A new professional development program, the SHRM People Analytics Specialty Credential, launched in November. Earning this credential demonstrates that HR professionals have the foundational knowledge and analytics literacy to examine relevant, real-world business issues and effectively communicate data-supported recommendations to their organizations.
"People analytics is rapidly becoming an indispensable competency for today's HR professionals," said SHRM's chief global development officer, Nick Schacht, SHRM-SCP. "Our new People Analytics Specialty Credential is designed to give HR practitioners a firm foundation in the principles and applications of metrics and technology that support HR practices and organizational objectives. This is the latest in our growing line of specialty credentials that provide clarity, perspective and depth on today's most important HR topics."
Program requirements for this specialty credential are:
- The SHRM seminar "People Analytics: Taking Data-Driven Action," available in person or virtually.
- The three comprehensive SHRM eLearning courses "Foundational Data Literacy," "The Metrics Behind People Analytics" and "Analyzing People Data."
- A 50-question online knowledge assessment.
Practitioners who earn the credential receive a certificate of accomplishment and a digital badge verifying their specialty.
SHRM certification is not required to be eligible for the SHRM People Analytics Specialty Credential. However, SHRM certification-holders who complete the program will have 22 professional development credits (PDCs) toward recertification of their SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP automatically uploaded to their SHRM Certification Portal.
A SHRM specialty credential is valid for three years from the date of completion. It cannot be recertified, only reissued following completion of the updated specialty credential learning program appropriate to it. Additional specialty credentials are expected in 2019 for HR departments of one and for U.S. immigration.
For more information, visit the SHRM specialty credential page, or contact
Jeanne Morris, SHRM's director of educational programs.