HR certification in the USA

A number of organisations provide certification that can increase credibility and career opportunities for newcomers and experienced HR practitioners. Certification is intended to demonstrate an understanding of human resource practices and their link to wider business issues. Certifications include:

Professional Human Resources (PHR)
Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR)
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist
Certified Employee Relations Professional (CERP)
Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
Employee Assistance Professional
HR Generalist.

The PHR and SPHR are the most widely recognised. They are administered by the Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA) and the Society for Human Resources (SHRM). The following eligibility criteria have been set:

PHR

Objective: certification for HR generalists at an operational or technical level.

Suitable for entry-level HR practitioners, students, recent college graduates with a human resource career in mind. Also useful for existing HR professionals who want to make sure of their basic HR competences. Certificated by the Human Resource Certification Institute.

Basic requirements:

- Two years full-time HR experience (2-4 years recommended) practitioner, educator, researcher, or consultant. Students or recent graduates without 2 years experience "must be within one year prior to or after the procurement of a bachelor or graduate degree. Upon passing the PHR exam, the candidate then has five years in which to fulfill the 2 years of HR exempt-level work experience and obtain the PHR certification.

Self-paced to examination.

SPHR

Objective: certification for HR practitioners with more extensive experience aimed at gaining strategic and policy level competences. Certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute.

Basic requirements, same as PHR but students and recent graduates may not apply. Also, applicants are recommended to have 6-8 years experience.

Self-paced to examination

Others

The International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP) provides the CEBS. It is made up of ten courses covering health and welfare, retirement, human resources, compensation and other relevant topics. This is also available from a number of universities.

The CCP and CBP are offered by the American Compensation Association (ACA) and are based on recognised 'bodies of knowledge' for the profession.

The Employee Assistance Certification Commission is responsible for the CEAP.

CERP is administered by the Positive Employee Relations Council and differs from the other certifications by testing knowledge of employee law and competence in using the Internet to find HR related information.

The SHRM also provides the HR Generalist Certificate as a series of seminars covering all the functional areas of HR. Credit units from this can be applied towards recertificating PHR/SPHR.

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