Human resources (HR) is a dynamic and diverse field with many career growth and development opportunities. Whether you are an entry-level HR practitioner or a seasoned HR leader, you may wonder how to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your value to your current or potential employers. One way to do that is to earn a professional certification that validates your HR knowledge and skills.
But with so many HR certifications available, how do you choose the one that suits your career goals and interests? In this article, we will compare three of the most popular and respected HR certifications: the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources), the SHRM-CP (SHRM Certified Professional), and the CCP (Certified Compensation Professional). By the end of this article, you should have a better idea of which certification is right for you.
By the way, if you are interested In certifications in other areas than this one, you might want to read this article.
The SPHR certification is designed for HR professionals who are responsible for planning rather than implementing HR policy in the U.S. It demonstrates mastery of the following functional areas:
Leadership and strategy (40%): developing HR strategy, contributing to organizational strategy, monitoring risk, influencing people management practices
Employee relations and management (20%): monitoring employee satisfaction and performance
Talent planning and acquisition (16%): forecasting organizational talent needs and developing strategies to attract and engage talent
Learning and development (12%): developing strategies and trainings to retain employees
Total rewards (12%): monitoring the effectiveness of compensation and benefits for attracting and retaining employees
The SPHR certification is different from other HRCI certifications, such as the PHR (Professional in Human Resources), which focuses more on the technical and operational aspects of HR.
Who is it for?
The SPHR certification is ideal for HR professionals with strategic and policy-making backgrounds seeking to advance their careers or demonstrate their expertise. According to HRCI, SPHR professionals tend to be accountable for HR department goals, planning and executing business strategies and technology while understanding the overall HR needs of the organization.
To be eligible for the SPHR certification, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
Have at least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position and a Master’s degree or higher
Have at least five years of experience in a professional-level HR position and a Bachelor’s degree
Have at least seven years of experience in a professional-level HR position
A professional-level HR position is defined as one that involves applying HR principles to solve problems, combining different elements or approaches to address complex issues, providing authoritative advice or guidance, influencing others, or making decisions that affect others1.
How to get it?
To get the SPHR certification, you need to follow these steps:
Apply for the exam online through HRCI’s website. You must pay a $495 exam fee and a $100 application fee.
Schedule your exam date and location. You can take the exam year-round at a Pearson VUE testing center or remotely using OnVUE, an online testing program.
Prepare for the exam by reviewing the content outline, taking practice tests, enrolling in online courses, or joining study groups.
Take the exam within 180 days of your application approval. The exam takes two hours and thirty minutes and consists of 115 questions and 25 pretest questions. You need to score at least 500 out of 700 to pass.
Receive your exam results immediately after completing the exam. You will also receive a digital badge to display on your resume, social media, or email signature.
What benefits can you expect from it?
The SPHR certification can benefit you in several ways, such as:
Building your confidence and authority in HR
Keeping your HR knowledge current
Qualifying for advanced HR roles, such as HR Manager, Senior People Manager, or HR Director
Earning a higher salary
According to Payscale’s 2018 study surveying more than 102,000 respondents with HR job titles, having an HR certification resulted in a salary increase of 31.6 percent. The median pay for people with the SPHR was $108,000.
The SHRM-CP certification is designed for HR professionals who implement strategies and policies, serve as a point of contact for staff and stakeholders, deliver HR services and perform operational HR functions1. It validates your ability to apply the following HR competencies:
Leadership and navigation: directing and contributing to initiatives and processes within the organization
Ethical practice: applying ethical standards to workplace situations
Business acumen: understanding business functions and metrics
Relationship management: managing interactions with others
Consultation: providing guidance to stakeholders
Critical evaluation: analyzing data and information
Global and cultural effectiveness: valuing diversity and inclusion
Communication: exchanging information effectively
The SHRM-CP certification also tests your knowledge of the following HR topics:
People: talent acquisition, employee engagement, learning and development, total rewards
Workplace: employee relations, health, and safety, security, risk management
Strategy: business strategy alignment, strategic planning
Who is it for?
The SHRM-CP certification is ideal for HR professionals involved in operational HR functions or seeking to advance their careers or demonstrate their expertise. According to SHRM, SHRM-CP professionals tend to be accountable for implementing best practices in HR while working with senior management.
To be eligible for the SHRM-CP certification, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
Have at least three years of experience in an HR role with a high school diploma or global equivalent
Have at least two years of experience in an HR role with a bachelor’s degree or international equivalent
Have at least one year of experience in an HR role with a graduate degree or global equivalent
An HR role is defined as one that involves performing tasks that align with at least one of the functional areas or competencies covered by the SHRM BoCK (Body of Competency and Knowledge).
How to get it?
To get the SHRM-CP certification, you need to follow these steps:
Apply for the exam online through SHRM’s website. You must pay a $300 exam fee ($250 for SHRM members) and a $50 application fee.
Schedule your exam date and location. For example, you can take the exam twice yearly (in spring or winter) at a Prometric testing center.
Prepare for the exam by reviewing the content outline, taking practice tests, enrolling in online courses, or joining study groups.
Take the exam within your testing window (a four-week period). The exam takes four hours and consists of 160 questions (95 knowledge items and 65 situational judgment items). You need to score at least 200 out of 350 to pass.
Receive your exam results immediately after completing the exam. You will also receive a digital badge on your resume, social media, or email signature.
What benefits can you expect from it?
The SHRM-CP certification can benefit you in several ways, such as:
Increasing your confidence and competence in HR
Improving your career prospects and marketability
Staying updated on the latest HR trends and best practices
According to Payscale’s 2018 study surveying more than 102,000 respondents with HR job titles, having an HR certification resulted in a salary increase of 31.6 percent. The median pay for people with the SHRM-CP was $75,000.
The CCP certification is designed for HR professionals involved in compensation functions or seeking to advance their careers or demonstrate their expertise in compensation. It validates your knowledge and skills in the following areas:
Job analysis
Base pay administration
Market pricing
Accounting
Regulatory compliance
Variable pay
Quantitative analysis
The CCP certification differs from other HR certifications, such as the PHR (Professional in Human Resources) or SHRM-CP (SHRM Certified Professional) offered by other organizations, which cover a broader range of HR topics. The CCP certification focuses on compensation and reflects the current field best practices and standards in the field.
Who is it for?
The CCP certification is ideal for HR professionals with at least two years of experience in compensation or related fields, such as benefits, payroll, or finance. According to WorldatWork, CCP professionals tend to be responsible for developing or administering compensation programs, conducting market research, analyzing data, ensuring compliance, or providing consultation.
To be eligible for the CCP certification, you must meet the following requirements:
Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Complete ten required courses and pass ten exams
Agree to abide by the WorldatWork Code of Ethics
How to get it?
To get the CCP certification, you need to follow these steps:
Apply for membership with WorldatWork. You must pay an annual fee of $350 ($250 for students) to access member benefits, such as discounts on courses and exams, online resources, and networking opportunities.
Enroll in the required courses through WorldatWork. You can choose from different formats, such as classroom, virtual, or e-learning. Each course costs between $1,495 and $2,200 for members ($2,200 and $3,300 for non-members).
Register for the exams through WorldatWork. You can take the exams at a Pearson VUE testing center or online using OnVUE. Each exam costs $350 for members ($550 for non-members).
Prepare for the exams by reviewing the course materials, taking practice tests, and joining study groups.
Take the exams within 120 days of registering. Each exam takes 90 minutes and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You need to score at least 75% to pass.
Receive your exam results immediately after completing the exam. You will also receive a digital badge on your resume, social media, or email signature.
What benefits can you expect from it?
The CCP certification can benefit you in several ways, such as:
Enhancing your credibility and authority in compensation
Staying updated on the latest compensation trends and best practices
Qualifying for higher-level compensation roles
Earning a higher salary
According to Payscale’s 2018 study surveying more than 102,000 respondents with HR job titles, having an HR certification resulted in a salary increase of 31.6 percent. The median pay for people with the CCP was $95,000.
Conclusion
As you can see, each of the three HR certifications we discussed has advantages and disadvantages. The one that is best for you depends on your personal and professional goals and your current level of experience and education. Here is a summary of how they compare:
The SPHR certification is ideal for HR professionals responsible for planning rather than implementing HR policy in the U.S. It demonstrates mastery of the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR. It can help you qualify for senior-level HR roles. However, it requires at least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position and a Master’s degree or higher, or equivalent combinations of experience and education. It also focuses more on U.S. laws and regulations than global HR topics.
The SHRM-CP certification is ideal for HR professionals who implement strategies and policies, serve as a point of contact for staff and stakeholders, deliver HR services and perform operational HR functions. It validates your proficiency in the core HR competencies and knowledge relevant to any industry or organization. However, it requires at least three years of experience in an HR role with a high school diploma or equivalent or equivalent combinations of experience and education. It also covers both U.S. and global HR topics, which may be more or less relevant to your field.
The CCP certification is ideal for HR professionals specializing in compensation or related fields, such as benefits, payroll, or finance. It demonstrates your expertise in designing, implementing, and managing compensation programs that align with business strategy and comply with regulatory requirements. However, it requires at least two years of experience in compensation or related fields, completing ten courses, and passing ten exams. It also focuses only on compensation and does not cover other HR topics.
Getting an HR certification can be rewarding if it aligns with your career goals and interests. However, it does not guarantee success or satisfaction in your field. You should also consider other factors influencing your career development, such as networking, mentoring, continuous learning, and performance evaluation.
We hope this article has helped you understand the differences between the SPHR, SHRM-CP, and CCP certifications and decide which is right for you. If you are interested in pursuing any of these certifications, we recommend visiting their respective websites for more information on how to apply, prepare and recertify. Good luck with your HR career!
We believe that a career is more than just a job. A career is the path you take to find your unique skills and passions, and then use those skills to create an impact on the world. We help people find their way by providing information about jobs, skills, knowledge, education and many other topics related to careers. But we also have a Career Advisor that can suggest you the most relevant career for your goals in life. And finally, our platform allows you to connect with like-minded people from around the world who share your dreams or are at different stages of their journey - whether they're looking for advice or want someone with whom they can share ideas and experiences. This way everyone has access to all of these tools at an affordable cost. Read more about us.
Please note:
This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin.
Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.
Responses