Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) is a powerful software solution that helps organizations manage their HR functions. From recruiting and onboarding to payroll and benefits, Workday HCM provides an all-in-one system to optimize human resources operations. As Workday continues to grow in popularity, more companies are adopting it and needing employees certified in using the platform. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about getting Workday HCM certification.
What is Workday HCM?
Workday HCM is a cloud-based human capital management software that handles key HR functionality for businesses. Some of the main features of Workday HCM include:
-
Core HR Maintain employee records organizational charts job profiles and more.
-
Recruiting Post open positions, source and track candidates and manage the hiring process
-
Talent Management: Onboarding, performance reviews, goal tracking, learning and development.
-
Payroll: Payroll processing, direct deposits, tax filings and more for U.S. and global companies.
-
Time Tracking: Collect hourly time data and manage time-off requests.
-
Benefits: Enroll employees in health insurance, 401(k), stock options and other benefit programs.
-
Reporting and Analytics: Gain insights with real-time reports and dashboards for all HCM data.
The platform aims to provide a unified HCM system for organizations to optimize their HR operations, save time on administrative tasks and make data-driven workforce decisions.
Why Get Workday HCM Certified?
There are a few key reasons you may want to get Workday HCM certification:
-
Increased job opportunities: Obtaining Workday HCM certification makes you more marketable for jobs or promotions that involve the platform. Companies adopting Workday need certified employees.
-
Higher earning potential: Certified Workday HCM professionals often command higher salaries and have increased earning power. The skills are in high demand.
-
Career advancement: Getting Workday certified shows commitment to your professional development and can boost your career advancement, especially if your company uses Workday.
-
Improved job performance: With Workday HCM certification, you’ll gain a deeper knowledge of the software which leads to greater on-the-job productivity and work quality.
Overall, Workday HCM certification establishes you as an expert in the software, providing credentials that open up exciting job opportunities and skill growth.
Workday HCM Certification Options
Workday offers various certification paths depending on your specific job function and desired level of expertise. The main Workday HCM certification options include:
Workday Certified Professional
The Workday Certified Professional program provides fundamental training on using Workday HCM for common business processes. Some specific certifications are:
- Workday HCM Business Process Certification
- Workday Recruiting Certification
- Workday Talent Management Certification
- Workday Time Tracking Certification
- Workday Payroll for USA Certification
- Workday Compensation Certification
These certifications validate core knowledge on operating key Workday HCM functions relevant to many end users and HR professionals. Each certification focuses on a specific functional area through online courses and exams.
Workday Certified Implementation Consultant
The Workday Certified Implementation Consultant program is geared toward Workday consultants responsible for leading deployments. It includes rigorous training on how to configure and implement the Workday system for customers. The credentials are:
- Workday HCM Implementation Certification
- Workday Payroll Implementation Certification
- Workday Recruiting Implementation Certification
- Workday Time Tracking Implementation Certification
Attaining these certifications requires completing multiple instructor-led classes and difficult certification exams that test your hands-on configuration skills. The Implementation Consultant certifications are valued credentials for Workday consultants implementing the platform.
Workday Certified Professional Services Administrator
This certification focuses on deploying and administering Workday Professional Services Automation. It combines online courses with a certification exam to verify you have the expertise to set up and manage Workday PSA.
Workday Certified Integration Architect
The Workday Certified Integration Architect program focuses on skills for integrating Workday HCM with other applications and systems. It includes:
- Workday Integration Cloud Certification
- Workday Extend Certification
- Workday Data Ingestion Certification
These certifications measure your ability to architect Workday integrations using tools like Workday Integration Cloud, Workday Studio and more. They are geared toward technical integrations roles.
Workday Certified Platform Developer
For developers building custom applications on the Workday platform, the Workday Certified Platform Developer certification is available. You learn development skills through online courses and demonstrate them via certification exams.
Workday Accreditations
In addition to the role-based certifications above, Workday offers accreditations to validate deeper overall expertise:
-
Workday Certified Professional: Demonstrates fundamental Workday knowledge across multiple applications. Attained by earning 5+ Workday role-based certifications.
-
Workday Certified Associate: Validates breadth of knowledge across Workday HCM, Payroll, Finance, Planning and Analytics through a comprehensive certification exam.
-
Workday Certified Master: The highest Workday credential focused on extensive functional and technical mastery of Workday capabilities via a rigorous 4-day hands-on exam.
These premium accreditations validate your elite expertise across the full Workday system and are prestigious credentials.
How to Get Workday Certified
If you want to get Workday HCM certified, follow these key steps:
1. Choose a Certification Path
Based on your job role and goals, decide which Workday HCM certification is the right fit. Common options include the Business Process certifications for end users or Implementation Consultant for Workday consultants.
2. Review Certification Requirements
Each Workday certification has published requirements like completing prerequisite courses and passing proctored exams. Thoroughly review what’s required so you understand how to prep.
3. Take Preparatory Courses
Workday offers both online self-paced and virtual instructor-led preparatory courses for its certifications. These teach the knowledge and skills you’ll need.
4. Study Additional Resources
Supplement courses with the official Workday certification handbooks, community forums, online tutorials and other studying resources. Hands-on practice in a demo tenant can help prepare.
5. Schedule Your Exam
When ready, register for the required certification exam. These are proctored online exams completed within a Workday tenant and scheduled in advance.
6. Pass the Exam(s)
Once you pass the certification exam(s) per the scoring requirements, you’ll earn the Workday credential and can generate a certificate to showcase the achievement.
7. Maintain Your Certification
Some Workday certifications require maintenance every 2 years through completing additional courses or retaking the exam. Check requirements to remain certified.
Allow several weeks to properly go through the training and preparation needed to pass your chosen Workday HCM certification exam.
Workday HCM Certification Cost
Workday offers two options for accessing its certification training and exams:
Workday Customers: Workday customers can purchase training course bundles for their employees through Workday or Workday partners. Typically costs range from $500 to $2,500 per certification bundle.
Individual Learners: You can self-study and pay to take Workday certification exams as an individual learner. Exam fees are around $150 per exam attempt. Access to preparatory courses and materials is additional.
Organizations with enterprise Workday licenses often fund employee certification training as part of their investment. For individual professionals, carefully weigh the exam fees versus potential career benefits.
Workday Training Partners
Workday partners with authorized training companies that deliver Workday certification courses. Leading Workday training partners include:
- Kaiser Consulting
- Sierra-Cedar
- Deloitte
- PwC
- IBM
- Accenture
- KPMG
- Huron Consulting
- Guidehouse
- Slalom
These firms hire Workday-certified consultants to staff their Workday practices. Partnering with them can provide world-class instructors, training content and exam preparation for Workday certifications. Compare costs and offerings.
Self-Study Options for Workday Certification
You can also self-study for Workday HCM credentials outside formal courses, including:
-
Reviewing Workday certification handbooks
-
Studying community exam questions/answers
-
Completing online tutorials and training videos
-
Practicing exercises in a free Workday test tenant
-
Joining Workday user groups and forums
With discipline and strong learning habits, self-study for Workday certification is achievable. Using a combination of self-study, formal training and hands-on practice is ideal.
Maintaining Your Workday Certification
Workday requires recertification
Training how you want it, when you need it.
Experience hands-on activities in a Workday training tenant and access a comprehensive online learning curriculum that you complete at your own pace.
Get up to speed with this traditional instructor-led, in-classroom training that combines lectures, social learning, product demonstrations, and hands-on activities.
Participate remotely in hands-on activities and interact with other Workday customers in these live, instructor-led virtual classroom sessions.
Prepare your Workday administrators to tackle any challenge with access to a library of on-demand, topic-focused courses they can complete at their own pace.
Resources to help you to get the job done.
Accelerate user adoption with customizable content for employee and manager self-service tasks.
Discover all the ways Workday can work for you with this toolkit that illustrates the connection points across all product areas.
Become a Workday Pro
How do I get a workday HCM certification?
For example, if you want to get certified in Workday HCM, you need to have some background in human resources, talent management, payroll, or related fields. You must complete the required training courses. Workday certification is not based on a single exam.
How do I get workday certification?
To get Workday certification, you need to meet the prerequisites, enroll in the certification program, complete the training courses, take the certification exam, and maintain your certification. You can also use the tips and resources that we have provided to prepare and succeed in your certification journey.
How long does a workday HCM certification last?
Workday HCM certifications are generally valid for one year. Certified professionals must undergo recertification annually, often taking an updated exam or attending training sessions. Why should IT professionals consider getting Workday HCM certified?
What is workday HCM training?
Free Workday HCM Training – CloudCertification.io: This is a free 7-day trial course that covers the core concepts of Workday HCM, such as HCM overview, Workday overview, navigation, organizations, staffing, compensation, security, business processes, iLoads, reports, calculated fields, EIB, and connectors.
