How Do I Become a Certified Compensation Professional?

An individual who pursues a career in human resources can ultimately become a certified compensation professional. This is the gold standard for salary and wage knowledge, and it requires passing a rigorous series of tests. Even after testing is complete, a certified compensation professional must keep the qualifications current. Luckily, the individual pursuing the certification can take the series of exams at his or her own pace, and the course work can even be done online. The required tests and training command a financial commitment.

After you become a certified professional, you will have a key role in a professional organization in supporting employee financial benefits and the needs and resources of a company. The individual in this role is called upon to manage compensation throughout an organization in different economic cycles. In keeping with the goals and limitations of a company, a certified compensation professional needs to be able to make difficult recommendations on how to protect a business's bottom line.

Depending on the availability and the preference of the individual, course work can be completed over the Internet or live with an instructor to become a certified compensation professional. Both options include the same training and lead to the same result, which is to become a compensation expert. A student can take on the training while employed as a human resources professional. You are going to need to make a time investment in order to perform acceptably in all of the training stages.

Each of the exams that are required to become a certified compensation professional brings you one step closer to being regarded as an expert on the topic. Throughout training, you will become proficient in the skills it requires not only to hire personnel but also to keep people working at a company. One of the courses you will have to master is about promoting a balance between work and home life for employees. Communication is another area where you will be expected to be proficient.

You must possess solid financial and accounting skills to qualify to become a certified compensation professional. This position not only requires calculating salaries based on departmental budgets, but it also extends to using equations to determine an employee's retirement benefits. It is possible that the individual with this certification will be called upon to juggle investor relations duties too. This involves communicating with shareholders and the public about a company's income and revenue status.