The Value of Human Resource Certification Institute Professional Certification for HR Employees and HR Employers

Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) professional certification credentials recognize HR professionals within the HR profession. The HRCI certification process indicates that certified individuals have relevant HR experience and have demonstrated knowledge and mastery of the areas of the HRCI Body of Knowledge (BOK). One measure of the perceived value of HRCI certification is the increasing numbers of HR professionals seeking PHR/SPHR certification. Further, increasing numbers of employers are listing the professional certifications of PHR/SPHR as a preferred candidate requirement in HR job announcements. The specific problem was determining the value of HRCI professional certification in the areas of added-value career benefits and competence of HR professionals, and the value compared to the costs of obtaining and maintaining HRCI certification for both HR professionals and HR employers. The research methodology was a non-experimental survey analysis. The randomly selected national sample included an online electronic survey for HR employees (N =109) and HR employers (N =2). As perceived by HR employees, results indicated that there were added-value career benefits of HRCI certification. The results further indicated the HRCI certification was viewed as indicating competence in the field of human resources. In addition, participants indicated that the value of HRCI certification exceeded the cost of obtaining and maintaining that certification by several times its costs. Overall conclusions were that HRCI professional certification had added-value career benefits for HR professionals, and indicated competence of HR professionals, and further indicated a positive relationship of the value of HRCI certification compared to its cost for HR professionals. Such conclusions implied that pursuing, obtaining, and maintaining current HRCI certification has intrinsic value for HR professionals. For reason of small sample size, the HR employer analysis was limited. The recommendations for future research included suggestions for expanding that sample size and other recommendations for future research.