Certifications Still Build Trust, Even When Experience Speaks for Itself

HR Dive turned to Engage PEO for perspectives on whether HR certifications still give professionals a competitive edge in 2026.

Engage’s Associate General Counsel and VP of HR, Vanessa Matsis-McCready, points to what credentials actually signal to a hiring team. Experience can speak for itself, but certifications still create “a level of trust” with organizations looking to hire. She also noted a visible shift toward specialized credentials over traditional defaults, having earned a Cornell certification in neurodiversity at work to complement her background.

Read the full article in HR Dive:  Do HR practitioners need certifications to thrive professionally? | HR Dive