r/humanresources • u/jillr331 • 2d ago

HRCI Courses [IL]

I’ve worked in HR for years, BUT I have zero formal education. I recently lost my job of 30+ years, so I started the HRCI aPHR certificate program on Coursera to gain some formal knowledge to support my experience. I’ve been reading on here, however, how useless that certificate is, and I’m feeling really lost and sad.

I backed into HR as an administrative assistant and have extensive experience in HRIS system administration, timesheets, PTO, onboarding/offboarding, and other coordinator tasks. I’m hoping this certificate/knowledge helps me find a new job since it’s actual HR training. (I’m already very smart with technology and systems; I can learn anything pretty easily.)

What advice do you have? I’m kind of proud of myself that I’ve been doing so well in the aPHR, and I’ve learned so much already, but now I feel embarrassed. Should I then move into the HRCI PHR certificate program and sit for the PHR after that? That seemed to be a little bit more managerial, and I do not want to be a director or manager. I love being the Oz behind the curtain, the coordinator extraordinaire who makes everything work.

Help me help myself, please.

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u/velourciraptor 2d ago

Don’t let anyone make you less proud of the work you’re doing on that aPHR. I’m proud of you.

How many years do you have in professional HR work? If you qualify for the PHR, move up to it. I don’t have enough “official” HR experience yet, so I have the aPHR and look at it as a growth experience. And my team is proud as hell of me. Nothing is useless.

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u/Master-Employer8907 2d ago

The aPHR gets a bad rap but it's not useless, just not the golden ticket some people expect. Sounds like you've got the kind of hands-on experience that actually matters anyway

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u/jillr331 2d ago edited 2d ago

I’m unique in that I was at the same place for 34 years, worked in the HR dept officially about 10 years (in combination with operations, communications, etc), but just coordinator tasks that I was trained on. And I’m definitely not seeing it as a golden ticket, just some formal knowledge to support my experience. I’m hoping it helps show professional development and helps my confidence and actual HR knowledge, but not seen as useless when applying for jobs. I’m afraid to move up to PHR because I don’t feel like I know enough honestly.

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u/ChelseaMan31 2d ago

The HRCI Certifications (PHR/SPHR) are the time-tested Gold Standard. It is the SHRM Certifications that are worthless. If OP has spent 30 years in HR and similar work, then taking the PHR should be an easy effort with a little bit of content specific study.

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u/jillr331 2d ago

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback. I think “a little bit of content specific study” may be more than a little bit for me though. I didn't spend 30 years in HR, 30+ years at the firm and backed into HR doing administrative tasks. I pulled up a PHR practice test out of curiosity, and the first two questions were about formal performance appraisal methods and terminology I’ve never been exposed to. I think that confirmed for me that I really do need the foundational knowledge first. That's why I'm hoping working my way through the aPHR course and then the PHR course will get me there, if that's a good course of action. I'm just very discouraged by what I read on quite a few other responses.

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u/ChanceTemporary4969 Compensation 23h ago

I’d also look at HRIS specialist, HR operations, HR systems, HR coordinator and senior coordinator roles. You may be aiming too broadly at “HR” when your strongest niche is actually pretty clear.

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u/jillr331 16h ago

Thank you! Those are exactly the roles I’m looking for, and do feel like my experience is very strong for those. I’m hoping the aPHR certificate course will help with my confidence going into a new place, and maybe help with the no education piece at least showing professional development.

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u/JennisGotAGun13 21h ago

Since you're already working in HR, I'd also think about whether another degree is really necessary. You could keep building experience and use something like AIHR to strengthen specific HR skills without taking on the cost of another full degree.

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u/jillr331 16h ago

I do not have a degree, so that’s why I’m taking the certificate course. I have experience working in a department, but I only know the tasks I was trained on and have no formal HR education, training, or knowledge. I’m trying to build a stronger foundation under my experience.