SHRM has issued two new professional development programs, the SHRM U.S. Employment Immigration Specialty Credential and the SHRM HR Department of One Specialty Credential. HR professionals who earn these specialty credentials demonstrate specialized knowledge in focused fields of practice and complex, continually-evolving topic areas.
Department of One
"HR professionals who are solo practitioners in their organizations face unique challenges," said Nick Schacht, SHRM-SCP, chief global development officer at SHRM. "They must bring a full range of HR expertise to their organizations, balance competing priorities and work extensively through their non-HR counterparts. The SHRM HR Department of One Specialty Credential highlights the key challenges facing these solo practitioners, identifies best practices for addressing them, and helps maximize HR professionals' success in smaller organizations."
To earn this specialty credential, candidates are required to purchase and complete the learning package, which includes:
- Enrollment in the SHRM seminar "HR Department of One: Strategies for Success," available in person or virtually.
- Two comprehensive SHRM eLearning courses "HR Department of One: Developing Targeted L&D Solutions" and "HR Department of One: Gaining Support for HR Initiatives."
- A 50-question online knowledge assessment.
Practitioners who complete this program will receive a certificate of accomplishment and a digital badge verifying their specialty. Those who are SHRM certification-holders will have 17 professional development credits (PDCs) toward recertification of their SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP automatically uploaded to their SHRM Certification Portal.
U.S. Employment Immigration
"The U.S. immigration system is the most complex in the world, and the professionals who can navigate it are top hires and critical resources for their employers," said Emily M. Dickens, J.D., SHRM's corporate secretary and chief of staff.
"Whether organizations are recruiting from U.S. universities or transferring employees from abroad, the global competition for talent demands that all HR professionals understand how to integrate foreign talent in their workforce strategy," said Lynn Shotwell, head of global outreach and operations at SHRM. "The SHRM U.S. Employment Immigration Specialty Credential demonstrates expertise and competence in finding business solutions in this complex and ever-changing area of the law."
To earn this specialty credential, candidates are required to purchase and complete the learning package, which includes:
- Enrollment in the SHRM seminar "Global Hiring: Complying with U.S. Visa Requirements," available in person or virtually.
- Three comprehensive SHRM eLearning courses, "Employment Eligibility: A Practical Guide to I-9 and E-Verify," "Hiring Foreign Nationals: Non-Immigrant Visas" and "Hiring Foreign Nationals: Immigrant Visas."
- A 50-question online knowledge assessment.
Practitioners who complete this program will receive a certificate of accomplishment and a digital badge verifying their specialty. Those who are SHRM certification-holders will have 26 professional PDCs automatically uploaded to their portal.
SHRM Specialty Credentials
SHRM certification is not required to be eligible for a SHRM specialty credential. A SHRM specialty credential educates individuals on specific learning objectives, and is valid for three years from the date of completion. It is not recertified, rather it is reissued following completion of the updated specialty credential learning program appropriate to it.
For more information, visit the SHRM specialty credentials page, or contact Nicole Hall, a member of SHRM's educational programs team.
Rena Gorlin, J.D., is an independent writer and editor in Washington, D.C.
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