Human Resources Management is one of the most lucrative courses to study in Nigeria. Companies need skilled and talented HR professionals to help them solve their workforce problems. Even if you decide to start your own business, knowing human resources management will help your venture succeed.

There are many different specializations that one may pursue when studying HR. These include recruitment, training and development, strategic human resources, and administration. You can get certificates in these courses from colleges.

One can also get a degree in human resources from a University. Additionally, there are also many HR professional certificates that one can pursue such as aPHRi, PHRi, SPHRi, GPHRi, and SHRM. To learn more about the HR courses available to you in Nigeria, read on.

University Degrees In HR Management
University courses in HR are the most respected qualifications in the Nigerian HR field. Most HR jobs need applicants to have a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Human Resources. Universities also offer postgraduate degrees in HR for those with first degrees in other courses that want to come into the field.

The universities that offer human resources management courses include Elizade University, Redeemer’s University, and Western Delta University. To study Human resources in a Nigerian university you need to have passed O level English, Mathematics, Economics, and any two Arts or Social Science subjects.

SHRM
The Society for Human Resources Management is the world’s largest association for HR professionals. The association offers two certification courses for HR professionals─ Certified Professional (CP) and the Senior Certified Professional (SCP).

The certified professional course is for people that are new to the HR field. On the other hand, the Senior Certified Professional is for more established professionals.

SHRM certifications are globally recognized for providing the best training for HR professionals. SHRM certified managers have the skills required to manage a company’s HR function to international standards. The association states that HR professionals with SHRM certifications should get the paid minimum salary, wherever they are in the world.

Professional Certification By Global HR Certification Bodies
The career market in Nigeria is very competitive as most job applicants for HR jobs will have a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in HR. To set yourself apart as an HR professional it is worth getting a globally recognized professional HR certificate.

Additionally, if you feel that you have stagnated in your career, getting certified could propel you to the next level. Getting an HR certification can also help you get paid better as well as improve your performance at work.

The leading HR certification body in the world is called the Human Resources Certification Institute, headquartered in the US. They have certification centres worldwide including in Nigeria. Below are the main types of HRCI professional certificates that you can get in Nigeria.

aPHRi – Associate Professional in Human Resources International™
The aPHRi is the course you should attend if you are straight from high school. It is also great if you don’t have any work experience or college education. The curriculum covers core HR subjects such as recruitment and selection, training and development, HR operations and employee relations.

It also covers compensation and benefits, retention, and health and safety. The course is packed with lots of information to put on you on the right path to being an HR professional without many prior credentials. You can get the most out of this online course even at an early age.

To be eligible for this course all you will need is your high school diploma.

PHRi – Professional in Human Resources – International™
PHRi is a certification course that gives validity to your professional experience in HR. It covers topics including talent acquisition, management, and development, HR administration and services, recruitment, compensation and benefits management, employee relations, risk management, and HR information management.

To qualify for this course, you need to have a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in any field or a high school diploma with four years’ experience in HR. If you have a master’s degree then you will also need to have at least 1 year of experience in HR. If you have a bachelor’s degree you will need 2 years of work experience in HR.

SPHRi – Senior Professional in Human Resources – International™
SPHRi is a course for senior HR professionals that want to learn about strategy and policymaking. To qualify for the course there are a few different requirements you can met.

Either four years of professional HR experience as well as a master’s degree or five years of professional HR experience as well as a bachelor’s degree. You could also have seven years of professional HR experience with a high school diploma.

Once you register for the course the curriculum will include business leadership, talent development and management, HR service delivery, and measurement and analysis.

GPHR – Global Professional in Human Resources®
If you want a certification that shows your expertise in global human resources, then the GPHR certification is for you. The course teaches strategic human resources management, talent and organizational development. You’ll also learn about global talent acquisition and mobility, global compensation and benefit, workforce relations, and risk management.

To be eligible for this course you must have one of the following:

2 years of professional global HR experience as well as a masters degree in HR
3 years of HR experience (2 of which should be global) and a bachelors degree
You can also have four years of HR experience (2 of which should be global) and a high school diploma.

What Human Resources Management Course Should You Take?
With all the HR courses available it may be difficult to choose the best one for yourself. Your educational background and professional experience will determine which course you can pursue. You can speak with one of Clarionttech's consultants via www.clariongr.com/contact/ to help you choose which course to take.