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Additional Qualifications to Boost your HR Career

Published on: 25 Aug 2015

No matter which stage of your HR career you currently inhabit, it must always be remembered that there are many recognised qualifications that really can progress your career to the next level.

Whether you have just begun in Human Resources as a HR assistant or administrator, are currently an experienced HR advisor looking to make the step into management, or are a HR manager seeking to reach directorship level, there are many courses available which will enable you to get closer to your goals.

We will look at the qualifications which are currently available for each role in the following sections.

If you are a HR assistant or administrator

Many people begin their HR careers in these 'entry-level' roles, with a plan to gain the necessary HR experience, while gaining extra qualifications at the same time.

Common qualifications to undertake during this period include:

  • CIPD foundation/intermediate level in Employment Law
  • Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Degree (HND) in Human Resources, Psychology, or a business/management related degree
  • Short internal or external training courses in subjects such as Payroll Management, Training Delivery and Conflict Management, amongst others

If you are a HR officer or advisor

Once you have made the step up to a HR officer or advisor, it is natural to research the qualifications you can attain in order to take the next step in your HR career.

For most people, this will be a step into HR management, and the good news is that there are many qualifications you can undertake to help you in achieving this goal.

Again, we'll take a quick look at some of the most common 'management' qualifications below:

  • CIPD advanced level in Employment Law
  • CIPD intermediate/advanced level in Human Resources Management
  • CIPD intermediate/advanced level in Leading, Managing and Developing People
  • CIPD intermediate/advanced level in Leadership and Management Development

We have included many CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) courses throughout this guide as it is the UK's most recognized training provider in HR related courses.

Although there are other training providers available, a CIPD qualification can significantly enhance your current CV, particularly when you are seeking to attain HR management roles.

If you are a HR manager

So, you have now reached the heady position of HR management. However, after a couple of months in the job you begin to feel as though you should be aiming for the next step up in your HR career.

Most normally, this will be either an internal HR directors role, or an external role depending upon the structure of your current company.

The good news is that while specific HR directorship qualifications are a little less abundant than HR management courses, there are many strategy-orientated and personal development courses you can undertake to give you a good grounding in understanding the HR director role.

Let's take a quick look at four varied courses you should consider enrolling in, once you have made the decision to pursue the directorship role:

  • CIPD advanced level qualification in Employment Law
  • CIPD advance level in Organisational Development
  • Ashbridge Business School qualification in Strategic Human Resource Management
  • Ashbridge Business School Masters degree in Organisational Change

If you are a HR director

Once you have attained HR directorship status, it should be remembered that your HR education does not suddenly stop.

However, rather than focusing on specific HR qualifications, you will find that many HR directors undertake training courses primarily around the strategic side of business, as well as various personal development courses, such as improving their public speaking abilities, networking skills, etc.

Although the skill-set may change dramatically at this level, the need for ongoing education and career-boosting qualifications does not.