Continuing & Professional Education Operations: COVID-19 Updates
Updated May 20, 2021
The safety of our program participants, instructors, staff and community is our highest priority. We are continuing to monitor this evolving situation, and we will provide updates here if Continuing & Professional Education (CaPE) operations are affected.
Working Remotely
All CaPE staff are currently working remotely from home. Unfortunately, that means we will not be able to meet in person or accommodate walk-in inquiries.
Please use the contact form, email or phone (520-626-5091) to contact us.
Face Coverings On Campus
As of May 20, 2021: The University has updated its directive regarding the use of face coverings for employees, students and visitors to campus.
In-Person Classes
Continuing & Professional Education classes are currently online-only. We will schedule in-person classes when we are permitted to do so, based on University of Arizona policies for continuing and professional education programs.
Certification Exams
Many certification exam providers offer online testing options, and many testing centers are open for in-person exams. Capacity at in-person testing centers may be limited to allow for social distancing. See our Certification Exam Updates page for test provider and certifying organization updates.
Additional Information
To stay up-to-date on University of Arizona status and policies, please see the main COVID-19 Information Page.
If you have any questions about your CaPE classes, please contact us.
Should Human Resources Professionals Get a Certification?
A certification isn't required for most Human Resources jobs. And yet, over 1/3 of HR professionals have one. So why do so many HR professionals spend their time, effort and money on getting a certification?
What can HR certification do for you?
There are a lot of good reasons why an HR certification might be a good investment, including:
- Certified expertise: An HR certification shows employers that you have a particular set of knowledge and skills, validated by passing a comprehensive certification exam.
- Increased pay: Payscale salary research found that those with an HR certification earned 31.6% more than those without a certification.
- Career advancement: The same report found that having an HR certification also increased HR professionals' chances of being promoted.
- Relevance: To renew your certification, you will usually need to complete additional professional development or training within a certain period of time. This helps ensure that your knowledge and skills remain relevant and up-to-date.
Which certification is right for you?
The certification you choose will depend on your goals, as well as the industry and location you work in (or want to work in). Do your research to see which credentials are in demand in your area, as well as the specific knowledge, skills and experience employers want.
Your background and work experience should also factor in to your decision. For example, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers two credentials for experienced HR professionals. Each credential requires a different combination of education and work experience.
If you are interested in SHRM certification, review the SHRM eligibility criteria and decide which credential is right for you.Exams are offered only during certain time periods (SHRM calls them "exam windows"). So be sure to check the certification application and testing schedule, too.
Need help getting ready for the SHRM exam?
Our online SHRM certification exam prep class can help you get ready to take the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP exam. The class is taught by a SHRM-SCP using the proven SHRM Learning System. And it's fully online, so you can learn at your convenience.
High Demand for Project Managers in Arizona
Project management is highly in demand among Arizona employers, with over 52,000 job postings asking for project management skills in the past year alone.
Just about every industry you can think of hires project managers, making project management skills highly transferable across the country (and even around the world).
Project management certification demonstrates that you have the skills and knowledge to manage projects from start to finish. This can give you an edge in the hiring process and increase your earning potential:
- In Arizona, 1 in 3 project manager job postings asked for project management certification in the past year.
- According to a Project Management Institute survey, certified project managers report earning significantly more than those that are not certified.
For experienced project managers, the Project Management Professional (PMP®) is the "gold standard" of project management certifications. See upcoming PMP Exam Prep classes.
The Project Management Professional (PMP) is a registered mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.
Discounted Classes and Workshops for University Employees
The office of Continuing & Professional Education offers a wide variety of programs designed specifically for busy working adults. And University of Arizona employees get a discount on many of them!
Classes and Workshops
- Food Safety Workshops
- Human Resources Certification Exam Prep
- Manager & Supervisor Training
- Microsoft Excel Workshops
- Project Management
Certificate Programs
(Discounts are also available for military and for University of Arizona students and faculty).