The Pros and Cons Of Earning An HR Certification

Unlike some other fields, it is not essential for a person to hold a certification to work in the Field of human resources. So, anyone who wishes to earn an HR certification has to consider lots of things before deciding whether getting an HR certification is worth their time and money.

There are a variety of HR certifications that are offered by institutes like the HR Certification Institute, Society for Human Resource Management and Talent Management Institute. They are for professionals with different levels of experience as well as areas of knowledge. However, in order to decide which certification to go for or whether you want to earn an HR certification at all, it is important to consider the pros and cons of getting acquiring an HR certification.

The benefits of having an HR certification

Career growth

Whether you are entering the field of human resources or are well settled in your job, holding a certification can act as a catalyst for the growth of your career. Around 96 percent of the recruiters believe that HR certifications are relevant and prefer to hire candidates that have earned a certificate over those who did not, as reported by HRCI. So we can say that holding an HR certification can definitely give you a competitive edge over your competition.

International acknowledgment

For anyone who is planning to work abroad or take their employees to another nation other than the U.S.A., it is necessary to know that HR certifications are considered as a worthwhile commodity by employers in many countries. According to a study by HRCI, professional certification is next in line to a graduate degree when it was considered which credentials were valued by employers the most. International HR certification such as PHRi and GPHR certainly hold value in many countries of the world.

The Pros and Cons Of Earning An HR Certification

Better Salaries

It is true that you need to pay for taking an exam to earn the best HR certification but the financial profits you get out of them makes it totally worth getting one. It can not only give you the opportunity to receive a senior level job but also increase your chances of getting a higher salary. As per the HRCI-commissioned study, professional certification is a qualification that employers not only have great regards for but are also ready to pay for.

Furthermore, it was stated in a study by Payscale.com that professionals holding specialized certifications tend to earn $19000 more than those who are not certified.

The charges for obtaining an HR certification

The cost of acquiring a certification in the field of HR is undoubtedly quite expensive. The exams of SHRM cost $ 400 for students that are not members of the institute and $ 300 for the ones who are. HRCI exams costs from $350 to $495.

Recertification

Recertification is something you really need to consider if you are aspiring to get a human resources certification as you will have to fulfill some requirements in order to prove that your knowledge about the field is up to date with the current development in human resources. This means being a part of professional development exercises in every 3 years.

Conclusion

In the end, we will just say that HR certification has its advantages as well as disadvantages. So before making any decision, do a proper research of the market and then make a decision keeping your future goals in mind.