How to Use Virtual HR Conferences for Free Recertification Credits
It can be difficult to stay on top of a bunch of small tasks to earn HR recertification credits, so earning a lot in one go can be a great way to ease the pressure and make recertification feel more manageable. HR Conferences are a fantastic way to earn a few recertification credits in a short amount of time, but conferences have a catch: they can be very expensive, especially if they are out of town, and they take you away from your desk for days at a time. But have you heard of HR virtual conferences? (hint hint: BambooHR hosts our very own HR Virtual Summit)
The Benefits of Virtual HR Conferences
HR virtual conferences allow you to hear from HR thought leaders, get ideas for new initiatives and programs, develop professionally, and get those sweet HR recertification credits all from the comfort of your office. (Or watch from home while wearing your pajamas, why not?)
Here are three major reasons you should attend a virtual conference:
Virtual conferences provide valuable insights.
At a conference you have to physically attend, there are constraints on speakers who are able to travel to present, space in venues, and how easily you can jump between sessions. With a virtual conference, there’s no need to arrive early to make sure you have a seat. Just hop on your computer when it’s time to start, and join in. There’s room for everyone in a virtual session. And if a session isn’t delivering what you thought it would, you can easily swap to a different one.
Virtual conferences are low-cost.
No need to book airfare, transportation, or a hotel for a virtual conference. You just need a Wi-Fi connection, and since you’re reading this article, it seems you already have that covered. Virtual conferences are usually decently priced and many of them are even free (including the BambooHR Virtual Summit). They are a nice way to keep your HR budget slim without sacrificing learning opportunities.
Virtual conferences are convenient.
You have a lot on your plate. Spending time planning a trip for a conference or taking off a few days to attend one may not be practical. With a virtual conference, you have more flexibility in your learning experience—you can make watching the conference a whole event with all your HR pals in a conference room and some takeout lunch or just catch one or two sessions between meetings. It’s easy to attend in whatever way works best for you.
How to Get HR Credit from Virtual Conferences
For both HRCI and SHRM certifications, you need 60 credits within three years to recertify. Generally, you will earn one credit for every hour of conference session time you attend, and will receive a code via email to redeem your credits once the conference is over. For example, a 75-minute session would earn you 1.25 recertification credits.
The BambooHR Virtual Summit
We’re a little biased, but we think the best HR virtual conference is our very own BambooHR Virtual Summit. It is the world’s largest virtual summit dedicated to uplifting the HR industry. With the help of industry experts, authors, thought leaders, executive coaches, and visionaries, we give over 30,000 attendees the tools they need to free themselves from transactional HR practice and do great work. And the best part? It’s completely free. Sign up now so you can learn from the best and gain a few HR recertification credits along the way.
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Danielle Cronquist is a copywriter for BambooHR. Her six years as a professional writer are supported by a degree in English with a minor in editing. At BambooHR, she focuses on creating content that gives people the tools and knowledge they need to do great work and create great workplaces.
