Certification and Training - Human Resource Certification Prep and Review Course for PHR/SPHR Designation

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Human Resource Certification is the symbol of professional achievement. Beyond experience and education, the PHR or SPHR designation signifies that you have mastered the HR body of knowledge. Certifications are intended for people who are currently working (for at least 2 years) in the HR Management field.

Certification exams are offered at two levels: Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The PHR exam consists of HR generalist information at the operational/technical level. The SPHR exam addresses HR generalist information at the strategic and policy level. Students and recent graduates are not eligible for SPHR certification.

Who Should Attend?

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Any exempt level HR professional that includes practitioners, managers, educators, researchers, and consultants where 51% of your daily activities are an HR function.

If you are unsure if you qualify to sit for the exam, please call Dr. John Lucas, Education Chairperson at 219-989-2170 or jlucas@calumet.purdue.edu.

 SHRM Newsletter Article #5

“Why Become Certified?” By Alisa Goldschmidt 

It wasn’t too long ago when we were riding high on the technology wave. It was a job seeker’s paradise—too many jobs and not enough workers. Today, workers struggle to keep their jobs, job seekers are finding new jobs scarce, and employers are trying their best to keep up with the changing economy without sacrificing the quality of their products and services.   

During challenging times, an effective HR staff must demonstrate more than “good people skills.”  “Good people skills” won’t overhaul an organization’s compensation structure, won’t develop and assess an organization’s training program, won’t help an organization be proactive in developing a culture free of sexual harassment, and won’t develop an OSHA-compliant health safety program.   

One way to assess the effectiveness of an HR professional is by certification.  An HR department whose staff is professionally certified can—and should—make a significant contribution to the management and strategic direction of an organization. They can ensure that the organization’s people strategy is correctly aligned with its business strategy.   

How do you determine which professional certification to look for when staffing your HR department? The most respected certifications for HR professionals are the Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI).  Earning one or more of these designations validates that a professional possesses significant knowledge and experience in all areas of HR, including strategic management; workforce planning; human resource development; compensation and benefits; employee and labor relations, and occupational health, safety and security.  Today there are more than 70,000 HR professionals certified by HRCI.   

Most HR professionals who take on the challenge of the PHR, SPHR, and GPHR exams demonstrate more than knowledge. They display a true dedication to the HR management profession. They show it when they agree to study in excess of 40 hours and when they arrive at the testing center to take the examination. Certificants continue to demonstrate dedication to the profession when they maintain their designation by recertifying every three years through professional development or by retaking the examination. They are leaders in the HR profession. 

Recruiters take note of the designations as well. Although there may not be an abundance of jobs available today, the lack of jobs has not eased the skills shortage. The lack of a skilled labor pool is still a serious long-term issue. Recruiters should routinely include “PHR, SPHR or GPHR preferred” in advertisements for professional-level HR jobs. Recruiters need not worry that adding this preference may decrease the applicant pool. In fact, stating this preference may likely increase the pool of qualified candidates for the position and help separate the wheat from the chaff. 

Many certified professionals are members of local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). This organization is an excellent source for certified HR talent and resources. To learn more about how professional certification for HR professionals can benefit your organization, please visit the HRCI web site at www.hrci.org.