Organizational Wellness

Seven Great Diversity And Inclusion Certifications for HR Leaders

Last Updated Dec 9, 2024

Time to read: 5 minutes

Diversity gives organizations the variety of perspectives and skill sets needed to innovate and tackle problems. Research suggests that having more diverse teams can boost productivity by up to 35%, and up to 76% of employees surveyed say that diversity is a top consideration when they decide whether or not to apply for a position at any company. This makes a diverse and cohesive workforce crucial for long-term success.

Making your workplace more diverse must come hand in hand with inclusion. Employees of diverse backgrounds can only contribute their best when they feel valued and respected. An understanding of diversity and inclusion also helps organizations comply with legal requirements, avoiding disparate treatment and harassment lawsuits.

A certification is a great first step in learning to navigate DEBI. It provides a framework for understanding and addressing issues related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It also helps organizations build a more robust workforce by providing employees and leaders with the training and tools they need to contribute to building a better world of work.

Diversity & Inclusion Certifications for HR Professionals

There are many different programs that offer a diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace certificate. But you will want to select one that will meet the needs of your organization and your HR staff. Below we have compiled a list of some of the best programs available, along with some of the specifics of their programs, including cost, duration.

Georgetown University — Executive Certificate in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Georgetown’s program teaches business leaders to run talent management and HR initiatives that focus on cultural competency and diversity and inclusion strategy.

Cost: $8,490
Hours of instruction: 3 weekdays a month for 6 months
Eligibility requirements: bachelor's degree or equivalent
Instruction options: online and in-person options
Exam: no exam required

This program allows participants to study theory and apply it to real-life scenarios to build skills that will serve HR leaders well.

Catalyst edX — Inclusive Leadership Program

Catalyst edX is a non-profit organization and their diversity and inclusion program for those who want to adopt more race and gender-inclusive practices in their workplace.

Cost: $147
Hours of instruction: 1-2 hours per week for 3 months
Eligibility requirements: none
Instruction options: online
Exam: no exam required

While this program is not quite as in-depth as some of the others, it is a good starting point for professionals who want to learn more about successful leadership, communication, and employee wellbeing.

SHRM — Inclusive Workplace Culture Specialty Credential

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a professional association that offers a world-recognized diversity and inclusion program to members and non-members alike. Upon completion of the program, participants can add a diversity and inclusion specialty credential badge to their resume, LinkedIn profile, and email signature.

Cost: $99 for members and $149 for non-members
Hours of instruction: variable
Eligibility requirements: none
Instruction options: online and in-person options
Exam: 50-question online assessment

This program also offers great continuing education options for those who want to stay up-to-date with HR best practices.

ESSEC Business School — Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

ESSEC Business School offers another well-respected program that helps participants gain an understanding of how unconscious bias and discrimination can affect the workplace, from an individual level to an organizational level.

Cost: $79
Hours of instruction: on-demand, can be completed in around 10 hours
Eligibility requirements: none
Instruction options: online and in-person options
Exam: series of quizzes

This program helps train HR professionals to leverage all the benefits diversity can bring to the workplace while navigating sensitive situations that may arise.

University of Pennsylvania — Optimizing Diversity on Teams

The University of Pennsylvania's diversity courses focus on promoting diversity in the workplace and examining case studies on how diversity works in large organizations.

Cost: Starts at $79 (free 7-day trial available)
Hours of instruction: on-demand, can be completed in around 12 hours
Eligibility requirements: none
Instruction options: online and in-person options
Exam: 2 quizzes

This course helps HR professionals learn conflict resolution skills as well as strategies to overcome barriers to inclusion in the workplace.

Cornell University — Teaching & Learning in the Diverse Classroom

Cornell University’s diversity and inclusion program focuses on inclusion and diversity in the field of education. It is an excellent option for teachers, educators, and other professionals who want to support learning and inclusion in diverse classrooms.

Cost: $99
Hours of instruction: on-demand, 2-4 hours per week for 5 weeks
Eligibility requirements: none
Instruction options: online and in-person options
Exam: yes

This program helps educators learn to model inclusive attitudes for their students and create courses and curricula that reflect good inclusion practices.

American Management Association (AMA) — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate Program

The AMA is another professional association that offers a top-tier DEI certification program. The curriculum focuses on training professionals to create their own successful DEI initiatives. Upon completion, participants are granted exclusive certification and can access refresher courses whenever they would like.

Cost: $2995 for members and $3295 for non-members
Hours of instruction: 3 consecutive days
Eligibility requirements: none
Instruction options: online and in-person options
Exam: none, capstone presentation

Instead of a final exam, the AMA program offers a capstone class in which participants demonstrate what they have learned.

Building a Workplace for All

No matter which program you choose, getting a certificate in diversity and inclusion demonstrates your commitment to DEBI in the workplace. However, obtaining a certificate is just the first step. To build a healthy workplace that is truly welcoming to all, you must also take action, communicating the importance of diversity and inclusion, training employees on unconscious bias, creating a diverse and inclusive hiring process, fostering a culture of inclusion, and promoting employee wellbeing.

If you'd like to know more about how to make your workplace a positive and healthy environment for all of your employees, speak with a Wellbeing Specialist at Wellhub today.

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References

Iancu, Simona. (August 11, 2021). 8 Best Diversity & Inclusion Certifications of 2023. AIHR. Retrieved March 22, 2023 from https://www.aihr.com/blog/best-diversity-and-inclusion-certifications/.
Reitsma, Tim. (August 19, 2022). 10 Best DEI Certifications To Take In 2023. People Managing People. Retrieved March 22, 2023 from https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/culture/dei-certifications/.
The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace. (December 16, 2019). Prince Perelson and Associates. Retrieved March 22, 2023 from https://perelson.com/the-importance-of-diversity-in-the-workplace/.
Top 10 Diversity and Inclusion Certifications. (October 15, 2020). Human Rights Careers. Retrieved March 22, 2023 from https://www.humanrightscareers.com/magazine/diversity-and-inclusion-certification/.