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The larger your organization, the more it relies on competent and knowledgeable HR personnel to assist, engage, and retain its workforce. To keep your HR professionals equipped with the skills they need to excel in their roles and contribute to organizational success, your organization needs to invest in HR training programs. Whether it’s mastering new technologies, refining communication skills, or developing leadership capabilities, HR training programs provide employees with the opportunity to expand their skill set and stay relevant in an ever-evolving workplace.
The benefits of HR training programs
HR training programs are a worthwhile investment for both employers and employees, boosting skill development and contributing to a culture of innovation and engagement. When HR professionals have access to educational resources that fit their learning preferences and the needs of your organization, they’re able to perform their jobs effectively and meet your company’s goals. HR training programs also give HR personnel the chance to grow and obtain valuable certifications that prove they possess a variety of important competencies.
HR training programs contribute to improved engagement and retention as well by showing that your company is truly invested in HR professionals’ success and development. A strong talent development program that helps HR employees move along defined career paths keeps them committed to your company and motivated to help it thrive. A reputation for quality training can also help attract top HR talent to the organization, as job seekers are drawn to employers that offer opportunities for growth and advancement.
Common HR training program pitfalls
Before your company’s HR training initiatives get off the ground, you should plan for some common pitfalls you might encounter when implementing them. First, assess your organization’s HR goals. Are you concerned about increased levels of turnover? Are there communication challenges that are causing a lack of alignment between leadership and staff? Ideally, your HR training programs will address the specific competencies needed to drive short- and long-term business success while still offering HR professionals the chance to pursue other subject matter areas they’re passionate about. Design your talent development program with input from stakeholders across the company to ensure you’re striking this careful balance.
The cost of HR training programs can vary widely, depending on whether they are in-person or online, the learning provider or platform chosen, and many other factors. Even the largest enterprises don’t have unlimited budgets, so investigate the many training options available, including those listed below, to ensure that your HR workforce gets the best learning experience at the lowest price.
After your training initiatives are in motion, track their effectiveness against clear and measurable evaluation criteria. Metrics that can help you gauge the impact of HR training programs include employee engagement scores, cost of HR per employee, and cost per hire. If these KPIs aren’t moving in the direction you anticipated, solicit and analyze feedback from employees to see if there are ways you can improve and personalize your training offerings to better meet team members’ diverse learning needs.
Offline vs. online HR training programs
There are many types of HR training programs available for today’s employees, but the most fundamental distinction is between offline and online learning options. Offline training programs facilitate in-person interaction, collaboration, and hands-on learning, making them a great fit for topics that require direct instructor guidance, group discussions, and practical demonstrations. In comparison, online learning options — like webinars, eLearning courses, and virtual workshops — offer greater flexibility, scalability, and accessibility. They let employees engage with learning materials when and where it makes sense for them, and they enhance learner engagement through features like quizzes, multimedia content, and personalized learning paths.
Whether your organization leans into offline or online learning — or a mix of the two — depends on your organization’s structure and its training needs. A hybrid or fully remote organization in a white-collar industry may be able to fully commit to eLearning for HR and other departments, while a company that has a significant brick-and-mortar presence or complex regulatory requirements may benefit from in-person training. Of course, many types of HR training programs can be conducted either offline or online, depending on the preferences and requirements of participants.
12 top HR training programs
Here are twelve standout options for professionals looking to improve their HR skills, with information on the types of learning resources available and pricing.
1. Coursera
Coursera is a popular online learning platform with a large catalog of HR courses covering topics from talent management to organizational psychology. Coursera is a convenient option for HR professionals looking to expand their skill set. It includes first-party offerings from the Coursera Project Network in addition to resources from universities and other third parties. Many Coursera offerings are free, and over 7,000 others are available through Coursera Plus, which is priced at $59 per month or $399 per year.
2. Oxford Home Study Center
The Oxford Home Study Center (OHSC) provides a selection of online HR courses covering recruitment skills and other aspects of HR management. Remote learning through OHSU offers participants the advantages of personalized tutor support and the ability to communicate with other students through a learning management system. OHSU features some free HR courses with others available for a fee.
3. Association for Talent Development
The Association for Talent Development (ATD) offers learning resources for HR and talent development professionals. Its in-person and online courses address HR topics like coaching, talent management, onboarding, and creating training events. Its on-demand eLearning materials typically cost around $200 for members and $300 for non-members, with pricing for in-person courses usually ranging from approximately $1,500 to $2,000 for members and $1,700 to $2,200 for non-members. ATD membership has several levels, starting at $299 per year, and offers benefits beyond reduced prices for learning content, including networking, the ability to contact professional development specialists, and access to whitepapers and other resources.
4. AIHR
Analytics in HR (AIHR) focuses on learning resources designed to help HR professionals uncover and communicate data-based insights. AIHR’s offerings delve into subjects like HR trends, people analytics, and HR metrics. Each certificate program costs $1,125, with a “Full Access” membership available for $1,850 per year that covers 13 certificate programs annually.
5. eCornell
Cornell University’s online learning platform, eCornell, offers certificate programs covering essential HR topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), recruiting, and hybrid work. Participants have the option to complete individual courses or pursue the full certificate program. Prices for full certificate programs typically exceed $3,000, with individual courses available for a smaller fee.
6. Future Learn
Future Learn is a digital education platform with a selection of HR courses addressing subjects like mental health in the workplace, workforce planning, and leadership skills. It also features three HR “micro-credential” programs that are intended to provide HR professionals with new skills more quickly and at a lower cost than a formal degree. Future Learn lets users sample course materials for free, purchase individual courses or micro-credentials, or obtain unlimited access to courses for $39.99 per month or $349.99 per year.
7. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning includes a library of online HR courses covering a diverse cross-section of HR topics, from generative AI in HR to compensation and benefits, organizational learning and development. Courses can be purchased individually, or users can subscribe to access courses for a monthly fee starting at $19.99, with a one-month free trial available. Team plans are available for $379.88 per user annually for up to 20 users.
8. Human Capital Institute
The Human Capital Institute (HCI) provides access to certification programs, conferences, and workshops. Its certification classes are conducted live in-person or virtually throughout the year, offering training on topics such as succession planning, HR leadership, and employment law. Pricing for certification programs ranges from $1,995 to $2,795, with a 10% discount and other benefits available for a membership that starts at $1,995 per year for individuals.
9. Alison
Alison is an eLearning platform with a variety of on-demand HR courses. It features both short courses that users can complete in a few hours and longer “diploma” offerings that can take over 10 hours to finish. Alison’s courses address HR subjects from change management, to conflict resolution, to people management skills. Alison offers over 1,000 free courses, with premium features like ad-free learning available for €7.99 per month.
10. HR Certification Institute
The HR Certification Institute (HRCI) is a credentialing organization that offers several levels of certifications for the HR profession. These certificates are awarded after passing an exam, which are priced from $400 to $595. HRCI offers a directory of learning resources that can help prepare HR professionals for these exams.
11. SHRM
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers on-demand courses, live educational programs, certifications, and other educational resources designed to support HR professionals at every stage of their careers. Its courses cover important topics like employee benefits, total rewards, and virtual talent acquisition. SHRM offers three membership levels for professionals, global HR personnel, and students, with the Professional level starting at $264 annually.
12. Udemy
Udemy is an online learning platform that provides access to a wide range of HR courses on subjects including unconscious bias, team-building, emotional intelligence, and more. It features over 210,000 courses in total, many of which take advantage of the multimedia possibilities of eLearning. Course prices vary depending on the duration and complexity of the content offered, with many courses available for under $100 and frequent sales.
HR training programs for employee recognition
Teaching your HR professionals how to foster an organic culture of recognition at your company is perhaps the most important type of HR training program. Employee recognition is the most powerful driver of engagement and motivation, but only if showing appreciation becomes a frequent, consistent practice at all levels of your organization, from the C-Suite on down. HR personnel should take advantage of online resources that teach how to create an effective employee recognition program. They can leverage these resources along with an employee recognition and rewards platform to streamline the road to widespread recognition.
Develop engaging HR training programs with Achievers
The Achievers Employee Experience Platform helps organizations create dynamic training programs that are responsive to employee needs. It includes Achievers Listen, a state-of-the-art voice of the employee solution that leverages modern feedback tools like pulse surveys and AI-powered chatbots to gather and analyze valuable input from employees. Listen guides your people leaders from insight to action, helping them create HR training programs that address the most pressing issues of your workforce.
And with Achievers Recognize, a best-in-class employee recognition platform, your organization can build an impactful employee recognition program while recognizing HR professionals for achieving their training goals. Backed by a rewards marketplace featuring merchandise and experiences from over 2,500 brands and engaging social recognition features, it’s no surprise that employees who use Achievers Recognize are 3.6 times more likely to send multiple recognitions compared to competing platforms.
Schedule a demo of the Achievers Employee Experience Platform today and discover how it can help you create memorable learning experiences for HR and beyond.
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