4 HR certifications to transform your career

If you want to gain a deeper understanding of HR principles and improve your career prospects, an HR certification could be right for you. Learn more in this handy list of 4 HR certifications to transform your career.

If you’re an aspiring or existing HR professional or a manager with an interest in people development, you might be thinking about pursuing a qualification to improve your skills and strengthen your career prospects. An HR certification is an excellent option, particularly for busy professionals.

To help you decide whether an HR certification is right for you, we’ve pulled together a list of four courses that have the potential to transform a career in HR or people management. Read on to learn what these HR certifications are and how they can help you progress in your career. 

What are HR certifications?

HR certifications are qualifications or accreditations in the field of human resources, a corporate discipline focused on personnel management and staff training. 

These certifications teach HR principles, methodologies and best practices. They’re designed for aspiring or existing HR professionals seeking to strengthen their knowledge and expertise. They’re also suitable for those in management positions who want to improve their understanding of how to lead and develop people.

HR certifications are offered by professional bodies and universities. Many are available to undertake remotely through online learning platforms like FutureLearn. They involve studying a set curriculum and then completing a form of assessment, like an exam or essay, at the end of the course. 

HR certifications offer HR professionals an efficient and cost-effective way to gain relevant qualifications without the commitment of undertaking a degree in HR management. Many of the accreditations give students eligibility to join the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the professional body for HR and people development in the UK. 

HR certifications can help HR professionals develop their skills, grow in confidence and, ultimately, improve their career prospects and earning potential. For managers, the qualifications provide a valuable grounding in the principles of people management and the function of HR in an organisation.

4 certifications for HR to transform your career

Whatever stage you’re at in your HR or management career, there’s an HR certification that could be right for you. The following four courses cover HR principles, methodologies and best practices to suit a wide range of experience levels and career goals. 

CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

This CIPD Level 3 training equips you with a solid foundation to support the early stages of your HR career. 

You’ll learn about the fundamental frameworks that underpin human resource management and the connection between business, culture and change in relation to HR strategy. You’ll gain practical skills in disciplines like recruitment, talent management and employee relations. You’ll also learn how to use data analytics to make informed business decisions about workforce planning, performance management and stakeholder communication.

When you complete this course, you’ll receive your CIPD certification and eligibility for CIPD membership. 

This certification is for students who want to grow their careers in people management and related fields, particularly those currently working in administrative positions or more junior HR roles. 

The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice can open doors to many entry-level career opportunities, including: 

• L&D and HR assistant
• HR administrator
• Learning administrator
• People and culture assistant
• Recruitment coordinator

Interested in studying for this HR certification online? FutureLearn’s CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is created by e-Careers and endorsed by the CIPD.

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

This CIPD Level 5 training offers a comprehensive curriculum exploring a wide range of advanced people management topics, including: 

• Organisational culture
• Employee management
• Workforce planning
• Talent retention strategies
• Leadership development.

In this certification, you’ll learn the basics of organisational structure and strategy, while gaining a stronger foothold in HR-related concepts. You’ll discover how to champion inclusive and collaborative strategies and foster positive working cultures. Other topics include supporting DEI (diversity, equality and inclusivity) initiatives and designing and evaluating solutions to support positive working relationships.

When you complete the certification, you’ll receive your CIPD associate diploma and eligibility for CIPD membership. 

This HR certification is for people who are looking to gain management skills and strategic expertise, particularly professionals who come from an HR background. It’s beneficial to begin this course with some HR experience or a relevant degree. If you’re new to HR or people management, we recommend you complete the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice before starting this certification.

The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management can open doors to a wide range of mid-level career opportunities in talent management, organisational development, and workforce planning. These include:

• HR advisor
• L&D manager
• HR analyst
• Employee engagement specialist
• Organisational development consultant
• Training deliverer

Interested in studying for this HR certification online? FutureLearn’s CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management is created by e-Careers and endorsed by the CIPD.

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development

This CIPD Level 5 training is for people with an interest in learning and development (L&D), change management, organisational behaviour and people relations.

The certification offers a comprehensive curriculum exploring topics such as:

• Organisational performance analysis
• Learning facilitation
• Learning design and resource creation
• Leadership development
• Management management techniques.

You’ll learn about organisational structure and strategy and discover how to identify opportunities and tackle challenges within the workplace. You’ll find out how to encourage learning throughout your organisation and design engaging L&D solutions for both in-person and online learning initiatives. 

When you complete the certification, you’ll receive your CIPD associate diploma and eligibility for CIPD membership. 

This HR certification is for people who want to excel in the field of organisational learning and development. The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development can open doors to a wide range of mid-level career opportunities within this discipline, including:

• L&D manager
• L&D consultant
• L&D designer
• Organisational design specialist
• Organisational development business partner
• Employee experience manager

The course is suitable for learners who are just starting in their careers as well as those who already have some experience. It’s designed for learners who have a natural inclination towards empowering individuals coupled with a passion for fostering professional growth.

Interested in studying for this HR certification online? FutureLearn’s CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development is created by e-Careers and endorsed by the CIPD.

Business Management: People Management and Leadership

This certification is all about learning how to be a good manager. The comprehensive curriculum will introduce you to frameworks and ideas that will help you become an ethical and inclusive leader. 

You’ll develop your understanding of management as a living and changing practice and develop skills that will allow you to adapt to different contexts and challenges. The course will show you how to support and lead others with care, creating a culture where your team and colleagues feel motivated, included and valued. You’ll understand how coaching can sustain the development of your team and how being an effective mentor can support personal development and career aspirations.

You’ll hear from practising managers in the retail, service, and manufacturing sectors and have the opportunity to discuss your experiences with other learners.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

• Identify appropriate actions for your personal development and the development of others
• Develop your own identity as a leader and manager
• Apply different frameworks and ideas to your own practice
• Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues in people management
• Develop your own approach to a supportive and inclusive work culture
• Reflect critically on the relevance of different management ideas and frameworks

Business Management: People Management and Leadership could be the right certification for you if you’re looking to increase your confidence as a manager or improve your people management skills. It can enhance the career prospects of a wide range of professionals, including:

• Those who are new to a management role but lack formal qualifications 
• Middle managers looking to develop their people management skills 
• Junior professionals who would like to progress into management
• Self-employed people looking to develop their skills and knowledge 
• Managers who are keen to develop their employees and enhance organisational performance

Interested in studying for this HR certification online? FutureLearn’s Business Management: People Management and Leadership is designed by world-class academics from The Open University, with input from industry experts.

Transform your career with FutureLearn’s online HR certifications 

Whether you’re an aspiring or existing HR professional or a manager with an interest in people development, an HR certification is a great way to improve your skills and boost your career prospects.

Think an HR certification could be right for you? At FutureLearn, we can help with our flexible online options. You can study for any of the HR certifications listed in this article from the comfort of your home. Check out our microcredentials in leadership to learn more about each course and get your journey started.