We all know how important it is to make sure your employees are properly certified and trained. Not only does it keep you in compliance with state and industry requirements and avoid costly fines, it also shows your workers that you’re invested in them, leading to increased loyalty and productivity.

We also know how monotonous and complicated employee certification tracking can be for HR managers. If you find yourself dealing with multiple, outdated spreadsheets and unexpected regulation changes, here are five key steps you can follow to more effectively manage your employees’ certifications and training.

  1. Automate the process

New tracking software exists that automates many of the tasks HR teams currently enter manually, and offers added features as well. A service like Accu Data’s Human Capital Management solution for example not only provides the ability to track and provide insight to manage employees effectively, it also stores all training and certification accomplishments in one central place. This not only removes the headaches associated with certification management, it also removes human error from the equation.

  1. Stay on top of industry certification requirements

It’s not enough to stay up-to-date on your employees’ certifications. It’s just as important to stay on top of industry standards, as requirements are regularly being updated or fine-tuned. The last thing you want is an accident to happen at your workplace involving a customer or employee that can in any way be the result of outdated training. Keeping up with the latest regulations will prevent such unfortunate occurrences from happening.

  1. Set automatic reminders and notifications

Juggling expiration dates for certifications and licenses can get confusing, but training software like Accu Data’s Human Capital Management solution lets you input automatic reminders as those dates approach. All you have to do is set the notification parameters and the system takes care of the rest.

  1. Track as much data as possible

You likely already keep records of your organization’s training and certification data, from course titles to dates of training to performance outcome and of course expiration dates. But there’s more information you can keep track of, such as compliance standards associated with the training or prerequisites or follow-ups that need to happen before or after a course or class. Including surveys to collect feedback is also valuable… Was the course effective? Was the instructor knowledgeable and a clear communicator? Questions like these can help you improve the training your employees receive, which in turn will improve their performance at work.

  1. Give employees a sense of ownership

If you’re using HCM software with certification tracking capabilities, you can bring your workers into the certification process by giving them access to their training records. By allowing them to upload documents, log in their hours and check off requirements by themselves, you’re not only showing your commitment to them by investing in their training, you’re also showing your trust in them to track their progress on their own. This gives them a sense of ownership…while at the same time giving your HR team time to focus on other business matters.

Looking to automate your company’s certification and training processes? Accu Data’s tracking solutions can help you save time and stay compliant. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn about our other HCM capabilities, including Payroll, Human Resources, Applicant Tracking, Learning Management Systems, Benefits Administration, ACA Compliance and more.