Getting certified has become increasingly valuable to recruiting professionals from a pay and career acceleration perspective. Recruiting certifications validate sourcing, interviewing, and strategy expertise, boosting credibility and increasing chances of getting a better job or a promotion. In fact, certified professionals in the HR field are up to 25% more likely to be promoted.
We’ll take a look at recruiting certifications and certificate programs that can help you propel your career in recruitment further. Let’s start!
Contents
Why get a recruiting certification
Best recruiting certifications
1. Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential – SHRM
2. Recruiter Certifications – Association of International Recruiters (AIRS)
3. Certified People Sourcing Professional (CPSP) – Sourcing Certifications
4. Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) – National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Best recruiting certificate programs
5. Sourcing & Recruitment Certificate Program – AIHR
6. Recruiter Certification Program – REI (Recruiter Education Institute)
7. Strategic Talent Acquisition Certificate Program – AIHR
8. Tech Recruiter Certification 2.0 – Recruiting Innovation
9. Freelance Tech Recruiter – Tech Recruitment Academy
FAQ
Why get a recruiting certification
Recruiting certifications bring multiple benefits to professionals in recruitment:
- When you have recognized certification, it boosts your credibility with clients and candidates. It can be helpful, particularly if you are just starting your recruitment career or changing careers.
- A certification validates your competence and understanding of hiring best practices. It shows you are serious about your recruiting career and have the qualifications to excel in this position.
- By getting certified, you stay updated with the latest trends and developments in the recruitment industry. This ensures you are using the most effective recruitment methods in your work.
- Having a certification gives you a competitive edge over non-certified candidates who are also applying for the same role. Employers may prefer to hire certified recruitment professionals because they show they have invested time and effort in being good at their jobs.
- Obtaining certification can open up new opportunities and advance your career. It could qualify you for higher positions in your organization.
- Certifications open doors to networking with other recruiters. You can connect with peers, share insights, and expand your professional network, which is beneficial for career development.
Best recruiting certifications
A recruiting certification is a credential offered by professional institutions or organizations to confirm that the recruiter has the requisite knowledge and skills to perform their job. You need to pass an exam to earn a certification, and it typically also requires ongoing education and periodic renewal.
1. Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential – SHRM
Program overview
The SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential program offers comprehensive SHRM eLearning courses on talent acquisition:
- Global Hiring
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) in the Talent Acquisition Space
- The Virtual Talent Acquisition Lifecycle
You also get a bonus course about recruiting in cybersecurity, which is currently an in-demand field.
You must pass the online talent acquisition knowledge assessment to earn a specialty Credential. You can post this Credential in your resume, e-mail signatures, and social media profiles. That way, you can showcase your expertise in talent acquisition to your network, as well as your (potential) employer.
It’s not necessary to be SHRM-certified to get the SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential.
Details
- Who it’s for: Individuals who are interested in gaining knowledge, proficiency, and a recognized credential in talent acquisition.
- Format: The course is offered in-person and virtual (and live online).
- Cost: The Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialty course costs $1,830 for SHRM members and $2,105 for non-SHRM members.
2. Recruiter Certifications – Association of International Recruiters (AIRS)
Program overview
AIRS provides several recruiter certifications and certification programs:
- Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR): Learning strategies to create and advance DEIB+ recruitment processes
- Certified Social and New Media Recruiter (CSMR): Sourcing and recruiting candidates using various social and new media channels
- Certified Technical Recruiter (CTR): Supporting an effective IT recruiting strategy
- Certificate in AI for Modern Sourcing and Recruiting: Harness the power of AI to impact their recruiting and sourcing practices
- Certificate in Veteran Recruitment: Helping talent acquisition and Human Resources professionals improve their veteran recruiting program
- Elite Certified Recruitment Expert (ECRE) Certification: Recruiting professionals who have obtained at least 4 AIRS certifications are eligible for an exam to earn this certification.
You can enroll in the Recruiter Academy if you want to get access to all certifications.
Each AIRS certification is valid for two years, with the option to re-certify for free every two years.
Details
- Who it’s for: New and experienced HR professionals who want to specialize in certain areas of recruitment.
- Format: Instructor-led and self-guided formats.
- Cost: You have the option to choose individual certifications or the comprehensive Recruiter Academy. Individual program costs are between $795-$995, and the Recruiter Academy access is $1,695.
3. Certified People Sourcing Professional (CPSP) – Sourcing Certifications
Program overview
The Certified People Sourcing Professional (CPSP) credential proves that the holder has the right sourcing skills to become a successful professional in the field of talent acquisition. Sourcing is about identifying and engaging with candidates, which is integral to the talent acquisition process.
To get certified, participants must pass the CPSP exam, which requires the participant to demonstrate proficiency in the following six core skill groups:
- Exploratory research: Identifying companies to source from, determining which professional credentials or graduates of which schools to look for, exploring new markets
- Google search: Learning how Google works, applying Boolean logic and search operators, using various specialty search products like patent, publication, and image searches
- X-ray searching: Searching through social networks, contact databases, associations, and other sites that have user profiles and public pages
- Cross-referencing information: Filling the gaps in the data (e.g., an email address, location, or employer) based on information from a social profile, phone number, or an image
- Using LinkedIn: Understanding and using LinkedIn filters
- Social search: Discovering and exploring social sites (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit)
The Sourcing Certifications organization also has a Training Library with a wealth of materials on sourcing-related topics. They also offer custom training.
Details
- Who it’s for: Individuals interested in becoming a sourcing professional or recruiters who want to improve their sourcing skills.
- Format: Online.
- Cost: The CPSP Exam is $499. The annual Training Library Subscription is $2,388 and includes access to 2 sourcing certification exams. Alternatively, you can attend the Talent Sourcing Bootcamp and get a $100 discount on the exam fee.
4. Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) – National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Program overview
The National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS) offers the Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) credential. To get certified, you must demonstrate your knowledge of employment laws and the legal implications of the work of direct-hire and temporary staffing professionals.
The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge of four main domains:
- Laws and regulations
- Candidate relations
- Client relations
- General industry practices
It also covers candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, testing, placement, retention, coaching, client development, negotiation, contracts, service delivery, quality assurance, problem resolution, ethics, professionalism, industry trends, and terminology.
You must study the official NAPS Certification and Education Manual to prepare for the CPC exam. It contains information on all the exam domains, sample questions and answers, a glossary, and references. Online courses, webinars, podcasts, and articles are also available to supplement your studies.
Details
- Who is it for: This certification targets recruiting and HR professionals, as well as hiring managers who are involved in talent acquisition processes.
- Format: Online.
- Cost: The Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) certification examination costs $600 (one-year subscription), which includes the certification manual. NAPS members pay $300.
Best recruiting certificate programs
Recruiting certificate programs are aimed at teaching new skills, techniques, or theories in the field of recruitment. After an individual completes their coursework, they are awarded a certificate. This usually doesn’t require a renewal.
These educational programs can also help you earn or maintain a professional certification like SHRM-CP or PHR. Certifying bodies often require certified professionals to earn a certain number of recertification credits within a specific period to maintain their certification status. By participating in accredited certificate programs, recruiters can earn these credits.
5. Sourcing & Recruitment Certificate Program – AIHR
Program overview
This online recruiter certificate program is tailored for professionals who want to be more proactive and independent in finding and acquiring the best-fit talent.
The Sourcing and Recruitment Certificate Program teaches you how to source passive candidates, build an employer brand, optimize recruitment processes, and avoid mishires.
The program covers the following topics:
- Mastering the Job Intake Process: Preparing and running the job intake process
- Talent Sourcing: Sourcing strategies and execution, mastering Boolean search
- Candidate Screening Methods: Screening, assessments, and evaluation
- Employer Branding and Recruitment Marketing: Building and implementing an attractive employer brand
- Rewards Communication and Negotiation: Rewards strategy, promotion and negotiation
- Recruitment Analytics: Measuring the recruitment funnel efficiency, quality, and impact
You can also earn your Professional Development Credits (PDCs) by participating in this certificate program.
- Who it’s for: New and experienced professionals in recruitment and HR.
- Format: The program is online and self-paced. It has 16 modules across 6 courses and hands-on projects. You’ll receive a digital certificate upon completion.
- Cost: The Sourcing and Recruitment Certificate Program costs $1,125. Access other all other AIHR certificate programs and courses for $1,850.
At the end of the Sourcing & Recruitment program, you’ll be awarded a certificate:
6. Recruiter Certification Program – REI (Recruiter Education Institute)
Program overview
This program from the Recruiter Education Insitute will help recruiters improve their recruiting abilities and client management skills.
What you’ll learn:
- The Brand: How to develop a positive recruiting brand with hiring managers and candidates
- The Job: Learning proper questioning techniques to lead each hiring manager in defining and prioritizing the skills the role requires
- The Hunt: Applying the proper sourcing tools and using each properly to identify potential candidates
- The Sell: Using the five basic sales steps essential to recruiting and turning passive candidates into interested and engaged applicants
- The Deal: Presenting compelling, emotionally based employment offers
- The Quit: Counseling candidates on the expected responses experienced during their resignation
- The Start: How to onboarding new hires: preparations, paperwork and technology
Details
- Who it’s for: Novice and experienced recruiters.
- Format: The Recruiter Certificate Program is an interactive program that consists of seven primary modules. It also has additional modules dedicated to topics like advanced sourcing skills and performance metrics. Live courses are also available upon request.
- Cost: Regular: $799, discounted: $699
7. Strategic Talent Acquisition Certificate Program – AIHR
Program overview
The Strategic Talent Acquisition Certificate Program is for recruiters and talent acquisition practitioners interested in strategically contributing to their organization. It will equip you with the right skills to develop and implement a talent acquisition strategy that gives your organization a competitive edge in the job market.
The program covers the following topics:
- Talent Acquisition Strategy and Workforce Planning: Aligning the talent acquisition and workforce planning strategy with organizational goals
- Spring Recruiting: Leveraging agile methodology for recruitment
- Design Thinking and Candidate Experience: Implementing your candidate strategy and creating an impactful candidate experience
- Redefining your EVP (Employee Value Proposition): EVP fundamentals, tackling tangible and intangible EVP dimensions
- Talent Acquisition Management: Partnering with the business to design and manage an impactful talent acquisition strategy
- Recruitment Analytics: Using data to evaluate your talent acquisition efforts
Details
- Who it’s for: Recruitment, talent acquisition, and HR professionals of all levels.
- Format: This course is online and self-paced. It includes 6 courses in 13 modules, as well as quizzes and hands-on projects.
- Cost: The Strategic Talent Acquisition Certificate Program costs $1,125. You can get 12-month access to all AIHR’s courses for $1,850.
8. Tech Recruiter Certification 2.0 – Recruiting Innovation
Program overview
The Tech Recruiter Certification program aims to boost your technical confidence, effectively engage top IT talent, and become a trusted hiring team partner.
The program covers the following topics:
- Tech Recruiting Tactics: Crafting compelling job descriptions, outreach messages, and sourcing strategies
- Alignment Framework: Conducting effective technical interviews
- Product Management: Learning about product management, product strategy
- UX Design: Exploring the UX Design talent
- Front-End Engineering: Diving into the specifics of front-end engineering
- Back End Engineering: Toolkit, tech stack, and career progression of back end engineers
- DevOps Engineering: How to get attention of DevOps professionals
Details
- Who it’s for: This course is a perfect crash course for new recruiters and a great refresher course for experienced recruiters.
- Format: The program consists of the 7 courses mentioned above, including 10 hours of video content. Participants can also download the Tech Recruiter Tactics Handbook to supplement their learning.
- Cost: Participants can either pay in full at $849 or pay $149/month in 6 monthly installments.
9. Freelance Tech Recruiter – Tech Recruitment Academy
Program overview
The Freelance Tech Recruiter program is designed for IT recruiters who want to boost their recruiting abilities and become business partners to IT hiring managers and clients.
In this course, you will learn:
- Different IT terminology & IT roles
- Choosing your micro-niche & commit
- Building your talent pool
- Re-branding your LinkedIn profile
- Creating content for your niche audience
- Getting the first (or next) client to work for
- Analyzing your client’s job requirements thoroughly
- Finding qualified candidates
- Screening IT candidates and assessing technical and cultural fit
- Using new AI tools and set targets
- Increasing your productivity.
The course comes with the Tech Recruitment Academy membership, together with 1-on-1 individual mentoring calls.
Once you finish the course, you get your certificate and feature it on your LinkedIn profile, boosting your credibility.
Details
- Who it’s for: It’s for everyone, from beginners with no experience in the IT industry to intermediate HR and talent acquisition specialists and seasoned tech recruiters.
- Format: Online.
- Cost: $10,000 post-paid. At the beginning, you pay a 30% setup fee. The remaining 70% are paid from the commissions earned.
FAQ
A certified recruiter is a recruiting professional who has finished a program and passed a qualifying exam to demonstrate their recruitment skills and knowledge. Certifications can enhance your credibility and improve your career prospects as a recruiter.
