Since plenty of HR positions don’t necessarily require a specific certification, many HR professionals and aspiring HR professionals often skip them entirely. In truth, HR certification exams come loaded with undeniable benefits, and these benefits alone can improve the quality of jobs you’re eligible for and boost what you can command in terms of salary.

HR certification exams, commonly called PHR or SPHR exams, act as a qualifier for distinguished HR positions. PHR is the simplest, most straightforward exam. SPHR comes with additional challenges, and is usually used as a second step in the certification process or a direct route for HR professionals who already have a wealth of experience. If you’re interested in paving a broader path for yourself in the competitive HR industry, it’s time to buckle down and hit the books.

Make Sure You Qualify

You won’t be able to step right out of college and into an HR certification program. Depending on what kind of degree you hold, you’ll also have to match that with a certain amount of years in an HR related professional position. There are different tiers of HR certifications, and the longer you’ve been in an HR role, the higher you’ll be placed on the scale. Individuals with HR related degrees will have to wait the least amount of time before qualifying, whereas those with a degree outside of the HR field will have to rack up more experience.

Select a Certification Institution

There isn’t a standard test that’s the same across all certification institutions. Since there are different tiers of certifications and different programs, you’re going to need to pick one that’s the right fit for you. Depending on your degree and the amount of experience you have working in the field, you may find that your options are limited from the start. This might help you narrow down potential certification institutions faster, so remain optimistic.

Review Their Content Outlines

The majority of institutions will provide learners with a list of content that will be covered on the final exam. This is your study guide, or perhaps even your cheat sheet. You’ll know what you need to study, and you’ll be able to determine in which areas you’ll need to do a bit of brushing up. Take an inventory of your skills, and make sure you practice everything – not just your weakest areas. It may help to create a flashcard deck to help you memorize as much information as possible. You can always go the traditional route, using double sided index cards to quiz yourself. For a modern update, you can use virtual flashcards with software or smartphone apps. Many of them will allow you to create custom decks targeted to a specific area of study.

Take an Optional Practice Test

Once you feel comfortable that your knowledge is strong enough to pass the certification exam, take a practice test first. You’ll have to pay for a formal exam, and if you fail, you’ll have to pay again for a retest. Rather than taking such a bold risk, you can always take your institution’s practice test beforehand. If you do exceptionally well on the practice test, go ahead and move on to the major exam. If you’re unhappy with your results, spend some time learning from your mistakes. Adjust your flashcards to reflect the weaknesses you’ve identified, and focus directly on the problematic material. When you’ve improved your level of comfort, you can either choose to take another practice test, or go right for the final exam.

Getting your HR certification is an investment, but it will pay for itself when you see how high it can land you on the HR career ladder. At the end of the day, it’s a small price to pay for a higher salary and a more lucrative career title.

This post was written by Susanne Loxton of http://www.aubiz.net/