By Maureen Campbell

Every person has different reasons and motivations for pursuing their CHRP designation: each as unique and compelling as the individual. However, there are a number of benefits shared by every person pursuing their CHRP that will reward them for a professional lifetime—namely, satisfaction, motivation, staying current, increased quality of life, friends, volunteerism; the list can go on and on.

The Mark of HR Professionalism

Striving to achieve your CHRP demonstrates your commitment to the HR profession; it shows your on-going commitment to perform at a higher standard. Most importantly, it demonstrates your knowledge and skills in HR, and acclaims with four letters, ‘this designation proves this individual is among the best HR professionals across the country.’ It clearly identifies you as a professional.

Advancing Amidst Change

The importance of HR professionals has never more apparent than it is today in a rapidly changing 21st century where the magnitude of just about everything is staggering. Advances in technology have made the world a very different place than it was even three years ago. Careers and occupations of previous years have been replaced with jobs unheard of ten years ago. If educational experts are correct, we are training our children for jobs in the future that don’t even exist at the present time. As a consequence of these technological advancements, the delivery of education has had to adapt to keep pace with these changes.  As have today’s HR professionals.
More and more, statistics are proving that Canada’s business leaders know the value of the CHRP designation. According to Ulrich and Brockbank, contribution to business strategy is HR’s highest calling and greatest opportunity for impact, accounting for 43 per cent of HR’s impact on business performance, with business knowledge accounting for another 11 per cent.

Moving Forward: Faster, Stronger

Canada’s business leaders know the value of the CHRP designation.

According to a study produced by PayScale in 2012 on behalf of HRPA, CHRPs have increased career opportunities and greater earning potential than HR professionals without the designation. In comparing results for HR professionals with and without a CHRP over a five-year period, it found CHRPs are promoted faster, hired by larger organizations and earn more than their counterparts without a CHRP.

Promoting Overall Excellence

In terms of overall promotions, CHRPs fared considerably better than non-CHRPs—especially among administrators, generalists and managers. The study also looked at CHRP frequency in management positions, CHRP prevalence at larger companies, and CHRP/non-CHRP pay comparisons by Canadian city and industry. Across the board, CHRPs enjoyed an advantage over non-designated HR professionals.

These studies are proving that the CHRP is a valuable contributor to any HR career. It improves your skills and knowledge and shows your peers, counterparts and colleagues your individual competence by validating those skills and knowledge. CHRP certification stands out in your resume and is a professional reference in and of itself: an impartial, third-party endorsement of your professional knowledge and experience.

Advancing the CHRP Designation

Sharon Lee, Executive Director of CCHRA stated, “Everything CCHRA does is from a national standpoint. Our ultimate mission and goal is to promote and advance our provincial member associations in their drive to support their members and the HR profession.”

CCHRA has been reviewing its Required Professional Capabilities (RPCs) and Book of Knowledge—the professional building blocks of a CHRP to ensure they meet the needs of the rapidly changing HR practice. This review, called a Professional Practice Analysis, or PPA, will ensure maximum linkage between the RPCs and the current anticipated future professional practice of human resources in Canada.

John D. Rockefeller said, “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” The CHRP designation helps you to achieve some of that greatness!

Maureen Campbell is communications manager for Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations.

(PeopleTalk Summer 2013)