Earning a certification is a higher standard of achievement than earning a certificate.
Certificates show that you completed one or more courses.
Certifications show that you attained all the foundational knowledge needed to perform a certain professional role. WorldatWork offers certifications for professionals working in the fields of single-country compensation, global (multinational) compensation, sales compensation, executive compensation and benefits.
WorldatWork certifications — like all professional certifications — are based on a Body of Knowledge (BOK) developed by a panel of subject matter experts and validated by expert practitioners, consultants and academics to identify the fundamental aspects of work in a professional role. Certification courses teach the information found in the BOK, and certification exams test across this set of requirements.
By passing all the exams required for certification, you show you have gained the skills and knowledge required of that professional role. You also gain the ability to display your certification credentials after your name, just as project management professionals display a PMP after their names once they earn this credential through the Project Management Institute.
Attaining certification can be important for your career growth by opening doors to new opportunities: When hiring for compensation roles, 60% of hiring managers require WorldatWork credentials and 90% prefer them, according to a 2023 WorldatWork study.
The following credentials signify professional achievement in these areas:
- CCP Compensation
- GRP Global Remuneration
- CECP Executive Compensation
- CSCP Sales Compensation
- CBP Benefits
