There are many benefits to having the proper credentials for your profession - things like a formal degree or a certain number of years' experience in the field. Certification offers that "icing on the cake", that additional credential which is a visible and outward sign of the professionalism a candidate brings to the job. For the Human Resources profession, becoming HRCI certified as an SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) or PHR (Professional in Human Resources) is like becoming a CPA or a PhD. It is recognized by the profession and those who work in the profession as a verification of that person's knowledge about the profession. It requires preparation and study, actual work experience, and knowledge of the law as well as other significant rulings and practices. Once obtained, it is a credential worth having and maintaining. It can give unemployed HR professional an edge over similar candidates who do not have certification. As an employed HR professional, it can distinguish someone from their peers in the same company and offer a development challenge for achievement. The knowledge and insights gained from preparing for the exam will also be useful to those who are certified as they continue their careers. Many use their study guides as ready references for new situations as they arise within the work environment, or as an opportunity to explore other areas of HR that they might want to pursue professionally.

Any credential worth having is worth nourishing and sustaining, just as the HRCI certification credential is. HRCI requires those who are certified to re-certify by testing or application for recertification, in order to assure that they are maintaining their qualifications and knowledge. This serves as an impetus to continue one's education and professional development, while keeping their certification status active. Recertification by application outlines the different areas that a professional can pursue in order to receive recertification credits - like teaching HR topics, developing new HR programs, serving in volunteer capacities within an HR organization (like DHR!), publishing an article on an HR topic, etc. Dallas HR has specifically requested HRCI credit for most of our programming in order to help with this process. The HRSW is a particularly easy way to obtain several credits over the span of the three-day conference!

Whether you are just contemplating getting certified or have re-certified several times, I think you'll agree that it's definitely a credential worth having! Dallas HR is our local resource for certification - from HRCI exam info and study group preparation to various opportunities throughout the year to serve as volunteers, speak, teach, write, learn, and re-certify. We're just completing the Fall Study Group for December/January HRCI exam, but will have another group scheduled in the Spring for the May exam. Consider now whether this will be your New Year's resolution, then come join the certified within Dallas HR, and increase both your personal and professional credentials!

Tamara Trummer, SPHR

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