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If you’re looking to advance your career in 

human resources, getting HR certified is a great 

place to start.​ This ebook will explain the benefits of 

certification and—if you feel like it's right for 

you—how to get human resources certified. 

Certification shows you’re serious about a career in HR or people 

management. It also shows that not only are you invested in your 
own career growth, you’re also invested in making an impact at 
the organization you work for. 

There are m
​ any​ HR certifications available, so where should you 
start? 

In this ebook, we’ll demystify the process by breaking down the 

most common HR certifications and how to apply for them.   
Why pursue an HR Certification? 
While HR certification isn’t r​ equired​ to be able to practice in the 
field, it does provide many advantages when it comes to job 
opportunities and promotions—especially early in your career 
when your resume may be on the lighter side. 

Here are a few of the benefits: 

Validate your expertise 

HR is one of those industries where individual education and 
experience can vary widely for people with similar work histories. 
Earning an accredited HR certification is undeniable evidence of 
your HR know-how. 
According to a
​ 2018 study from Payscale​, 38.4% of HR 
professionals have at least one HR certification, so earning a 
certification can make you stand out from your peers. 

Continue your HR education 

While on-the-job experience is great, studying for an HR 

certification is a great way to plug any gaps in your HR 
knowledge. Studying for the exam helps you learn new practical 
skills and can help improve your on-the-job decision-making 
skills. 

Increase your pay 

According to Payscale​, HR professionals with certifications tend 

to earn higher salaries—especially for early-to-mid-career 
professionals. 

And the gap between certified and non-certified professionals is 

growing. In 2008, a certification earned you a 17% pay boost. In 
2018, a certification earned you a 31.6% pay boost. 

Earn a promotion 

Earning an HR certification is often used as a stepping stone to 

earning a promotion. 

Payscale also found​ that earning an HR certification led to an 

increased promotion rate within a 5-year window. HR assistants, 
for example, were 21.5% more likely to be promoted within 5 
years.  

Which HR certification should you get? 

While it’s obvious that HR certification has its benefits, what’s less 
obvious is which certification you should pursue. 

For starters, there are HR certifications for all stages in your 

career and all education levels. 

Eligibility for particular certifications is based on a combination of 

education level and HR experience. Typically, the higher level of 
education you achieved, the fewer years of HR workplace 
experience are needed to apply for the certification. 

Once you start your research, you’ll find there are two major 
organizations from which you can earn HR certification in North 
America: HRCI and SHRM. 

HRCI vs. SHRM certification 

The ​Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI)​ is the 
oldest HR certification provider. They’ve been in business since 
1976 and have historically carried the most brand recognition in 
the industry.  

The ​Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)​ is a 

wide-reaching professional HR membership association. They are 
the most prominent organization when it comes to HR education 
and networking initiatives. The SHRM certification program is 
newer—debuting in 2015—but their major influence on the HR 
scene has quickly caught them up to HRCI in terms of 
certification popularity. 

In reality, the two certification organizations are extremely 

similar to one another. Both offer certifications for different 
career stages and both are recognized equally by HR 
professionals. 

If there are any differences between the two testing 

organizations, HRCI exams tend to have more questions about 
employment law, whereas SHRM exams have more 
competency-based questions. 

If you’re having trouble deciding between the two, you may not 
have to. Some people end up taking both certifications at the 
same time because the prep programs overlap so much in 
subject matter. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the HRCI vs. SHRM certifications. 

 
HRCI certifications 
HRCI offers eight HR certification options as of early 2021: 

1. ​Associate Professional in Human Resources (​aPHR​): A

​  
base-level HR certification for those who are early in their HR 
careers. A high-school diploma is required to apply. 

2. ​Associate Professional in Human Resources - International 

(​aPHRi​): ​A modified version of the aPHR that certifies an 
early-career HR professional to work in any locale. A high-school 
diploma is required to apply. 

3. ​Professional in Human Resources (​PHR​): A

​ certification for 
HR professionals who have had a few years of entry-level HR 
experience and want to take their career to the next level. Either 
1, 2, or 4 years of experience are required to apply if you have a 
Master’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or lower, respectively. 

4. ​Professional in Human Resources — California (​PHRca​): A

​  
version of the PHR that’s specific to the more complicated laws, 
regulations, and HR practices of California. The same experience 
is required as the PHR. 

5. ​Professional in Human Resources — International (​PHRi​):​ A 

version of the PHR for internationally-based HR professionals, 
allowing you to demonstrate mastery of region-agnostic HR 
knowledge and skills. The same career and education experience 
is required as the PHR. 
6. ​Senior Professional in Human Resources (​SPHR​): T
​ he next 
step up in certification, SPHR establishes your credibility as an HR 
leader. The application requires 4, 5, or 7 years of experience 
depending on whether you have a Master’s, Bachelor’s, or lower. 

7. ​Senior Professional in Human Resources — International 

(​SPHRi​):​ This is the international equivalent of the SPHR, 
requiring the same experience and education levels to apply. 

8. ​Global Professional in Human Resources (​GPHR​)​: 

Showcases expertise in multinational HR responsibilities, 
including globalized HR policies and global growth initiatives. 
Requires 2, 3, or 4 years experience (Master’s, Bachelor’s, or 
lower). 

How to get human resources certified with HRCI 

You can ​apply for HRCI certifications here​. To apply, you must 
create a profile, select an exam, and purchase any preparation 
materials. 

There is an application fee of $100 USD and an exam fee ranging 

from $300 for the associate-level exams and $500 for the senior 
exams. 

Exams must be scheduled within 180 days of your application 

getting approved. 

 
Exam format 

The HRCI exams range from 2 hours and 15 minutes at the 

associate level to 3 hours for the senior level. They consist of 100 
to 140 multiple choice questions, plus 25 pre-test questions. 

The exams can either be taken at a P

​ earson VUE​ test center or 
taken at home with an ​online proctor​ (from within the US or 
Canada only).  

There are sample questions and example test structures on the 

HRCI website​. 

Exam preparation 

HRCI exam preparation is an industry unto itself. There are tons 

of available study resources, although most of them come with a 
price tag. 

The HRCI sells “​Build Your Own Bundle​” packages directly within 
the application process, which come in a variety of formats, 
including: 

● Self-paced online courses ($350+) 

● Live instructor-led courses ($775+) 

● Physical course books ($300+) 
● Print and online textbooks with study guides ($300+) 

● Practice exams ($50+) 

Many test-takers also study from the H
​ RBoK​ - A Guide to the 
Human Resource Body of Knowledge​, available at online book 
retailers for around $50. 

According to the HRCI, most test-takers spend at least 60 hours 

studying for a single certification. 

Certification renewal 

HRCI certifications need to be renewed every three years. To 

renew your certification, you can either retake the exam or earn 
60 recertification credits from industry events, webinars, or other 
HRCI-sanctioned programs. 

In general, a one-hour webinar earns you one credit, so 

certification renewal takes approximately 60 hours of education 
programs. 

SHRM certifications 

SHRM keeps things simple, offering only two certifications: 

1. SHRM Certified Professional (​SHRM-CP​): T

​ his is SHRM’s 
base-level certification for HR professionals. The application 
criteria depend on your level of education and HR experience, 
ranging from 0-4 years: 

● Less than a Bachelor's Degree (degree not HR related): 4 

years in HR role 
 ● Less than a Bachelor's Degree (HR related): 3 years in an 
HR role 

● Bachelor's Degree (not HR related): 2 years in an HR role  

● Bachelor's Degree (HR related): 1 year in an HR role 

● Graduate Degree (not HR related): 1 year in an HR role 

● Graduate Degree (HR related): Currently in an HR role 

2. SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP): T

​ his degree 
is meant for HR leaders who manage their organization's HR 
programs and strategic goals. The application requires between 
3 and 7 years of professional HR experience: 

● Less than a Bachelor's Degree (not HR related): 7 years in 

an HR role 
● Less than a Bachelor's Degree (HR related): 6 years in an 
HR role 
● Bachelor's Degree (not HR related): 5 years in an HR role  
● Bachelor's Degree (HR related): 4 years in an HR role 
● Graduate Degree (not HR related): 4 years in an HR role 

● Graduate Degree (HR related): 3 years in an HR role 

Unlike HRCI, SHRM does not have international-specific 
certification programs. For full eligibility requirements, ​see the 
SHRM website​. 

 
How to get human resources certified with 
SHRM 

You can apply for SHRM certifications on the S

​ HRM website here​. 
The process consists of filling out an application form with your 
eligibility, job. and demographic information. In some cases, your 
application may be audited to verify your education and 
experience. 

The SHRM certification exams have specific registration and 

testing windows, broken into Spring and Winter seasons. 

Spring applications are accepted between January and April, with 

testing taking place from May to July. Winter applications are 
accepted between May and November, with testing taking place 
from December to February. 

Both SHRM certifications cost $375 USD for SHRM members or 
$475 for non-members, and you can earn a $75 discount by 
applying during the early bird period. 

Exam format 

Both the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams feature 160 multiple 

choice questions broken into two categories: knowledge-based 
items to assess your knowledge of HR facts, and scenario-based 
questions to assess your situational decision-making skills. 

Both tests are 4 hours long, with an optional 15-minute break in 
the middle. 
Check out the ​SHRM website​ for more information about the test 
formats.

Exam preparation 

Like the HRCI certifications, SHRM offers several modes of exam 

preparation: 

● Self-led study courses​ ($725+ USD) 

● Instructor-led courses​ ($1495 USD) 

● In-house organization training​ (Quote required) 

Certification renewal 

As with HRCI certifications, SHRM certifications must be renewed 

every three years and can be renewed by earning 60 professional 
development credits (known as PDCs).  

In general, one hour at an SHRM-certified conference, event, or 

webinar earns you one credit. 

 
Take your HR career to the next level 

Getting HR certified is a terrific way to boost your 

career—whether it’s to earn a promotion, a raise, or to just 
continue your HR education. 

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