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Professional certifications for human resources professionals have long been the cornerstone of skills assessment in the field. Maybe these traditional credentials serve as a supplement to a degree in HR or industrial and organizational psychology. Maybe they solidify a career choice after decades in the workforce.
But in 2026, HR professionals may be thinking differently about these mainstays of HR professional development, including those from major players like SHRM and the HR Certification Institute. About 1 in 5 respondents in HR Dive’s Identity of HR survey (21%) said they expect HR certification to be deprioritized in the next three to five years.
“I’ve certainly worked with some great HR practitioners that don’t have the certifications, so I don’t think it’s an end-all be-all,” said Lindsay Gainor, vice president of HR and talent management at ServiceMaster Brands, the parent company of Merry Maids, Two Men and a Truck, and Two Men and a Junk Truck. From her perspective, certifications may matter more for newer HR professionals who are looking to bolster their resume.
“I think as time goes on and you have more experience in HR — and you’ve maybe worked for some larger companies and you’ve built up a referral network — your body of work is able to speak for itself more,” she said.
