11 HR Certifications That Pay Well; PMP, HRCI, SHRM, DEIB, Leadership, Finance, Strategy
11 HR Certifications That Pay Well; PMP, HRCI, SHRM, DEIB, Leadership, Finance, Strategy
If you’re in the Human Resources field, you’re likely aware that the best certifications to obtain are the SHRM or the HRCI ones including the PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, and the SHRM-SCP. Most human resources professionals will need to study for those exams, and one way to study (or to broaden your studying) is to obtain another certification that will provide learning outcomes to help you pass these HR exams for the SHRM or HRCI certifications.
The certifications listed below are not simply a pass/fail test like the SHRM and HRCI certifications are. Also, SHRM and HRCI won’t provide any teachings with their certifying test. You’ll have to purchase books, practice tests, and additional study materials. I’ll also include those here. The certifications below are courses, with actual learning outcomes and course material, and a certification upon completion.
I’m HRCI certified with an SPHR certification. I’m a Career Coach, prior Head of Human Resources and longtime prior Recruiter in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I also have a Project Management certification from eCornell. I won’t guide you wrong!
If you’re more interested in the recruitment track, we offer a recruitment course titled Coordinator to Recruiter: Promote to Recruiter. This course is designed for Recruiting Coordinators looking to make that jump to a Recruiter or Sourcer. It’s designed specifically for junior talent that’s had some experience in talent acquisition and/or human resources that want to transition to a more hands-on recruitment role.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
What do people want from their professional certification?
I thought about the reasons why someone likely chooses an online certification, and I came up with 3 main considerations. I know we’re looking for HR certifications that pay well, however, there are other factors. The recommendations I make in this article will hit all three of these considerations.
Cost: Is the value of what the certification costs worth it? Do these certifications pay well after obtaining (cost-benefit analysis)?
Learning Outcomes: Are the learning outcomes valuable and will they advance your career?
Brand Recognition: Does the certifying body look good on a resume or Linkedin profile?
Certifications for HR professionals do NOT need to include these words in the title:
Talent or People
Human Resources or HR
Talent Acquisition
Human Resources professionals in this era really need to be masters of the whole business. In my opinion, they’re often overlooked for leadership roles in other departments such as Chief Operations Officer (COO), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and VP and other executive roles in these fields. HR professionals know how all the departments work together. They understand the laws and regulations, how projects get done, and how to push the business forward through constant change.
In addition, HR professionals care about the employees! They often care about making data-driven decisions, goal setting, care about a diverse workforce, and they’re in the thick of implementing new tools and softwares and coordinate all mergers and acquisitions. Doesn’t that sound like a top executive to you?
While you’re looking at these below certifications, I want you to be mindful that we’re trying to bring light to the fact that Human Resources professionals are more… HR has been put into a box, and we’re shedding light on that fact.
HR Certifications That Pay Well; PMP, HRCI, SHRM, DEIB. HR Certifications That Pay Well
HR Certification Categories Are:
Project Management Certifications:
HR professionals are often involved in managing various projects at the same time, such as implementing new HR policies, organizing training programs, or rolling out employee engagement initiatives. Think of Human Resources as the Program Managers of people. Obtaining a PMP certification provides a structured framework and best practices for managing projects effectively, helping HR professionals improve their project management skills, and validating the work that they often already know how to do. In my opinion, the PMP is one of the best certifications for any professional and it’s a certification that pays well for anyone, especially HR.
If you’re thinking about taking the PMP exam, you’ll need the following experience; Either direct Project Management experience equating to 60 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years (if you have an education less than a Bachelor’s Degree) OR 36 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years if you have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher… AND 35 Hours of Project Management Training or the CAPM Certification in order to take the PMP exam.
As an HR professional in the tech space myself, I would often hear the words “agile” and “scrum” and think those were highly technical terms, and they weren’t for me. Wrong! They’re project management techniques for any and everyone that manages projects…and it’s now a requirement for everyone taking the PMP exam to understand what Agile means.
In the same regard as the HRCI and SHRM exams, you can also obtain another certification to help you study for the PMP exam. The PMP certification is an exam only. The below certifications are courses with learning outcomes and course material and lessons, with a subsequent certification upon course completion.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Project Management Certifications:
Project Management Principles: University of Maryland (35 PDU hours)
Agile Project Management: University of Maryland (50 PDU hours)
Project Management Micro-Masters: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) (3 PMP Certified Courses)
Managing People with Power Skills: The University of Maryland, College Park
Project Management Essentials: George Washing University School of Business
Project Management - A Hybrid Approach: Syracuse University (50 PDUs)
Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management: The University of Maryland, College Park
Agile Project Management: Google via CourseraHelp you get a job. Help you get a job. Help you get a job.
Project Management Certification Winners:
Business Strategy Certifications:
Having a deep understanding of business strategy enables HR professionals to align their HR initiatives and practices with the overall strategic goals of the organization, which ensures the Human Resources department contributes directly to the company's success and long-term vision.
Business strategy certifications usually teach individuals the ability to evaluate and analyze the overall market landscape and climate. This would include market trends, competitors, and industry forces. This analysis skill-set helps individuals understand the broader business context in which their organization operates, and the vulnerabilities it may have.
With a strong grasp of business strategy, Human Resources professionals can integrate HR practices seamlessly into the broader business context. Being able to speak to the business ensures that you have a seat at the table. It’s incredibly difficult for HR to be an effective function when they aren’t given a seat at the table, and gaining trust via understanding the holistic business strategy is one way to accomplish this. Business Strategy is a certification that pays well for HR professionals, in both enrichment and actual income and career growth.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Business Strategy Certifications:
Digital Business Strategy: Harnessing Our Digital Future: MIT Sloan School of Management
Making Evidence-Based Strategic Decisions: The University of Maryland, College Park
Business Strategy Certification Winners:
Communication, Negotiation & Persuasion Certifications:
Public speaking certification helps HR professionals enhance their communication skills, enabling them to convey ideas, instructions, and information more clearly and persuasively to employees, management, and stakeholders.
HR professionals often lead training sessions and workshops. Public speaking certifications equip HR professionals with techniques to engage audiences, maintain their attention, and deliver content in an impactful way. Compelling public speaking skills allow HR professionals to engage employees during meetings, town halls, and company events.
These certifications focus on building confidence and engaging with audiences in a compelling way. They provide individuals with comprehensive training in verbal communication and persuasive speaking techniques.
The absolute most valuable aspect of a public speaking certification is the enrichment of the student’s confidence. Individuals' self-assurance when speaking in front of groups should increase, and that can extend to how that person communicates in all areas of their life.
One of the final stages of the recruitment funnel is the job offer; talent acquisition and HR often negotiating compensation packages with potential hires. A negotiation certification equips talent acquisition professionals with the skills to navigate salary discussions, ensuring that both parties reach a mutually beneficial agreement. This is a win-win solution, where both parties benefit from the outcome… one of the learning outcomes you can expect to master in a negotiation certification. These are all HR certifications that pay well.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Communication, Negotiation & Persuasion Certifications:
Successful Negotiation - Essential Strategies and Skills: The University of Michigan
Structuring Business Agreements for Success: Cornell University
Introduction to Public Speaking: University of Washington via Coursera
The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking/Speech Course: Udemy
Speaking in Public: Storytelling, Influence, and Presence: GetSmarter
Professional Communication - Business Writing and Storytelling: The Economist
Communication, Negotiation & Persuasion Certification Winners:
Leadership Certifications:
What do leadership certifications offer? Well, they offer so many benefits for Human Resources professionals looking to enhance their leadership abilities and advance their professional careers. Leadership certifications provide specialized training in an array of aspects of leadership - equipping HR pros with the skills and knowledge needed to lead teams, inspire others, and drive organizational success.
Leadership certifications often cover strategic planning and execution and further development in how to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
As change agents within an organization, HR professionals need to lead and manage change effectively. Leadership certification equips them with the tools to guide employees through transitions.
Leadership certification includes conflict management techniques, and they emphasize quality communication skills, empowering HR professionals to convey ideas, policies, and initiatives clearly to employees, managers, and executives. These are all Leadership and HR certifications that pay well in enrichment and career development.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Leadership Certifications:
Exercising Leadership - Foundational Principles: Harvard University
Leadership in an Exponentially Changing World: MIT Sloan School of Management
Ethical Leadership: Character, Civility, and Community: Boston University
Leading People and Teams: University of Michigan via Coursera
Managing People with Power Skills: The University of Maryland, College Park
Becoming a Successful Leader - Inclusive Leadership Training: Catalyst
Interpersonal Communication - Strategies for Executives: MIT Sloan School of Management
Women’s Leadership- Leading with Power and Influence: Yale School of Management
Women as Business Leaders: Syracuse University, Whitman School of Management
Leadership & Coaching Certification Winners:
Teamwork Collaboration Certifications:
Leadership certifications are for both leaders and individual contributors. Just about any role in HR could benefit from a teamwork certification, such as HR Business Partner, HR Generalist, HR Leader, Employee Relations and anyone in Talent Acquisition.
A teamwork and collaboration certification can help you excel in collaborative work environments, which let’s just say, that’s pretty much everywhere. In recruitment, teamwork is essential for sourcing, interviewing, and evaluating candidates. Employee relations specialists mediate conflicts and foster positive relationships between employees and management. A teamwork certification would enhance their ability to work collaboratively, bridge communication gaps, and create harmonious work environments. HR business partners work closely with business units to align HR strategies with organizational goals. Effective teamwork skills are crucial for building strong relationships, collaborating with department leaders, and ensuring HR initiatives are integrated smoothly.
Teamwork certifications can even benefit training and development and how HR works cross-functionally. Collaboration between compensation and benefits teams, finance, and HR is essential to design and manage competitive compensation packages. A teamwork certification enhances communication and coordination. These are all HR certifications that pay well.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Teamwork Collaboration Certifications:
Teamwork & Collaboration: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence at Work: University of California, Berkeley
Ethical Leadership: Character, Civility, and Community: Boston University
Teamwork Skills - Communicating Effectively in Groups: University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera
Team Collaboration Certification Winners:
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Certifications (DEIB):
This may be one of the more obvious categories, yet, a lot of HR professionals feel at a loss with DEIB. They don’t know if HR should manage DEIB, or if other folks should. It may be a lack of confidence, knowledge, or both.
A DEIB certification equips HR professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to build and manage a diverse and inclusive workforce. This includes attracting diverse talent, ensuring equitable policies, and fostering an inclusive culture.
Many organizations prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. A DEIB certification helps Human Resources professionals lead initiatives that align with these values, contributing to the organization's overall mission.
HR professionals with a DEIB certification are better equipped to identify and address biases in the organization as well as HR, establishing fair practices in recruitment, promotions, compensation, and other business areas.
Gaining a DEIB certification demonstrates a dedication to empathy and understanding of different perspectives and experiences and showcases an emphasized EQ. These are all HR certifications that pay well in enrichment and career growth.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Certifications (DEIB):
Discrimination and Diversity in the Modern Workplace: University of California, Berkeley
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Workplace: Northwestern University
Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Northwestern University
The Global #MeToo Movement: University of California, Berkeley
Becoming a Successful Leader - Inclusive Leadership Training: Catalyst
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Certification Winners:
Marketing Certifications:
This category would be an easy one to scroll past, but please do not. HR professionals often take marketing for granted, when it’s everything in employer branding. A marketing certification teaches Talent Acquisition and HR professionals how to use targeted strategies and messaging to attract and engage candidates, and even to retain them. Knowing how to leverage social media for candidate outreach and how to craft a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP) that highlights the unique benefits and opportunities the organization offers to employees can attract and retain top talent.
Marketing certification enhances communication skills, and often teach really useful skills around data collection and data analytics that can transfer to other areas of work. These are all HR certifications that pay well in career growth and skill development.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Marketing Certifications:
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing: The University of Maryland, College Park
Social Media Strategy - Creating Engagement, Insight, and Action: MIT Sloan School of Management
Digital Marketing and Media Strategy: Northwestern University
Content Marketing and Strategy - Brand and Business Growth: Northwestern University
Marketing Certification Winners:
Data Analytics Certifications:
We just learned that Marketing can provide some great insights into data analytics. If you’re looking for a more holistic overview a Data Analytics Certification could be a good route for someone in Human Resources or Talent Acquisition.
Data Analytics skills are increasingly in demand across various industries due to the growing importance of data-driven decision-making. How many times have you heard “data-driven person” or “data-driven decision making”? Well, you could be that verified and validated “data-driven person” with the skillset to back it up with a data analytics certification.
Data analytics certification positions HR professionals as strategic partners within the organization, capable of contributing data-driven insights to support overall business strategies. Data analytics skills empower Human Resources professionals to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights, leading to more effective and strategic HR practices.
When it comes to Talent Acquisition, a data analytics certification can help to analyze trends in candidate sourcing, recruitment channels, and hiring success rates, improving the efficiency of talent acquisition efforts. Ultimately, costs and what the business is spending money on and what it shouldn’t be spending money on are great reasons to obtain a data analytics certification. These are all HR certifications that pay well and provide career growth opportunities.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Data Analytics Certifications:
Data Analytics Certification Winners:
Finance and Risk Management Certifications:
Why would you want to obtain and finance and risk management certification if you’re not in finance? Obtaining a certification in finance can offer several compelling benefits for individuals who are not currently working in finance-related roles.
Finance certifications often cover regulatory compliance and financial reporting standards, helping HR professionals navigate financial regulations and compliance requirements.
Finance certifications equip HR professionals with the knowledge to analyze compensation structures, benefits programs, and retirement plans, making sure there’s alignment with financial goals and regulations. In addition, Human Resources professionals often manage budgets for training, recruitment, and other initiatives. A finance certification helps them allocate resources strategically and manage budgets effectively.
Finance certification provides insights into financial regulations and legal requirements, helping HR professionals to be compliant with labor laws and financial reporting standards.
There’s an interconnectivity between finance and risk management. Risk management certifications equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, which is crucial for successful business operations and decision-making. Risk management involves analyzing complex situations and developing solutions to address potential risks. A risk management certification can enhance problem-solving skills, and understanding risk can help people make more risk-averse financial decisions. Below are recommendations to consider outside of eCornell’s finance certification offerings. These are all HR certifications that pay well.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Finance and Risk Management Certifications:
Foundations of Modern Finance I: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Introduction to Risk Management: New York Institute of Finance
Risk Management Tools and Practices: New York Institute of Finance
Corporate Sustainability Management - Risk, Profit, and Purpose: Yale School of Management
Finance for Non-Financial Managers: Syracuse University, Whitman School of Management
Finance and Risk Management Certification Winners:
Time & Task Management Certifications:
Excel is one of those tools that no matter how much one knows, it feels like they don’t know enough. With advanced Excel skills, Human Resources professionals can automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and perform complex calculations more quickly, saving time and increasing productivity… which we all know, there’s never enough time in HR.
Time management certifications offer structured training and tools to help HR professionals better manage time, prioritize tasks, and make the most of resources. Gaining this additional skill set can reduce stress and feelings of overwhelm, which contributes to a healthy work/life balance. These are all HR certifications that pay well in career growth.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Time & Task Management Certifications:
Excel for Everyone - Core Foundations: University of British Columbia
Work Smarter, Not Harder - Time Management: UC Irvine via Coursera
Time & Task Management Certification Winners:
Business and Employment Law Certifications:
Employment law certification provides HR professionals with a good understanding of labor laws, regulations, and legal requirements related to hiring, managing, and terminating employees, helping them ensure the organization remains compliant.
HR professionals with employment law certification can identify potential legal risks and take proactive measures to mitigate risk, reducing the likelihood of costly lawsuits and legal disputes. Employment law certifications also allow Human Resources professionals to develop, communicate, and enforce HR policies and procedures that align with legal standards and protect the organization's interests.
During those unfortunate times that no one likes, HR professionals with employment law certification can navigate termination and disciplinary actions within legal bounds, minimizing the risk of wrongful termination claims.
Employment law certifications empower HR professionals to administer leaves of absence, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requirements, manage requests for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and adhere to wage and hour laws. All of these are common daily practices in HR, and all of these are topics that are covered in the HRCI and SHRM exams. These are all HR certifications that pay well in career enrichment and career growth.
HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications That Pay Well. HR Certifications
Business and Employment Law Certifications:
Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law: Stanford University
Privacy Law and Data Protection: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Contract Law - From Trust to Promise to Contract: Harvard University
Structuring Business Agreements for Success: Cornell University
Business and Employment Law Certification Winners:
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