Last Updated: September 7, 2026
This autumn, Professional & Organizational Development (POD) relaunches its esteemed certificate program with two certificates: Human Resources Administration at the UW and Supervisory Skills at the UW.
Certificates are designed to advance the knowledge and skills of UW employees who currently work in, or who aspire to move into, these areas. Earning a certificate will provide opportunities to:
- Build and strengthen skills through intentional learning and professional development
- Connect with peers and expand your network with a cohort of individuals who share similar career interests and aspirations
- Advance your career goals by applying new knowledge and skills to your current role or preparing for future opportunities and growth
In addition, certificate completion merits six months of credit when applying for related positions at the UW.
Learn more about the curriculum and link to the enrollment application for the following certificates:
FAQs
Can I enroll if I already completed a certificate? No. If you already completed the Human Resources Administration or Supervisory Skills Certificate, you may not enroll in the same certificate again, but you may enroll in a different certificate. In the future, POD may open enrollment to participants who completed certificates more than 5 years before.
Can I take certificate classes if I’m not enrolled in a certificate? The majority of the certificate classes are open-enrollment and may be taken by any UW employees on a space-available basis.
Will enrollment be capped? Yes. Enrollment will be strictly limited to ensure sufficient capacity in POD classes. POD anticipates opening enrollment for the next cohort in six months to one year, depending on demand.
Will other certificates be offered? Yes. POD plans to open enrollment for a third certificate in 2027: Program Operations at the UW.
Can student employees enroll in the certificate program? No, at this time the program is only open to regular UW employees.
Can I get credit for previous POD classes? You may be given credit for POD classes completed within the past three years that directly fulfill a certificate requirement. POD will audit your training history upon enrollment.
Can I substitute life experience or other classes for the core or elective requirements? We will not accept life experience as a substitute for classes. We may be able to accept some class substitutions, upon approval by your certificate advisor; please note exceptions are just that: Exceptions and substitutions are at POD’s discretion and should not be used to fulfill an excessive number of requirements.
Why is POD charging money for these certificates? POD must defray administrative costs as well as time spent by trainers and consultants serving as program advisors and facilitators. In addition, POD must cover direct costs incurred for the Strength Deployment Inventory assessment for the Supervisory Skills Certificate.
Are there registration fees for the classes? No. There is only the enrollment fee. Please note if you haven’t completed your core and elective requirements within two years, you may need pay the enrollment fee again.