{"id":5919,"date":"2020-09-04T21:05:38","date_gmt":"2020-09-05T01:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/?p=5919"},"modified":"2021-09-16T15:02:38","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T22:02:38","slug":"should-you-get-hr-certified-as-an-aphr-your-guide-to-hr-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/pihra-news\/should-you-get-hr-certified-as-an-aphr-your-guide-to-hr-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you get HR Certified as an aPHR? Your Guide to HR Certification"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"h1-grey-italic margin-bottom-80\">Should you get HR Certified as an aPHR? <\/span><\/h1>\n<h3><span class=\"h1-inline-small margin-bottom-25\">Your Guide to HR Certification <\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"h1-inline-small margin-bottom-25\"><span class=\"teal-font\">Interview with Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img class=\"margin-bottom-45\" title=\"Learn about the aPHR HR Credential and prep courses offered by PIHRA!\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/HR-Cert-Blog-Header-aPHR.png\" alt=\"Woman studying at a table\">[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"h1-grey-italic\"><span class=\"teal-font\">Which HR certification should I get? <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\">If you&#8217;re asking this question, you&#8217;re not alone. Today we&#8217;re exploring the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mypihra.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1487065&amp;group=\"><strong>aPHR<\/strong><\/a> certification specifically in more depth, which is a great certification option for those who don&#8217;t quality for the PHR yet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><span class=\"teal-font\"><strong>What are the different HR Certifications?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\">HRCI and SHRM are the two main HR certifying bodies recognized in the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\">The most common HRCI certifications include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\"><strong>PHR <\/strong>&#8211; Professional in Human Resources<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\"><strong>SPHR<\/strong> &#8211; Senior Professional in Human Resources<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\"><strong>PHRca&nbsp;<\/strong>&#8211; Professional in Human Resources in California<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\"><strong>GPHR <\/strong>&#8211; Global Professional in Human Resources<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mypihra.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1487065&amp;group=\"> aPHR<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>&#8211; Associate Professional in Human Resources\n<ul>\n<li><em>The aPHR certification is tailored for entry-level HR professionals.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-10\">The most common SHRM certifications and micro-credentials include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\"><strong> SHRM-CP<\/strong> &#8211; SHRM-Certified Professional<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\"><strong>SHRM-SCP&nbsp;<\/strong>&#8211; SHRM-Senior Certified Professional<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><span class=\"teal-font\"><strong>I don&#8217;t qualify yet for some HR certifications. What should I do?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-45\">Today, you can start by learning what the <b>aPHR<\/b> certification by HRCI is all about! You&#8217;ll also get to know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mypihra.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1487065&amp;group=\">instructor Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, whose aPHR prep class is starting on September 18, 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"h1-grey-italic margin-bottom-25\"><span class=\"teal-font\">All About the aPHR Certification<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Meet the aPHR<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\">According to HRCI, the &#8220;Associate Professional in Human Resources\u00ae (aPHR\u00ae) is the perfect certification to help fast-track your career growth and provide you with the confidence to launch into the HR profession. The aPHR is the first-ever HR certification designed for professionals who are just beginning their HR career journey and proves your knowledge of foundational Human Resources.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.payscale.com\/data\/hr-certifications-pay\">A study published by PayScale in 2018<\/a> showed that<strong> only 13.2 percent of HR administrators have at least one HR credential.<\/strong> Professionals who earn their aPHR certification stand out from their peers!<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-10\">The aPHR exam content consists of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\">38% HR Operations<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\">16% Employee Relations<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\">15% Recruitment and Selection<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\">14% Compensation and Benefits<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\">12% HR Development and Retention<\/li>\n<li class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-0\">5% Health, Safety and Security&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrci.org\/our-programs\/our-certifications\/aphr\">Learn more about the aPHR exam here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>The upcoming aPHR prep course is led by instructor Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"margin: 0px 15px 10px 0px;\" title=\"Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, aPHR instructor\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mypihra.org\/resource\/resmgr\/images\/speaker_headshots_2\/thela_thatch.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch Headshot, aPHR prep course instructor\" width=\"200\">Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP leads diversity, equity, and inclusion at Paychex as the organization\u2019s DEI Manager. Formerly an HR Coach at Paychex supporting HR Generalists on a wide range of business and HR issues in a variety of industries, Thel\u00e1 has more than two decades of experience in human resources, talent management, organizational development, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Prior to joining Paychex, she served as an executive consultant to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services where she developed a human capital and workforce strategy to recruit and train individuals to provide services to the homeless and other vulnerable populations. Thel\u00e1 also has experience as the Chief Diversity Officer for Live Nation Entertainment where she laid the foundation to implement the first diversity initiative within a global organization of more than 10,000 employees. Over the years, she has also worked with various Fortune 500 organizations such as UPS, Fox Television, Devro, ADC and Cablevision. Thel\u00e1 is a published author of a children\u2019s book titled \u201cThe Dog Chef\u201d and has written shorter pieces for several publications. She graduated from Kean University with a BA in Communications, earned her MBA with a concentration in Human Resources at North Greenville University, and her MPhil from Walden University. Thel\u00e1 holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration with a law specialization from Walden University.<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-45\">Dr. Thatch&#8217;s work has led HR professionals on the path toward certification and exam success. We&#8217;re grateful for her time to sit down with us (virtually) and answer a few questions for us about the aPHR!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"h3-palanquin-dark margin-bottom-25\">Dr. Thatch, can you share a bit about your background as an HR instructor?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP:<\/strong> I love to teach! In addition to instructing the aPHR course for PIHRA in the past, I have taught human resources at Strayer University. Also, while pursuing my Ph.D., I served as a graduate assistant helping doctoral students finish their dissertation journey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"h3-palanquin-dark margin-bottom-25\">Why are you excited to teach the aPHR prep course this summer?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP: <\/strong>I&#8217;m always excited to share what I have learned in over 25 years of human resources experience. I often think of teaching the aPHR as equipping the next wave of frontline HR practitioners to be prepared to represent the HR profession with integrity. I find that the aPHR student is excited and serious about how they can learn HR competencies that can be used to improve the organizational landscape of their company. That is exciting to me!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"h3-palanquin-dark margin-bottom-25\">In your professional opinion, what value does the aPHR provide to a practitioner? How does the learning, studying, and\/or testing experience compare to other courses or certs?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP:<\/strong> In my opinion, the aPHR provides the tools and environment you need to become certified. Ultimately, the goal is to obtain your certification and to show the world that you are serious about the HR profession. Certification allows you to stand out from the crowd.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"h3-palanquin-dark margin-bottom-25\">What can participants expect from this course and from this certification?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP: <\/strong>As HRCI lists in the certification description, participants can expect to obtain a broad overview of the entire HR body of knowledge. No matter what role they are currently in, participants will learn how HR concepts and practices are influencing and impacting daily business decisions.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"h3-palanquin-dark margin-bottom-25\">Who would you recommend sign up for this class?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP: <\/strong>I would recommend people who are interested in employment law, hiring best practices, and understanding how human resources policy shapes their work environment sign up for this class.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"h3-palanquin-dark margin-bottom-25\">What feedback have you received from HR professionals about the aPHR? How has this credential helped them professionally?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, PHR, SHRM-CP: <\/strong>First and foremost, I am always excited when participants reach out to let me know they have received their certification. As adult learners with busy schedules and so many life stresses, achieving certification is an amazing accomplishment and says a lot about the commitment to invest in one&#8217;s self. Most recently, I had one of my students move from a mid-level manager role to a C-suite role almost immediately after becoming certified. Now, that was impressive!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"h3-palanquin-dark margin-bottom-25\">To be led by Dr. Thel\u00e1 R. Thatch, sign up for PIHRA&#8217;s aPHR Prep Course!<\/h2>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\">Join a virtual cohort of HR professionals to study for the aPHR exam! Under Dr. Thatch&#8217;s instruction, you&#8217;ll cover exam materials during a four-week preparation course.<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\">PIHRA&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mypihra.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1114900&amp;group=\">HR Certification Prep Courses<\/a> are always offered at competitively low rates. Additionally, HR professionals enjoy more hands-on instruction in PIHRA&#8217;s prep classes thanks to our exclusive class sizes. Furthermore, once you&#8217;re certified, you can always rely on PIHRA <a href=\"\/calendar\">webinars, conferences, and programs<\/a> for ongoing recertification credit opportunities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><strong>Learn more about our upcoming aPHR prep course!<br \/>\n<\/strong>Registration closes Friday, September 17, 2021 at 8:00pm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mypihra.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1487065&amp;group=\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sign-up-here-teal.png\" alt=\"Register Here for the SHRM California Law HR Specialty Credential\" width=\"433\" height=\"100\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"h3_left-column margin-bottom-25\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is HR certification worth it? How do you get started? Learn more about the aPHR credential offered by HRCI and how PIHRA can help you pass your certification exam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5928,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[68],"tags":[2054,1404,1877],"yst_prominent_words":[3449,3452,3455,3453,3448,3450,1361,52,113,771,3169,3343,3342,3451,3447,3445,3454,3446,3459,3458],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5919"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5919"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7706,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5919\/revisions\/7706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5919"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pihra.org\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=5919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}