Human resources (HR) professionals who want to move into leadership often weigh two options. One is a graduate business degree with an HR focus, and the other is a professional certification that confirms HR knowledge through an exam. Each path builds a different kind of credibility, and many HR leaders pursue both over time.
Pittsburg State University offers the degree option through its online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources program, which has 30 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 12 months. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a distinction held by only about 6% of institutions that offer business degrees worldwide.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers certification through two credentials, the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). This guide compares what each path teaches, what employers look for and how eligibility works. It also explains how the two can fit together as your career develops.
What Is the Difference Between an MBA in Human Resources and SHRM Certification?
An MBA in human resources is a graduate degree that builds business and leadership skills, while SHRM certification is a credential earned by passing an exam that measures HR competency. The degree develops range in finance, strategy and people leadership through many weeks of coursework. The certification documents what a professional knows about HR practice at a specific level.
SHRM says the SHRM-CP is for people who perform general HR duties and that its exam assesses HR at an operational level. The SHRM-SCP targets strategic work and asks for at least three years of strategic-level HR duties or three years of holding the SHRM-CP while working in or moving toward a strategic role. SHRM does not require a degree for either credential. The table below places the two paths side by side, using Pitt State’s program as the degree example.
| MBA in Human Resources (Pitt State) | SHRM certification | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A 30-credit-hour graduate degree program | An exam-based credential offered at two levels |
| Main focus | Business management and leadership with human resource development courses | HR knowledge and competency |
| To start | Bachelor’s degree, 2.7 GPA or higher and a resume, with no GMAT or GRE required | No degree required, though the SHRM-SCP needs three years of strategic-level HR work |
| How you show it | A diploma | An exam pass |
Think of the MBA as the broader investment in leadership range and the certification as a focused way to document HR knowledge. Neither path rules out the other, and the sections below show how they can work together.
What Do HR Employers Look For?
Employers weigh experience first, and degrees and certifications add to a track record. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that HR managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and five or more years of related work experience, and that some positions require a master’s degree. BLS also notes that certification is voluntary but shows professional expertise and may enhance job opportunities, and that employers may prefer candidates who hold one.
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) places HR managers in Job Zone Four, a category that calls for considerable preparation, and 82% of respondents said a bachelor’s degree is required. O*NET lists Personnel and Human Resources as the top knowledge area for the role, along with Administration and Management and Law and Government. These sources describe a field that rewards both HR depth and management skill, which is why many professionals compare the two paths.
How Much Do HR Managers and Certified Professionals Earn?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $149,280 for HR managers as of May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $88,200, and the highest 10% earned more than $267,810. BLS projects 6% employment growth for HR managers from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,800 openings each year, though it reports pay by occupation rather than by degree or credential.
Payscale offers a view by credential. It reports an average base salary of about $81,000 for SHRM-CP holders, and its SHRM-SCP data shows a median of about $110,000 per year, based on self-reported figures updated in May 2026. These averages describe people who hold each credential across many job levels, and they do not show that a credential led to higher pay. The SHRM-SCP is aimed at more senior work, so part of that gap likely reflects seniority.
What Does an MBA in Human Resources Teach That a Certification Does Not?
A certification tests HR knowledge, while an MBA adds business range along with coursework in leadership and organizational change. Gartner surveyed more than 400 chief human resources officers (CHROs) in March 2026, and leader and manager development ranked as their top priority for the second year in a row. Culture ranked second, and change management and workforce resiliency ranked third.
Pitt State’s online MBA in Human Resources program pairs seven core courses with three HR emphasis courses. The core covers areas such as leadership and behavioral management, financial strategy, marketing strategy and strategic management. The emphasis courses are HRD Foundations and Applications, Personnel Development in Business and Industry and Organizational Development and Change, which covers strategic interventions that improve organizational effectiveness.
The course list centers on business management and HR development. It does not name a stand-alone course on employment law, even though O*NET lists Law and Government as a knowledge area for HR managers and HRCI, a certification body that offers the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) credential, says its PHR exam covers U.S. laws and regulations. Professionals who want exam-based proof of that knowledge may find that a certification complements the degree.
How Do SHRM and HRCI Treat a Master’s Degree?
SHRM does not ask for a degree, while HRCI counts a master’s degree toward the experience it requires. HRCI requires at least one year of professional-level HR experience with a master’s degree, two years with a bachelor’s degree or four years of experience with neither.
A master’s degree such as an MBA therefore shortens the experience that the PHR path asks for, while SHRM leaves the choice of degree to the candidate. Both bodies also ask holders to keep credentials current, with SHRM recertification requiring 60 professional development credits and HRCI requiring 60 recertification credits in each three-year cycle. Confirm current rules with each organization before you apply, because certification requirements can change.
How Should You Choose Between an MBA in Human Resources, a Certification or Both?
Match the credential to the gap in your experience, and add a degree for leadership range or a certification for documented HR knowledge. Pitt State’s program does not require GMAT or GRE scores or prerequisite courses. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, a minimum 2.7 GPA and a resume to qualify for both tracks. One track requires three years of substantial managerial experience, and the other requires a business degree earned within the last three years.
The decision often comes down to your starting point and your goal. The situations below show how each choice tends to fit.
- Consider the MBA first if you hold a bachelor’s degree, have management experience and want to lead teams and shape strategy.
- Consider a certification first if you already work in HR and want a credential that documents your HR knowledge through an exam.
- Consider both if you aim for senior HR leadership roles and want business range along with documented HR knowledge.
BLS notes that employers may prefer candidates who hold a certification and that some positions require a master’s degree, so many professionals find that a résumé showing both is useful. Possible career paths for graduates of an MBA in Human Resources include HR generalist, HR director and managerial roles overseeing training and development or compensation and benefits. If leadership is your next step in HR, reviewing the program’s start dates and application steps is a practical way to begin.
Learn more about Pittsburg State University’s online Master of Business Administration in Human Resources program.
About Pittsburg State University’s online MBA in Human Resources Program
Pittsburg State University’s online Master of Business Administration in Human Resources program is delivered 100% online and requires 30 credit hours of seven-week courses. Students can finish in as few as 12 months, and those who want a second emphasis can add one with three more courses. The program does not require the GMAT or GRE to apply.
Pittsburg State University is a public university in Pittsburg, Kansas, founded in 1903. It offers more than 200 academic programs and welcomes students from 42 countries. Its Gladys A. Kelce College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a distinction held by only about 6% of institutions that offer business degrees worldwide.
