR talent and resources. To learn more about how professional certification for HR professionals can benefit you and your organization, please visit the HRCI web site at www.hrci.org.