Which designation is right for which professional?
With so many designations and certifications cropping up in HR, it can be hard to figure out which one is the best fit. Bonni Titgemeyer, the managing director of HR consulting firm The Employers’ Choice in Brampton, Ont., compiled a list of the most common designations and what kind of professional would most likely benefit from them.
Provincial association/CCHRA
CHRP (Certified Human Resources Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of nine courses and the National Knowledge Exam and the National Professional Practice Assessment
Focus: Broad range of HR occupations, from HR administrator to vice-president of HR
Dalhousie University/International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans
CEBS (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of eight courses
Focus: Broad range of compensation, benefits and pension positions. This is the longest and most difficult of the professional designations offered by Dalhousie University/International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans
GBA (Group Benefits Associate)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three courses
Focus: Positions in health care/benefits administration
CMS (Compensation Management Specialist)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three courses
Focus: Compensation positions with a unique focus on executive compensation
RPA (Retirement Plans Associate)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three courses
Focus: Positions related to pension plans and other retirement arrangements
Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
SPHR (Senior Professional In Human Resources)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of SPHR exam
Focus: Specific emphasis on U.S. HR positions in a senior capacity. Sometimes sought by Canadian practitioners in U.S.-based companies in Canada.
GPHR (Global Professional in Human Resources)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of GPHR exam
Focus: HR positions requiring a broad knowledge of global practice
PHR (Professional in Human Resources)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of PHR exam
Focus: HR generalist positions. Sometimes sought by Canadian practitioners in U.S.-based companies operating in Canada
Career Professionals of Canada
CCS (Certified Career Strategist)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of exam and case studies
Focus: Specific emphasis on career counsellors, career strategists
World at Work
CCP (Certified Compensation Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of nine exams
Focus: Broad range of compensation positions
GRP (Global Remuneration Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of nine exams
Focus: Broad range of total compensation positions
Association of Professional Recruiters of Canada
RPR (Registered Professional Recruiter)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three modules
Focus: Positions in the search field
Canadian Professional Trainers Association
RPT (Registered Professional Trainer)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three modules
Focus: Positions in training and development
Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Courses, experience requirements, peer examination
Focus: Safety management positions
National Institute of Disability Management and Research
CRTWC (Certified Return to Work Coordinator)
Curriculum/Certification: Education, experience and certification exam
Focus: Return to work/disability management positions
CDMP (Certified Disability Management Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Education, experience and certification exam
Focus: Disability management positions
The Canadian Payroll Association (CPA)
CPM (Certified Payroll Manager)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of five courses
Focus: Payroll-related positions
PCP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of four courses
Focus: Payroll-related positions
International Personnel Management Association (IPMA) – Canada
IPMA-CP (Certified Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Meeting academic and experience requirements plus completion of an examination
Focus: Broad range of HR occupations, from HR administrator to vice-president of HR
IPMA-CS (Certified Specialist)
Curriculum/Certification: Meeting academic and experience requirements plus completion of an examination
Focus: For senior HR professionals
Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD)
CTP (Certified Training Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Meet experience requirements, pass a knowledge exam, submit a skill demonstration
Focus: Positions in training and development, level one of the CTDP process
CTDP (Certified Training and Development Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Meet experience requirements, pass a knowledge test and a practical test
Focus: Senior training and development practitioner
Provincial association/CCHRA
CHRP (Certified Human Resources Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of nine courses and the National Knowledge Exam and the National Professional Practice Assessment
Focus: Broad range of HR occupations, from HR administrator to vice-president of HR
Dalhousie University/International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans
CEBS (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of eight courses
Focus: Broad range of compensation, benefits and pension positions. This is the longest and most difficult of the professional designations offered by Dalhousie University/International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans
GBA (Group Benefits Associate)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three courses
Focus: Positions in health care/benefits administration
CMS (Compensation Management Specialist)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three courses
Focus: Compensation positions with a unique focus on executive compensation
RPA (Retirement Plans Associate)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three courses
Focus: Positions related to pension plans and other retirement arrangements
Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
SPHR (Senior Professional In Human Resources)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of SPHR exam
Focus: Specific emphasis on U.S. HR positions in a senior capacity. Sometimes sought by Canadian practitioners in U.S.-based companies in Canada.
GPHR (Global Professional in Human Resources)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of GPHR exam
Focus: HR positions requiring a broad knowledge of global practice
PHR (Professional in Human Resources)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of PHR exam
Focus: HR generalist positions. Sometimes sought by Canadian practitioners in U.S.-based companies operating in Canada
Career Professionals of Canada
CCS (Certified Career Strategist)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of exam and case studies
Focus: Specific emphasis on career counsellors, career strategists
World at Work
CCP (Certified Compensation Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of nine exams
Focus: Broad range of compensation positions
GRP (Global Remuneration Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of nine exams
Focus: Broad range of total compensation positions
Association of Professional Recruiters of Canada
RPR (Registered Professional Recruiter)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three modules
Focus: Positions in the search field
Canadian Professional Trainers Association
RPT (Registered Professional Trainer)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of three modules
Focus: Positions in training and development
Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Courses, experience requirements, peer examination
Focus: Safety management positions
National Institute of Disability Management and Research
CRTWC (Certified Return to Work Coordinator)
Curriculum/Certification: Education, experience and certification exam
Focus: Return to work/disability management positions
CDMP (Certified Disability Management Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Education, experience and certification exam
Focus: Disability management positions
The Canadian Payroll Association (CPA)
CPM (Certified Payroll Manager)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of five courses
Focus: Payroll-related positions
PCP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner)
Curriculum/Certification: Completion of four courses
Focus: Payroll-related positions
International Personnel Management Association (IPMA) – Canada
IPMA-CP (Certified Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Meeting academic and experience requirements plus completion of an examination
Focus: Broad range of HR occupations, from HR administrator to vice-president of HR
IPMA-CS (Certified Specialist)
Curriculum/Certification: Meeting academic and experience requirements plus completion of an examination
Focus: For senior HR professionals
Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD)
CTP (Certified Training Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Meet experience requirements, pass a knowledge exam, submit a skill demonstration
Focus: Positions in training and development, level one of the CTDP process
CTDP (Certified Training and Development Professional)
Curriculum/Certification: Meet experience requirements, pass a knowledge test and a practical test
Focus: Senior training and development practitioner
