11 minute read
SHRM Specialty Credentials
Cause the Effect You Want in Your Organization
Apply What You Learn in SHRM Education Programs to Improve Your Workplace
By JEANNE L. MORRIS and NANCY A. WOOLEVER, SHRM-SCP
As an HR professional, your actions—big and small—ripple outward, far beyond the moment. HR has the power to empower others, change lives, drive productivity and value for our companies, improve society, and perhaps have an impact on people we may never even meet.
Each day at SHRM, we lead by example and work to cause better workplaces by sharing knowledge, expertise, and tools and by helping our customers succeed in disruptive times. Through our work, we positively impact the lives of over 115 million workers and their families around the globe.
SHRM offers two valuable pathways that allow HR professionals to develop and ultimately influence a better workplace. One avenue is developing through SHRM’s broad educational offerings available, particularly through its Specialty Credential programs. The second occurs by earning and maintaining either the SHRM-CP or the SHRM-SCP certification. And, combining these two options exponentially increases your opportunities to develop, grow, contribute and cause the effect through positive change in your workplace. Let’s explore each option.
Development Pathway #1: SHRM’s Specialty Credential Programs
To continuously elevate the workplace and people in the workplace, SHRM presents a professional development curriculum that extends across all career levels and provides a learning journey that allows professionals to build their credibility and enhance their growth and development in alignment with to their individual goals. It is critical that SHRM provides broad and vast learning experiences with myriad program deliveries to help HR professionals and people managers accomplish two things: improve their workplace by leveraging what they learned in professional development programs and stand out by differentiating themselves in a competitive market.
The SHRM Specialty Credential program also serves two purposes. It is a way for professionals who might not yet qualify for the SHRM Certification exams to upskill, build their credibility and focus on a specific area of expertise. These programs are designed so professionals have access to a flexible and agile learning experience. They attract both those who might not be ready for the commitment and rigor of preparing for SHRM Certification and SHRM-Certified professionals who want to advance their education to earn professional development credits toward recertification.
SHRM’s Specialty Credentials (SC) target a specific competency or function and dive deep. They address different professional development and job support needs. In fact, we’ve learned that folks use the SC learning experience as a great way to build their muscle and confidence for taking the next step toward the exam. Those who are already certified leverage the learning outcomes of the programs to complete a project using what they learned in the program to improve their workplace.
The programs also make it possible for SHRM to reach specific areas of the profession and address their development needs. An example of this is meeting the professional development needs of Talent Acquisition/Recruiting professionals who may not know that SHRM provides the tools and resources to help them excel and build credibility in this focused area of study. As a program participant recently attested: “As a new member to the HR world, I don’t yet have the experience to take the SHRM-CP exam. The SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential was a wonderful opportunity for me show my employer that I am passionate and committed to continuing my education as a talent acquisition professional.” —Jen Ellms Talent Acquisition Specialist
The California Law HR Specialty Credential is another example of how SHRM provides value and credibility for a very specific area of study.
"California employment laws are among some of the most complex in the world. A strategic career investment in the SHRM California Law HR Specialty Credential program provides the California professional expertise that distinguishes them from others in the field, and adds exceptional value to California business" —Michael Letizia, SHRM-SCP, president of Letizia HR Solutions, Inc.
Other SHRM Specialty Credentials address needs of unique groups of HR professionals and focus on specific HR functional areas that align with the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge—the framework for the SHRM Certification exams. Examples include HR Department of One Specialty Credential, the Inclusive Workplace Culture Specialty Credential, the People Analytics Specialty Credential, the Total Rewards Specialty Credential, the U.S. Employment Immigration Specialty Credential, and the Workplace Investigations Specialty Credential. Each of these unique programs focuses learning and learning outcomes to support the specific interests of HR professionals in these targeted content areas. Completing a program earns each HR professional not only the specialty credential, but also a substantial amount of PDCs toward recertification of a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP in the Advance Your Education recertification credit category. More information is presented below that shows you how to apply what you learned in each program to also earn PDCs in the Advance Your Organization category, by applying what you learn to complete workplace projects
Earning a SHRM Specialty Credential is an investment in your continued career development and can be accomplished by engaging in content-specific, competency-based education and achieving a successful score on an online assessment. While there is no “recertification” component, learners can re-earn the credential every three years.
Development Pathway #2: Earn Your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP Today
What better way to cause a positive effect in your organization than becoming SHRM-certified? Our latest research study revealed interesting data about why HR professionals are motivated to earn SHRM certification, but it also revealed feedback from executives about becoming SHRM-certified. Consider this evidence as you consider whether now is the time for you to move achieving a SHRM-CP or a SHRM-SCP from your to do list to your today list.
• 81% of HR professionals agree that holding a SHRM Certification increases the likelihood of getting a job in the field of HR and 71% agree that holding a SHRM Certification increases the likelihood of obtaining a promotion in the field of HR.
• 82% agree that SHRM certification adds to the overall credibility of your HR department
• Holding a SHRM Certification means a higher salary—15% higher salaries for those who earn the SHRM-CP compared to those who do not pass the SHRM-CP exam, and 14% higher salaries for those who earn the SHRM-SCP compared to those who do not pass the SHRM-SCP exam.
The SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) are the most comprehensive competency-based certifications for HR professionals. Based upon a core set of competency and knowledge, the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge™ (SHRM BASK™), the SHRM-CP and the SHRM-SCP provide certificants with a roadmap for achieving vital personal outcomes leading to successes such as leadership opportunities and career growth, as well as organizational successes that could include increased staff engagement, improvement of overall effectiveness and operational e¬fficiency.
SHRM certification exams offer you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and proficiency across all competencies of the HR profession and establish yourself as a globally recognized HR expert by earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification. SHRM research shows SHRM-certified individuals add value to their organizations because the credentials are built on the SHRM BASK, the global standard for HR certification. SHRM has a tried-and-true process to help you get started on earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, prepare to take the exam, take and pass the exam and then maintain.
• 81% of HR professionals agree that holding a SHRM Certification increases the likelihood of getting a job in the field of HR and 71% agree that holding a SHRM Certification increases the likelihood of obtaining a promotion in the field of HR. • 82% agree that SHRM certification adds to the overall credibility of your HR department • Holding a SHRM Certification means a higher salary—15% higher salaries for those who earn the SHRM-CP compared to those who do not pass the SHRM-CP exam, and 14% higher salaries for those who earn the SHRM-SCP compared to those who do not pass the SHRM-SCP exam. The SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) are the most comprehensive competency-based certifications for HR professionals. Based upon a core set of competency and knowledge, the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge™ (SHRM BASK™), the SHRM-CP and the SHRM-SCP provide certificants with a roadmap for achieving vital personal outcomes leading to successes such as leadership opportunities and career growth, as well as organizational successes that could include increased staff engagement, improvement of overall effectiveness and operational efficiency. SHRM certification exams offer you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and proficiency across all competencies of the HR profession and establish yourself as a globally recognized HR expert by earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification. SHRM research shows SHRM-certified individuals add value to their organizations because the credentials are built on the SHRM BASK, the global standard for HR certification. SHRM has a tried-and-true process to help you get started on earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, prepare to take the exam, take and pass the exam and then maintain.
The Five S’s to Achieving and Maintaining SHRM Certification Step 1: Sign-up: Apply for the SHRM-CP or the SHRM-SCP Exam Step 2: Schedule your exam next Step 3: Study for your exam by exploring all your learning options Step 4: Sit for your exam--commit to your appointment date and prepare for test day Step 5: Sustain your credential after earning it.
Development Pathway #3: Combine the Steps #1 and #2 Development Pathway #3: Combine the Steps #1 and #2 Earn SHRM Certification. Earn Specialty Credentials to maintain certification. Leverage learning outcomes to create a better workplace for a better world. The five S’s Pathway to SHRM Certification shown above starts with signing up— but the final step is where continued development and education comes into the equation. The Sustain component is where continued education through programs like the SHRM Specialty Credential offerings intersect with your continued professional development—and provide an opportunity for you to cause more positive change in your organization. How? Leverage and apply what you learn in a SHRM Specialty Credential program then plan and complete a related work project—and, in the process, earn additional PDCs in the Advance Your Organization recertification credit category.
Any educational program that covers topic areas addressed in the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge ‘counts’ toward the Advance Your Education credit component of recertification. Specialty Credentials are one of many SHRM programs approved professional development activity for recertification credits—known as Professional Development Credits or PDCs—that can be accumulated to maintain a SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® certification. In fact, SHRM records the PDCs you earn for any SHRM program (specialty credentials, seminars, conference events and membership) directly in your recertification record—so you don’t have to do it yourself. SHRM wants you to remove as many barriers as possible to help you maintain your credential. And, if you earn more than the 60 credits required in your three-year recertification period, SHRM carries forward up to 20 credits to your next recertification cycle. Consider this example. You earn your SHRM certification, you are a SHRM member, you take Inclusive Workplace Culture Specialty Credential and use what you learned to complete a project at work that’s been on your wish-list for a while. It takes you about six months, and at least 120 hours of work across those six months to complete the project. At the end, you have a new program in place that aligns the new HR initiative with the corporate strategy, fills a previously unmet need, and provides you an opportunity to measure and analyze workplace improvements. Within a year of launching the program, you see stronger employee engagement, your commitment to building and caring for an inclusive workforce is evident not only in your “numbers” but in a better and stronger culture—and by the end of this process (that has taken two years to accomplish) you have earned six SHRM membership PDCs in the Advance Your Profession category, 22 PDCs in the Advance Your Education category and 30 PDCs in the Advance Your Organization category. That’s 60 PDCs across a two-year period. You can recertify early—or you can continue to earn additional PDCs over the next year, recertify before your recertification period end-date, and SHRM will carry forward up to 20 PDCs to your next recertification cycle. Add to this the fact that SHRM provides samples of work projects to complete based on what you learned in the Inclusive Workplace Culture Specialty Credential. Working with subject matter experts in each of the content areas for the other SHRM Specialty Credentials, SHRM will be expanding this recertification program in 2022 to provide sample projects Earn SHRM Certification. Earn Specialty Credentials to maintain to complete based on learning outcomes from each program.certification. Leverage learning outcomes to create a better workplace for a better world. Cause the effect you want to see in your workplace through The five S’s Pathway to SHRM Specialty Credentials and SHRM Certification. Be SHRM Certification shown above starts with signing up—but the final step is where continued development and education comes into the equation. The Susta sure to leverage all your professional development opportu-in component is nities with SHRM—your HR career partner. And, check out where continued education through programs like the SHRM Specialty Credential offerings intersect with your continued professional development our specific microsite targeted to making impactful change in —and provide an opportunity for you to cause more positive change in your organization. How? Leverage and apply your workplace by causing the effect you want to see. Create a what you learn in a SHRM Specialty better workplace and a better world today. --Jeanne L. Morris is vice president, education and Nancy A. Woolever, SHRM-SCP is vice president, certification at SHRM.
