Human resources certificates are designed to provide specialized training in crucial HR areas such as recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, labor law compliance, and HR management. These programs impart essential skills that can help you grow your career while enabling businesses to meet their goals more effectively. Whether you're starting out or looking to advance in your profession, HR certificates offer valuable tools to strengthen your expertise and make a lasting impact in the workplace.
Focusing on the practical use of HR concepts, these certificates provide specific knowledge that can be immediately applied in the workplace. Moreover, obtaining an HR certificate is often faster than pursuing a college degree or MBA - making it an appealing choice if you aim to swiftly acquire the skills needed to enter the HR field.
Human Resource Certificates
HR careers can differ in terms of knowledge and specialization, depending on the HR domain you choose. For example, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers the HR Certificate Program, which encompasses a wide range of topics. These include human resource management, labor relations, compensation and benefits, employee development and training, performance management, compliance with employment law, fostering diversity in the workplace, and global human resource management.
Other programs, like the Professional Human Resources (PHR) certificate, focus on topics related to human resource administration such as staffing selection processes, HR program design and implementation, human resource data analysis, risk management strategies for HR professionals, labor relations strategies, organizational development techniques for changing workplace cultures, and human capital management strategies.
Many of these certificates require an understanding of core business concepts, including finance and accounting principles. Additionally, you can explore other HR fields with specialized certificates that concentrate on areas like recruitment strategy or international human resources. No matter which certificate you choose, anticipate gaining invaluable insights into HR management while enhancing your skillset and preparing for success in your chosen field.
HR Certificate Courses
HR professional certificates give you the skills you need to excel in a human resources career. These programs typically include courses such as:
- Talent Management
- Labor Relations
- Compensation and Benefits
- Employee Development and Training
- Performance Management
- Employment Law Compliance
Most HR certificate programs take anywhere from 6 months to a year to complete with an associated cost that varies depending on the institution offering the program. By completing an HR professional certificate program, you will gain knowledge for a number of human resources concepts that can be immediately put into practice at work while also gaining a timing advantage when competing for jobs in the field of human resources, as you will be ready for work sooner than those seeking a 4-year degree.
Certificates vs. HR Degrees
Unlike a college degree, which typically takes four years or more to complete, an HR professional certificate can be earned in as little as 6 months and can cost much less depending on the institution providing the education. While a bachelor’s degree will most likely cover some human resource concepts, they are often not as in-depth or specific to some human resources niches as those found in an HR professional certificate program. Therefore, if you choose to pursue a specific HR professional certificate, expect to gain valuable insight into that niche that you can immediately put into practice at work.
Where to Get HR Professional Certificate
Schools offering HR certificate programs can be found online or in person. You can search the internet to find schools that provide human resources certificates and see what courses they offer. You can also visit local universities and colleges to see if they have any human resource certificate programs available. Some places to start looking can include:
The American Management Association (AMA)
The American Management Association (AMA) offers a variety of human resources courses and certificates through its website. These courses cover topics such as employment law, human resource management, recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, employee relations and development, safety and health compliance, and workforce planning. Upon completion of the program, you will earn the AMA Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certificate.
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Another potential option for obtaining an HR certificate online is with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). SHRM offers two certificates: the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) designation and the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation.
Both SHRM CP and SHRM certificates are designed to demonstrate mastery of human resource fundamentals as well as advanced concepts such as organizational effectiveness, talent acquisition and retention strategies, human capital analytics, workforce planning and diversity inclusion initiatives. The knowledge SHRM covers will address topics such as compensation practices, employee relations policies and procedures, project management skills relevant to human resources roles, performance management systems and more.
University of Minnesota
One of the most popular schools to obtain an HR certificate online is the University of Minnesota. The University offers a variety of human resource certificates, such as their Human Resource Management Certificate and Organization Development Certificate. Both programs include five key courses such as human resource management, labor relations and human resource laws, employee development and training, performance management and compensation and benefits.
Cornell University
Cornell University offers an HR certificate online through their Human Resources Certificate Program. Here you can learn specialized human resources topics ranging from human resource strategy-making to legal issues in human resources. The program requires that you take four core classes—Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice; Managing Conflict in Organizations; Human Resource Law; and Benefits, Compensation, and Performance Management—as well as two electives (which could be chosen from any of the other seven available classes).
All classes are instructor-led with virtual class sessions offered throughout each semester. The curriculum also includes case studies, group work assignments, discussion board postings with peers, quizzes and midterms exams as well as a final project upon completion of the program requirements.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University offers a popular online HR certificate program through their School of Continuing Studies. The Human Resources Management Certificate Program consists of five courses: Introduction to Human Resources Management; Employment Law; Talent Acquisition & Retention Strategies; Effective Leadership & Organizational Development; and Compensation & Benefits Administration.
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) offers a Human Resource Management Certificate program which provides human resources professionals with courses in human resource management, labor relations, compensation and benefits, employee development and training, performance management and employment law compliance.
This program takes about 10 months to complete and is taught by experienced human resources faculty who are dedicated to providing you with a comprehensive understanding of human resources concepts. Additionally, the certificate program culminates in a human resources project that allows you to apply your learning to real-world scenarios.
Cambridge College
Cambridge College offers the Professional Certificate in Human Resources Management which provides aspiring human resources professionals with the tools needed to excel in human resource roles. This certificate program is designed to be completed within 8 months and consists of 5 core courses as well as 2 electives that focus on human resource topics such as safety standards, recruitment strategies, organizational development and leadership. Upon successful completion of this certificate program, you will gain an understanding of current human resource trends while gaining practical skills use can use in your professional life.
University of North Caroline Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill) offers a Human Resources Management Certificate Program which prepares human resources professionals for success in today’s competitive job market. This 9-month long program covers topics such as strategic planning, employee engagement, regulatory compliance, workforce diversity and more through both classroom lectures as well as hands-on activities that allows you to put your knowledge into practice.
There are many other universities that offer human resource certificate programs that can be completed either partially or entirely online. In addition to university-based programs there are numerous other online options available if you want to pursue your HR certificate without attending classes in person.
