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How valuable is PHR/SPHR certification?
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How valuable is PHR/SPHR certification?
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How valuable is the PHR/SPHR certification? Does it merely create a number of "paper" HR people or is it something that carries more weight?
In the IT profession, certifications abound. But I'd rat
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Forums » Topic Forums » HR Career Forum » How valuable is PHR/SPHR certification?
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How valuable is PHR/SPHR certification?
posted at 9/1/2009 12:08 AM EDT
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Posts: 49
First: 7/18/2009 Last: 8/17/2011 |
How valuable is the PHR/SPHR certification? Does it merely create a number of "paper" HR people or is it something that carries more weight?
In the IT profession, certifications abound. But I'd rather hire someone with the experience and no certifications over a certified person without much experience. A certification is a potential tie-breaker if two candidates appear to have about the same amount of experience. Is the PHR/SPHR targeted more to those just getting into the profession or to existing HR professionals wanting formal recognition of their knowledge? |
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How valuable is PHR/SPHR certification?
posted at 9/1/2009 2:53 AM EDT
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Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002 Last: 9/14/2011 |
We have something in Canada called the CHRM/CHRP that's near-identical to the PHR/SPHR. I will tell you my personal story regarding this.
When I had no HR work experience and before I completed all my CHRM courses and passed all the exams, I could not for the life of me get even a phone interview for the most lowly HR admin assistant jobs. Immediately after I passed the CHRM exams and was awarded the CHRM certificate, but still with absolutely no HR job experience, I had a sudden flurry of HR job interviews and within two weeks' landed a junior HR generalist position. From this experience, I can't help but suspect that this was because my prospective employers had placed some value on the CHRM certificate. Also, I recently reviewed some HR salary survey results which indicated strongly that while YOS do impact HR salary levels positively, YOS combined with HR certifications impact HR salary levels even more. So it does seem that employers see a value in HR certifications. And certainly, I wouldn't have had a clue how to do much of the work I had to do in my first - and subsequent - HR jobs, without my HR training. |
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How valuable is PHR/SPHR certification?
posted at 9/1/2009 6:04 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
A good question, Mike. I remember thinking the same thing in the mid-80's when SHRM announced the certification program. I couldn't see how a PHR/SPHR could add value, and when they said that I could get the SPHR for only $169 and no exam because of my work experience, I was convinced that this wasn't legit.
But that was 20 years ago. There's a lot more HR people out there now. Some of them know their stuff, many don't. It's all too easy for a small business owner to promote someone to "HR Manager" without knowing what a real HR manager does - and neither does the person being promoted. Net result is that there's one more person wandering about with "HR Manager" on his or her resume with little or no HR knowledge. hrbth's comment about broadening your exposure to HR knowledge through the test and study process is very valid. You could also get the same knowledge from a good graduate level program in HR from a university. From a career perspective, if you're never going to move from your current position, then a PHR/SPHR won't matter. But if your long term goal is a career in HR, then I'd highly recommend either the graduate program, the certification or both. |
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How valuable is PHR/SPHR certification?
posted at 9/2/2009 4:26 AM EDT
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Posts: 237
First: 7/10/2007 Last: 8/31/2011 |
Since the HRCI certifications require tenure in an exempt HR position it would seem that theyre not so much aimed at entry level professionals as those with some experience. * When I took my first HRCI exam I had seven years experience as a generalist/manager but still had to do some serious studying. The exams require a broader base of knowledge than most of us use on a daily basis so it does require expanding your expertise to some degree.
It appears to me that people acquire certifications for a variety of reasons which might include: 1. Personal growth 2. Recognition 3. Professional credential 4. To qualify of certain jobs Your characterizing these certifications as a tie-breaker is accurate. Although the value of certification differs from one employer to another, in a competitive job market it could very well make the difference in which pile your resume ends up in. *Many new graduates are electing to take HRCI exams in hopes of gaining a leg-up on their classmates in the job market. If I recall correctly these people can state that they have passed the certification exam, but cannot use the PHR/SPHR/GPHR letters after their names until they satisfy the experience requirement. |
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