How to Get a Human Resources Certification

A human resources certification can be a great way to improve your HR skills or prepare for a new role in human resources. To earn a certification, decide which certification is right for you, review the procedures and requirements to apply for the certification, and prepare for success on exam day. You can find HR certifications to help you reach your career goals, whether you are brand new to HR or ready to move into a senior leadership position.

Explore your options for human resource certification and the steps you need to take to pass your exam. 

What is human resources certification?

A human resources certification is a way to demonstrate that you have a base set of skills that match the standard skill set for a professional in your field. These standards are often set by professional organizations, nonprofit organizations, and member associations that support professionals working in HR. Certification helps standardize the skills you need to be successful and act as shorthand to demonstrate that you hold those skills. To earn a certification, you may need to pass an exam or a course, although the process to earn a certification varies based on the certification you want to earn.

The benefits of obtaining HR certification

Getting an HR certification can help you advance your career by learning and validating new skills to help you qualify for positions with more responsibility or be more successful in your current role. Other benefits of HR certification include: 

• Earning more money: A certification can help you qualify for roles that pay a higher salary. 

• Competitive advantage: A certification helps you stand out from other applicants and increases your chance of getting hired. 

• Learning new skills: Certification programs can help you review your existing skills and expand your skill set to take on new challenges. 

• Preparing for leadership: A certification program can help you develop the leadership skills you need to take on a role with more responsibility. 

Who should pursue human resources certification?

You may find HR certifications to help you learn new skills and qualify for new career roles no matter what stage of your HR career you’re in. You can find HR certification options if you are: 

• A professional transitioning to HR from other careers

• An entry-level HR professional just beginning to gain professional experience

• A professional with experience ready to advance to a leadership role

10 popular human resources certifications 

Although many certification options can help your HR career, two organizations provide popular HR certifications for professionals at any stage of experience: the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

HRCI offers eight certifications for professionals in HR: 

• Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR)

• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

• Associate Professional in Human Resources—International (aPHRi)

• Professional in Human Resources—International (PHRi)

• Senior Professional in Human Resources—International (SPHRi)

• Professional in Human Resources—California (PHRca)

• Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)

SHRM offers two certifications: 

• Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

• Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)

How to get human resources certification

Earning your HR certification is a matter of deciding which certification is best for your goals and where you are in your career, researching the application process, preparing for your exam, passing your test, and earning your certification. After that, you may need to maintain your certification with periodic continuing education. Explore each step in detail. 

Determine the right certification for your career goals.

Choosing the right HR certification means taking stock of your skills and career goals. You should first choose an HR certification that fits your current job role. For example, the HRCI and SHRM offer certifications for entry-level professionals or those entering the HR field (aPHR and SHRM-CP). If you already have professional experience and want to work toward a position with more responsibility, certifications like the PHR, SPHR, and SHRM-SCP might be more appropriate. 

You should also consider each certificate's cost and time commitment and whether you have the resources to meet those needs. Many programs have flexible time commitments, making fitting certification into your day easier. Similarly, consider each certification's education or experience requirements to ensure you’re pursuing a credential for which you qualify. 

Finally, it’s important to consider what skills you’ll need to work toward your career goals. For example, if you want to take on a role with more responsibility managing other HR professionals, you may need to enhance your leadership skills, such as conflict resolution, or you may need to brush up on business topics like strategic planning. 

The application process and preparing for your HR exam

After you decide which HR certification is right for you, you can explore the application process and determine how you will prepare for your exam. To apply for your exam, you may need to validate that you meet the education and professional experience requirements, if applicable. Some certification tests are only offered during specific windows of time, so it’s also important to consider when the next round of testing will be and how much time you have to prepare. In other cases, you can find certifications with flexible exam dates or that allow you to schedule on your own time. 

Next, you’ll need to decide how to prepare for your exam. You should begin by reviewing the topics you’ll find on your HR certification exam and work backward to find resources or courses to help you study the topics you need to know. You can often find resources from organizations that offer the certifications, such as study guides or courses, to help you review the material you’ll need to know.

Pass the test and maintain certification.

After you feel confident about your HR knowledge, you can take your certification exam and become a certified HR professional. You may also need maintenance courses or continuing education to maintain your certification. For example, to maintain your aPHR certification, you need to earn 45 recertification credits over three years [1]. You can earn these credits through activities like taking continuing education courses and professional achievements like leading new initiatives in your workplace or retaking the certification exam. The exact requirements for your recertification will depend on the organization through which you’re certified. 

Jobs for professionals with HR certification

After earning your HR certification, you can qualify for HR positions in many different industries. It can also help you start working in entry-level HR roles like staffing coordinator, HR assistant, or HR representative. 

Staffing coordinator

Average annual salary in the US: $49,972 [2]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 8 percent [3]

As a staffing coordinator, you work in the human resources department to help manage hiring, firing, training new staff, and managing staff schedules. In this role, you are responsible for determining the appropriate staff levels and confirming details of what each employee does so the HR department can ensure they’re paid appropriately. 

HR assistant

Average annual salary in the US: $49,791 [4]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 8 percent [3]

As an HR assistant, you support HR by providing administrative assistance, maintaining employee records, coordinator training or onboarding, and serving as a person employees can come to with issues that require HR help. In this role, you assist HR managers and other senior staff in a wide range of HR duties. 

HR representative

Average annual salary in the US: $64,357 [5]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 8 percent [3]

As an HR representative, you may perform a wide range of duties to support an HR department, including maintaining job postings and employee records, documenting staff changes and mandatory reporting, administering employee benefits or conducting payroll, or planning and implementing training or company meetings regarding benefits. 

Prepare for human resources certification on Coursera.

An HR certification can help you explore a new career in HR or develop your skills to take on a leadership position. To learn how to get a human resources certification and obtain essential HR skills, explore options on Coursera. 

For example, you can enroll in HRCI’s Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate to prepare for an entry-level role and to take your aPHR exam. You can also begin with Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialization offered by the University of Minnesota to learn more about talent recruitment, human resource management, and HR strategy.