10 Best DEI Certifications 2025
The best DEI certifications continue to gain importance in today's modern business world. Therefore, DEI certifications can be a significant step in advancing HR professionals' careers.
However, what is a DEI Certification, and what are the best ones?
This blog content will cover what DEI is, why it is important, what DEI certification entails, and the top certifications for professionals.
Best Knowledge Management Certifications Shortlist ✨
1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cornell Certificate Program - Best for leaders, managers, HR professionals, recruiters, and other professionals looking for ways to include diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organization's strategy.
2. Georgetown University Certificate in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion - Ideal for professionals who want to build leadership and strategic skills to create diversity, equity, and inclusion.
3. AIRS - Certified Diversity Recruiter (CDR) - Appropriate for recruiters, sourcers, and talent acquisition professionals looking to learn important sourcing techniques and processes for building healthy work environments.
4. Harvard Extension School Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Graduate Certificate - Ideal for professionals looking for ways to improve their strategic, leadership, and inclusive skills with equity, diversity, and belonging practices.
5. AIHR Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Certificate Program - Suitable for professionals seeking to drive culture change and promote inclusion through advanced diversity, equity, and belonging approaches.
6. University of Pennsylvania Optimizing Diversity on Teams - Best for professionals who need to understand how to manage conflicts, eliminate common prejudices, and optimize team performance.
7. AMA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate Program - Ideal for managers and HR professionals to understand how to assess, create, and track the effectiveness of their own DEI initiatives.
8. EDX Inclusive Leadership - Appropriate for professionals who want to learn the globally in-demand skills required to foster an inclusive working environment.
9. ATD DEI in Talent Development Certificate - Suitable for professionals who want to increase their DEI impact by creating an inclusive workforce and broadening their leadership skills.
10. Brown University Applied Inclusive Leadership Certificate - Best for professionals who want to immediately integrate DEI principles into their organization's leadership and culture.
What Is DEI?
DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In human resources, it ensures developing workplaces that represent and respect individuals from many backgrounds, cultures, and identities. It is about giving everybody an equal opportunity to thrive and feel respected in the workplace.
DEI is more than a trend for HR staff; it's a strategic approach. It includes hiring diverse talent, eliminating bias, and fostering an organizational culture where every team member can contribute and feel a sense of belonging, which ultimately enhances employee engagement.
Why Is DEI Important in the Workplace?
DEI is crucial since it fosters an environment in which every employee feels respected, valued, and included, regardless of their gender, beliefs, race, etc. Employees are more engaged, driven, and productive when they can be authentic at work. Additionally, a sense of belonging encourages trust and collaboration at all levels.
By bringing together a variety of viewpoints, DEI helps organizations innovate and make better decisions. Long-term success is supported by its ability to draw in the best employees, enhance company culture, and cultivate a favorable reputation.
According to McKinsey's research, organizations with ethnically diverse leadership teams are 36% more profitable than their competitors. This demonstrates that inclusion is significant not only socially, but also financially. Therefore, organizations should make diversity and inclusion a strategic priority.
What Is a DEI Certification?
A DEI certification is a type of credential awarded to individuals who successfully complete a course or certificate program aimed at encouraging and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work environment.
It prepares professionals to identify bias, develop inclusive policies, and foster equitable work environments. While not required for all positions, it improves career chances, displays a commitment to organizational fairness, and aids organizations in developing stronger, more inclusive workplaces.
Top DEI Certifications
Many professionals seeking to advance their careers are searching for the best diversity, equity, and inclusion certification. Here are the best DEI certifications, as follows:
1. eCornell University Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Certificate Program
This online certificate program from eCornell provides participants with a solid foundation in diversity, equity, and inclusion to promote inclusive work environments. Industry experts and Cornell faculty teach learners with interactive modules including tactics for bias reduction, inclusive leadership, employee engagement, and policy development.
Cost 💸
It costs $3,750.
Duration ⏱️
This program requires 2 months of study, with 3 to 5 hours per week.
Exam Information
It is not required.
Format
It is all online.
Requirements for Eligibility
This program is appropriate for leaders, managers, HR professionals, recruiters, and other professionals who want to adopt effective strategies for inclusion.
2. Georgetown University - Certificate in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
One of the effective DEI certifications for businesses is a cohort-based executive program, provided by Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies. It assists professionals in developing leadership and strategic abilities to solve diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) concerns in their companies.
Learners are taught by Georgetown faculty how to create inclusive work environments, drive organizational transformation, and handle complex interactions across identities and teams.
Cost 💸
The total cost of the seven courses in the program is $8,490.00. Included are the majority of the course resources.
Duration ⏱️
Participants will complete seven courses over the course of six months.
Exam Information
No exams are required.
Format
Their campus in downtown Washington, D.C., hosts this cohort program once a month for three days in a row.
Requirements for Eligibility
It is suitable for executives, managers, and consultants in the public, non-profit, and private sectors who are responsible for diversity and talent management.
3. AIRS - Certified Diversity Recruiter (CDR)
The AIRS Certified Diversity Recruiter (CDR) Learning Path teaches recruiters, sourcers, and talent acquisition professionals effective sourcing techniques and processes for creating and advancing diverse recruitment efforts.
This course includes critical methods for successful talent acquisition, including creating a diverse candidate pipeline and improving communication with hiring managers. It also looks at how to exploit online data sources, improve job descriptions, and employ AIRS search tools to find resumes, profiles, and name lists. It also discusses techniques of sourcing applicants using various social media channels.
Cost 💸
It costs $995.00.
Duration ⏱️
This course takes a day to complete.
Exam Information
A certification exam is required to earn the credential.
Format
Participants can choose between instructor-led, self-guided, or a combination of the two styles.
Requirements for Eligibility
No special requirements for this program are listed.
4. Harvard Extension School - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Graduate Certificate
The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) Leadership graduate certificate will help professionals become strong advocates for strategic change within their company. To combat prejudice and marginalization and promote an inclusive workplace culture, they will acquire the essential knowledge and skills.
Cost 💸
It is $13,760.
Duration ⏱️
It is designed to be finished in 1 to 3 years.
Exam Information
There is no exam needed.
Format
It includes 4 online courses.
Requirements for Eligibility
There are no formal eligibility requirements.
5. AIHR - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
This is an effective HR DEI certification, offered by AIHR, that is intended to assist participants in grasping ideas like recognizing cultural differences, communicating inclusively, overcoming prejudices, navigating legal issues, and enhancing cultural transformation in organizations.
Cost 💸
It costs $1,125.
Duration ⏱️
With 3.5 hours of study every week, the program can be finished in 12 weeks, totaling 42 hours.
Exam Information
Participants must successfully complete the Capstone Project to earn a certificate.
Format
It is online and self-paced.
Requirements for Eligibility
There are no formal eligibility requirements.
6. University of Pennsylvania - Optimizing Diversity on Teams
With Optimizing Diversity on Teams, Professionals will learn how to resolve conflicts, overcome common prejudices, and optimize team performance from an Ivy League course courtesy of Coursera and Penn, which is a good free DEI certification option.
The syllabus contains lectures that will help individuals gain a deeper grasp of diversity basics, conflict resolution, and diversity promotion, as well as real-world case studies from prominent businesses such as Google, Nike, and UnitedHealthcare.
Cost 💸
It is free to enroll in the course.
Duration ⏱️
Participants can have a flexible schedule and learn at their own speed.
Exam Information
No final exam is required.
Format
It is online.
Requirements for Eligibility
No prior experience is required.
7. AMA (American Management Association) - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate Program
The American Management Association (AMA) offers managers and HR professionals a DEI certificate program, featuring a comprehensive curriculum to help evaluate, develop, and track the effectiveness of their own DEI initiatives.
A wide range of subjects is covered in this intensive three-day session, including the distinction between overt and unconscious bias, evaluating leadership styles, and conducting inclusive meetings.
Cost 💸
Both live online sessions with real-time contact and in-person classes are available for the program, which costs $2,995 for AMA members and $3,295 for non-members.
Duration ⏱️
Both formats take 3 days to complete.
Exam Information
No exam is required.
Format
It is offered in both live online and in-person formats.
Requirements for Eligibility
It is designed for leaders at all levels, HR employees, and anybody else who is or wants to be responsible for diversity and inclusion in their organization.
8. Catalyst - Inclusive Leadership
Catalyst is a renowned global nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating women's advancement via workplace inclusion. Everybody is welcome to take Catalyst's Inclusive Leadership to learn and comprehend DEI.
Their online modules address key inclusive leadership characteristics like accountability and courage, successful communication and listening, and even work-life balance.
Cost 💸
It is $50.
Duration ⏱️
It takes 3 months.
Exam Information
No exams are required.
Format
It is self-paced.
Requirements for Eligibility
There are no eligibility requirements.
9. Association for Talent Development - DEI in Talent Development Certificate
This DEI Certificate program prepares talent development professionals to create inclusive, fair workplaces by tackling diversity from a personal, professional, and organizational standpoint.
Based on the Talent Development Capability Model, it increases self-awareness, integrates DEI into organizational practices, and assists participants in developing a strategic DEI program to improve culture and company performance.
Cost 💸
It costs $2,345 for AMA members and $2,645 for non-members.
Duration ⏱️
It takes 21 learning hours.
Exam Information
No exams are required.
Format
It is offered in-person, online, or as private training.
Requirements for Eligibility
All professionals are welcome.
10. Brown University’s School of Professional Studies - Applied Inclusive Leadership Certificate
This program offered actionable and practical information that enabled professionals to immediately implement DEI principles into their organization's leadership and culture. The systematic assistance in developing inclusive development pathways, improving cultural competence, and connecting DEI with measurable business goals has proven useful.
Cost 💸
It is $ 3,520 for a Full Certificate.
Duration ⏱️
The six-week curriculum consists of three 90-minute live sessions and 2.5 hours of weekly self-paced practice.
Exam Information
No exams are required.
Format
It is online.
Requirements for Eligibility
It is suitable for professionals at all career levels.
Conclusion
In this blog content, you have learned the DEI definition, the importance of DEI, what DEI certification is, and the top ones to advance your career.
While learning about DEI certifications is important for employers, HR employees, or anyone interested in the HR field, there is still more to explore. Let’s discover the world of HR by visiting Hirex now!
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