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Best human resources manager certifications

Human resources manager certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an human resources manager to employers. However, not all human resources manager certifications provide the same value for job seekers.

The best certifications for a human resources manager are Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP), Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Below is a list of the best human resources manager certifications. Obtaining an human resources manager certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

20 best human resources manager certifications

1. Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)

IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

2. Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

HR professionals who implement policies and strategies, serve as point of contact for staff and stakeholders, deliver HR services, and perform operational HR functions, should take the SHRM-CP exam.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
Society for Human Resource...
Course that help you to prepare for certification
HR Analytics: HRM, HR Course 2023
udemy
4.2
(342)

3. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

By earning the Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR) certification you demonstrate that you have mastered the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR management as practiced in the United States. The credential is designed for the HR professional who plans, rather than implements, HR policy, focuses on the "big picture," has ultimate accountability in the HR department, has breadth and depth of knowledge in all HR disciplines and understands the business beyond the HR function and influences the overall organization.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

4. SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)

HR professionals who develop strategies, lead the HR function, foster influence in the community, analyze performance metrics, and align HR strategies to organizational goals, should take the SHRM-SCP exam.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

5. Certified Manager Certification (CM)

The Certified Manager Animal Resources (CMAR) certification program is designed to raise competency and professionalism in the field of Animal Resources Management. The CMAR designation involves a series of four examinations: three exams arranged via an organization called the Institute for Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), and the Animal Resources Exam offered by AALAS. Obtaining the CMAR designation is a sign of professionalism in the field of animal resources management.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 

6. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)

7. OSHA Safety Certificate

This 40-hour program covers both the Construction 1926 and General Industry 1910 Standards, how to effectively interpret the Federal Register, health issues related to a work environment, recognition of physical hazards related to the violation of OSHA standards, and employer implementation of their own pro-active safety and health procedures.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? No
Certifying website
OSHA Safety Certificate
Course that help you to prepare for certification
OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics
udemy
4.3
(727)

8. Certified Cost Professional (CCP)

A CCP is an experienced practitioner with advanced knowledge and technical expertise to apply the broad principles and best practices of Total Cost Management (TCM) in the planning, execution and management of any organizational project or program. CCPs also demonstrate the ability to research and communicate aspects of TCM principles and practices to all levels of project or program stakeholders, both internally and externally.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Cost Professional
Certifying organization
AACE International, Inc.

9. Human Resources Business Professional (HRBP)

The Human Resource Business Professional (HRBP℠) is a globally relevant credential that is designed to validate professional-level core human resource knowledge and skills. The credential demonstrates mastery of generally accepted technical and operational HR principles.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Human Resources (HR) as a Business Partner
udemy
4.1
(758)

10. Symantec Certified Professional (SCP)

The second step to proving technical knowledge and competency is by becoming a Symantec Certified Professional (SCP) based on a specific area of solution expertise with multiple Symantec products. The SCP program validates skills and technical competencies necessary for Symantec professionals to design, architect, and implement multiple solutions in data protection, high availability, and/or security environments. To achieve this level of certification, candidates must pass two or more SCS exams, pass one SCP exam, and/or provide proof of the program's required third party vendor-neutral industry recognized prerequisite.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
Symantec

11. Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)

Globalization is the defining political and economic force in the world today. It requires new ways of thinking and responding. For HR professionals, recognizing and understanding this phenomenon is fast becoming a job requirement. The purpose of the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR®) certification is to assess your mastery of the necessary knowledge to be successful in this worldwide marketplace. Exam questions reflect the most recently published test specifications. The exams are multiple choice and consist of 150 scored questions plus 15 pretest questions randomly distributed throughout the exam (a total of 165 questions). Each question lists four possible answers, only one of which is the correct or "best possible answer." The answer to each question can be derived independently of the answer to any other question. Three hours are allotted to complete the exam.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 

12. Certified Security Supervision & Management (CSS)

The program candidate must have six months previous security supervisory/management experience or equivalent. Remit the certification fee to IFPO to receive the CSSM application. Candidates accepted into this portion of the program are required to address 10 simulated workplace scenarios demanding supervisory/management action.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)

13. Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)

Obtaining the CCP designation is beneficial for human resources professionals responsible for their organization's base pay and incentive compensation programs. This may include examining and evaluating current market trends, managing compensation survey data including data analysis and conducting benchmarking studies, conducting audits to ensure legal compliance, and assessing and making appropriate recommendations for various pay programs, structures, policies and practices.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
WorldatWork

14. Master Project Manager (MPM)

If you have 3+ years of Project Management Experience, you may apply for MPM™ Master Project Manager Board Certification.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying website
Master Project Manager
Certifying organization
American Academy of Project...
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Project Management Certification Training + 2 Practice Exams
udemy
4
(144)

15. Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)

The Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence is a professional who leads and champions process-improvement initiatives' everywhere from small businesses to multinational corporations' that can have regional or global focus in a variety of service and industrial settings. A Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence facilitates and leads team efforts to establish and monitor customer/supplier relations, supports strategic planning and deployment initiatives, and helps develop measurement systems to determine organizational improvement. The Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence should be able to motivate and evaluate staff, manage projects and human resources, analyze financial situations, determine and evaluate risk and employ knowledge management tools and techniques in resolving organizational challenges.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

16. Project Management Professional (PMP)

The PMP designation following your name tells current and potential employers that you have demonstrated a solid foundation of knowledge from which you can competently practice project management.To be eligible for a PMP Credential, you must first meet specific educational and project management experience requirements and agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct. The final step to becoming a PMP is passing a rigorous multiple-choice examination designed to objectively assess and measure your ability to apply project management knowledge in the following six domains: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the project, monitoring and controlling the project, closing the project, and professional and social responsibility. This computer-based examination is administered globally with translation aids in 10 languages.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Project Management Certification Training + 2 Practice Exams
udemy
4
(144)

17. Certified Planning Engineer (CPE)

Our AAPM Global Board of Standards issues the CPE Certified Planning Engineer - Board Certification to qualified applicants who have met our commission requirements of: Education, Training, Experience, Industry Knowledge, Ethics, and Continuing Education.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Planning Engineer
Certifying organization
American Academy of Project...

18. Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Hotel and Lodging...

19. Certified Packaging Professional (CPP)

Only current IoPP members may apply for accreditation and recognition as a Certified Packaging Professional. Currently, a candidate is qualified to begin the process if he/she has six years experience in packaging or a closely related technical discipline. The six year requirement can be made up in the following ways: Six years actual work experience, or; a four-year college degree from a packaging school plus two years work experience, or a four-year college degree from a packaging school, plus one year for Masters Degree, plus one year actual work experience.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)

20. Certified Sales Professional (CSP)

The Certified Sales Professional (CSP) program gives a thorough understanding of consultative selling. From business creation to improved time and territory management; goal-setting to prospecting, and everything in between, attendees return to the territory with a renewed enthusiasm for selling.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

What is the best certification for a human resources manager?

The best human resources manager certification is Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP). The Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) is awarded by the International Public Management Association for Human Resources. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this human resources manager certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 3 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for human resources managers?

The most in-demand human resources manager certification is Senior Professional in Human Resources based on all active job postings. Having this human resources manager certification will give you access to more human resources manager jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a human resources manager career and salary?

The SHRM Senior Certified Professional certification will help you to secure a director of human resources position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A director of human resources's average salary is $99,855 whereas human resources managers make an average salary of $80,442.

Best certifications

The most common combination of human resources manager certifications include: Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP), Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Online courses for human resources managers to earn certifications

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