Is it better to get an HR certification or a master’s in HR?

HR Certifications (like the SHRM-CP and -SCP, or the HRCI PHR and SPHR). These require passing exams that measure your ability to apply the knowledge you have, not just regurgitate it on an exam or in a paper. You’ll be challenged with complicated scenarios to which there is no truly right answer, only a best answer, as that’s the reality of working in HR

  HR Training   Apr 8, 2024   143  Add to Reading List

As they both demonstrate different accomplishments, I would personally (and have) aim to achieve both.

A Master’s in HR will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of all facets of an HR Department’s role in the operation of an organization (public or private). You’ll gain general knowledge on things like the history of HR as a profession, what regulations relate to managing employees and how to be compliant with those laws, best practices for conducting job assessments and writing job descriptions that can be analyzed for proper compensation, best practices in benefit offerings and management, the cycle of employee learning and development along with training techniques, an introduction to labor relations and contract negotiation processes, etc.

A degree is a path to learning, but it is also an academic qualification. You’ll be tested on how well you’ve understood the material with minimal actual application of it. To progress in an HR career, you’ll be expected to demonstrate the ability to apply your knowledge in a way that supports the organization’s business operation and strategy. As a result, a degree is an excellent foundation for building a career in HR, but it’s not an end-all, be-all signifier of your abilities as an HR professional.

For that, there are HR Certifications (like the SHRM-CP and -SCP, or the HRCI PHR and SPHR). These require passing exams that measure your ability to apply the knowledge you have, not just regurgitate it on an exam or in a paper. You’ll be challenged with complicated scenarios to which there is no truly right answer, only a best answer, as that’s the reality of working in HR: most days, you’re living in grey spaces trying to make sense of what’s going on in order to determine what laws, policies, and practices relate to the situation you’re dealing with to ensure the best, most compliant path forward.

Without the degree, it’ll take quite some time and self-instruction to acquire the knowledge needed to make the good decisions that HR Certifications test you on, so they definitely supplement each other. After working through an HR Master’s degree program, you should be well-suited to preparing for a certification exam. Spend some time in an entry-level or small business Generalist position, and you’ll be well on your way to being able to pass a SHRM-CP or PHR. With both a degree and certification in your qualifications, you’ll be able to better substantiate any claim you make to be a skilled HR professional.