CAHRS HRBP Certificate Program

Today’s HR Business Partners are expected to be strategic advisors, not just functional experts. They must understand business priorities, shape workforce decisions, influence leaders, and co-create meaningful employee experiences that drive performance. 

The CAHRS HR Business Partner Certificate is offered exclusively to CAHRS partner organizations as part of CAHRS membership. It equips HRBPs with the core capabilities they need to do this work with credibility and impact.

Aligned with the CAHRS HRBP Framework, this four-course learning pathway helps HRBPs integrate business strategy, employee experience, workforce planning, talent, and leadership into their everyday practice. Each course builds on the last, creating a cohesive development journey that strengthens strategic judgment, applied skills, and influence.

Participants engage in research-informed instruction, peer learning across CAHRS partner organizations, and applied exercises to translate concepts into actions they can bring back to their organization.

By completing all four courses, participants will:

• Strengthen their ability to link business strategy to people and talent decisions
• Enhance their capability to anticipate and plan for workforce needs
• Create employee experiences that support attraction, performance, and retention
• Partner more effectively with leaders to develop talent and build high-performing teams

Participants who complete all four courses earn the CAHRS HR Business Partner Certificate from the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS) at the Cornell ILR School.

Enrollment is limited to one participant per organization for the Spring Session, unless additional space becomes available.

Priority registration deadline: February 12, 2026
(Enrollment after this date cannot be guaranteed)

Session Schedule:

• Spring Session: February 26 – June 30
• Fall Session: July 14 – November 17
  (Registration for the Fall session will open in May; We encourage partners to begin identifying potential participants now)

Register Here

This program is designed for HR professionals who have 8-10 years of HR experience, advise business leaders on critical workforce and talent issues and are seeking to increase their impact and influence as HR Business Partners.

Ideal roles Include: 

• HR Business Partner
• HR Director
• HR Generalist
• HR professionals in short-term COE roles who are on an HRBP career path

• The CAHRS HRBP Certificate consists of four courses, each delivered as a sequence of live sessions
• Each course meets once per week for 90 minutes
• Each course runs 4–5 consecutive weeks
• The program begins with a live-virtual kickoff session, including an overview of the HRBP framework and a self-assessment
• Participants apply learning to a real organizational challenge throughout the program
• Approximately 30 total hours (~25 hours of live virtual instruction plus kickoff session and ~5 hours of applied project work)
• Completion of all four courses is required to earn the CAHRS HRBP Certificate

Participants who successfully complete all four courses will receive a CAHRS HR Business Partner Certificate of Completion.

This program also qualifies for Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) recertification credits.

Questions?

Email us at cahrs@cornell.edu