Competency is described as an ability or skill. Every profession has competencies. And we want competencies; they are the elements that make us successful. You could say that jobs are made up of tasks and skills.
A couple of years ago, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) built a competency model for human resources pros. Since then, SHRM has acquired a certification that follows with the competency model.
In current years, there has been a growing recognition of the benefits of HR credentials among HR professionals. Growing competition for HR jobs means that more and more employers are listing HR certification as needed rather than preferred on their job postings.
The increasing number of certified HR professionals says that this type of credential is now seen as necessary for HR professionals facing challenging hurdles in their careers. Whether buying with talent management, payroll and employee benefits, or labor relations and risk management, the skills required to pass the SHRM certification exams become essential by employers and employees.
How to Get SHRM Certified?
Whether you are planning for the exam or looking for study tips, the below serves as a roadmap to SHRM certification.
1. Discover Your SHRM Exam Eligibility:
SHRM does not let just anyone take its exam. Depending on your education and the specific certification applied for, you will require to have spent a minimum number of years in an HR-related role. For example, a candidate with a bachelor’s degree will want at least two years of experience before qualifying to take the SHRM-CP exam. If you do not have a college degree, you will demand four years’ experience.
2. Apply for the SHRM Exam:
Once you have decided that you meet the minimum requirements, check to see whether you are in the middle of an application period. SHRM offers its exam in winter and spring, each period with its application deadlines. A schedule of deadlines and fees can be found below. Note that this information applies to both the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications and that the organization charges full price for any subsequent retests should you fail to pass the first time around.
3. Schedule Your SHRM Certification Test:
After presenting your application and payment, SHRM will review your HR background to confirm that you have the needed experience. You will get an Authorization to Test certificate, enabling you to log into SHRM’s scheduling portal and set a time. Prometric, a test administration service, handles this part of the process.
Be sure to pick an otherwise free day for your test, as SHRM certification exams take four hours to complete. If you require to reschedule, be sure to do so at least 30 business days in advance to avoid incurring a fee.
4. Get Familiar with the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK):
First points first, the exam is based on the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge, also recognized as the BoCK. Review the BoCK. You can download the SHRM BoCK. Even on the SHRM website is an interactive guide that enables you to read more about each competency and access career development resources.
5. Create a Study Schedule:
Create a study schedule and stick to it! You are a competent, successful HR professional. But that does not mean you do not have to study. This is a graded exam, and many of us have not taken this type of exam for a while. So, plan to study. And make studying a priority. This is the top concern I hear from people who do not pass the exam. They happen behind in studying and never catch up.
6. Take Practice Exams:
There are a few SHRM study resources available that offer practice exam questions, including the SHRM Learning System. Using a practice exam, studying, and then re-taking the exam can be a great way to assess your study applications and build confidence.
7. Do Not Forget Recertification:
Getting certified is just beginning. You will require to continually renew your certification by amassing SHRM credits over three years or prove yourself by taking the test all over again.
Certified HR professionals are required to gather 60 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) every three years by attending SHRM-sanctioned webinars, presentations, and panels. The rule of thumb is that a one-hour event equals one credit. Session-filled conferences like the SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition offer candidates an excellent opportunity to amass credits in a short period.
Importance of SHRM Certification
The vast majority of HR professionals thought it was important for people working in the field of HR to be professionally certified; correctly, 96% thought it was necessary, and 58% thought it was essential.
HR employers both inside and outside of the U.S., managed to see certification as being of higher quality compared with employees’ perceptions. At the same time, all groups expected certification would gradually become more critical in the future over the next five years.
The most common reasons people choose to become certified are to make themselves more productive and save time at work:
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To lower their professional development costs.
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To get a global perspective from the knowledge base.
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To support them to keep their jobs.
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To pursue the educational content that interests them.
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To learn unique skills.
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To make contacts in the HR world.
Benefits of SHRM Certification
Respondents in the global identify several tangible and intangible benefits to SHRM certification.
These advantages can be grouped into four different categories:
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Career progression
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Recognition
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Knowledge
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Individual achievement
Within these four general categories, some of the critical benefits of certification are that it boosts the person’s credibility and attention from HR superiors and peers, increases his or her knowledge, and increases their self-confidence and pride. Certified individuals become more commercial in their careers and thus present themselves with more opportunities for new jobs and advancement.
By far, SHRM certification works best at meeting professionals’ elements in that it increases their resumes; this trend exceeds national boundaries. Other top making areas of SHRM certifications are that it expands and stimulates knowledge of HR practices and helps HR professionals show their commitment to the profession.
For organizational benefits, SHRM certification was seen:
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To increase corporate HR knowledge and keep it up to date.
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To increase employees’ confidence in their job.
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To improve the reputation of the organization.
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To excite HR employees to work and to create more strategically.
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Even to increase company profitability.
Usually, both employers and employees in all countries hold related views in terms of the critical benefits of SHRM certification.
The Value of SHRM Certification
SHRM Professional certification is exceedingly valued among HR professionals around the world. As the thought of HR as a business function is often at a developmental stage, professional accreditation is seen by employers outside of the U.S. as an essential opportunity to help staff become skilled and informed about the profession and to add reliability to their HR department. Many employers outside the U.S. make professional certification a regular requirement, because, to them, it ensures the success of their employees and their organization.
Conclusion
In summation, earning SHRM certification requires essential time and money commitments. For some professionals, the benefits make it a no-brainer, but others remain suspicious about the long-term advantages of these credentials. When making the decision, be assured to do your research and have a clear image of your own future professional goals.