Should I, or shouldn’t I?
For some human resource professionals, taking the PHR or SPHR exam is not a question of if but of when. For others, the decision is not so easy. If you are one of those teetering on decision’s edge, you might ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I qualified? If you lack the necessary work experience, your decision is made for you. See HRCI’s eligibility requirements.
- Where am I in my career? Certification is significantly more important for those starting out their careers than for those who are closing in on retirement. Obtaining your PHR or SPHR certification demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills that are vital to human resource management. If you’ve already worked in HR for 40 years, that should be well established. If you have less experience, certification can show that you know your stuff, despite the thinner resume. Many seasoned HR professionals still pursue certification for personal satisfaction, to further build credibility, or to provide an example to younger HR professionals.
- Am I considering a search for a new job? Certification is increasingly recognized as an essential standard for human resource managers. Many companies already limit employment in human resource management positions to those who are certified professionals. If you have similar qualifications as the other candidate, but one of you is certified and the other is not, who likely gets the nod?
- Am I willing and able to adequately prepare? The PHR and SPHR exams are tough. While some few people can breeze through the process without cracking a book, most of us require study. A lot of study. If your work and life circumstances prevent you from being able to commit to the cumbrous preparation required for the HR certification exams, perhaps now is not the time to pursue it. Here’s what I’ve said about the amount of time required to prepare.