SHRM certification is one of the most searched HR credentials, and it sits alongside several others: HRCI's aPHR, PHR and SPHR in the US, and CIPD qualifications in the UK. Choosing between them depends on your experience, where you work and the roles you want. This guide sets out the SHRM requirements, compares them with the main alternatives, and helps you pick an HR certification, using only what each issuer publishes.
Fees change and depend on membership, so we don't list them. Check each issuer's site.
What is SHRM certification?
SHRM certification refers to two credentials from the Society for Human Resource Management: the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
| Credential | Who it's for | Eligibility (SHRM's wording, summarised) |
|---|---|---|
| SHRM-CP | People doing general HR or HR-related duties, and students heading into HR | No HR title, degree or prior HR experience required; working knowledge of HR recommended |
| SHRM-SCP | Strategic-level HR professionals | At least 3 years of strategic-level HR or HR-related work, or holding SHRM-CP for at least 3 years and working in or moving into a strategic role |
For SHRM-SCP, SHRM counts a year as at least 1,000 hours of strategic-level work in a calendar year. Part-time work counts if it meets that standard, and HR consultants can count client hours.
How do you keep SHRM certification?
You recertify every three years by earning 60 professional development credits (PDCs). The cycle starts when you pass the exam and ends three years later, on the last day of your birth month.
Getting HR certified? Show employers the work as well
Practise simulations of real HR and recruiting work, see where you lost marks, and back up your certification with a skills profile. Free to start, no card.
What is HRCI, and what is the PHR?
HRCI is the other major US HR certification body. Its main credentials are:
| Credential | HRCI's audience label | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| aPHR | Foundation and early career | No HR experience required |
| PHR (Professional in Human Resources) | Multi-level practitioners | 1 year + master's, 2 years + bachelor's, or 4 years of professional-level HR experience |
| SPHR | Senior and strategic leaders | See HRCI |
| GPHR | Global HR professionals | See HRCI |
The PHR exam lasts 2 hours (plus 30 minutes of admin), with 90 scored and 25 pretest questions, taken at a Pearson VUE centre or online through OnVUE. HRCI says it focuses on implementing programmes and day-to-day HR operations, including US laws and regulations.
SHRM vs HRCI: which HR certification should you get?
Both are well-known US routes. The main practical differences are eligibility and focus.
| Your situation | Good fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New to HR, no experience | SHRM-CP or aPHR | Neither needs prior HR experience |
| HR generalist with a few years' experience | SHRM-CP or PHR | Both suit practitioners; PHR has an experience requirement |
| Strategic HR role, 3+ years at that level | SHRM-SCP or SPHR | Senior-level credentials |
| Global or multi-country HR | GPHR | HRCI's global credential |
| Working in the UK | CIPD | The UK professional body's qualifications |
A practical tip: look at 10 job adverts for the role you want and note which credential they mention. That tells you more about your local market than any comparison table.
What about HR certification in the UK?
In the UK, the usual route is a CIPD qualification. CIPD offers foundation, associate and advanced qualifications, and you can also study a CIPD-accredited university programme. Completing a qualification leads to Foundation or Associate membership, and with experience you can progress to Chartered Membership or Chartered Fellowship.
Can you get an HR certification online?
Yes, in parts. HRCI's PHR can be taken online through OnVUE, and many prep courses are online. Check each issuer's current exam delivery options before you book.
Is a human resources certificate the same as a certification?
Not quite. A certificate usually means you finished a course, such as a university HR management certificate. A certification like SHRM-CP or PHR means you passed the issuer's exam and keep it current through recertification. Both can help. If the adverts you're targeting name a specific certification, aim for that one.
How do you prepare for SHRM-CP or PHR?
- Check eligibility on the issuer's site before you pay for anything.
- Download the body of knowledge or exam outline. SHRM publishes the SHRM BASK; HRCI sets out the functional areas each exam covers.
- Map it to your experience. Mark areas you handle daily, occasionally or never.
- Study your gaps first, especially employment law if you've worked in a narrow role.
- Practise scenario questions as well as definitions, so you can apply what you've learned.
- Book a date and plan backwards from it.
Example eight-week plan (illustrative): weeks 1 to 2 on talent acquisition and employee relations, weeks 3 to 4 on total rewards and compliance, weeks 5 to 6 on strategy and learning, week 7 on your weakest areas, week 8 on full practice exams.
How do you list an HR certification on your resume?
Put it in a Certifications section and, if it's central to the role, after your name in the header.
Examples:
- "Jordan Lee, SHRM-CP"
- "Certifications: SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), Society for Human Resource Management, 2026"
- "Professional in Human Resources (PHR), HRCI, 2025"
- "CIPD Associate qualification, in progress (expected 2027)"
Only list a credential you've earned, or mark it clearly as in progress. A mismatch found later costs far more than a missing line.
Will an HR certification help you get hired?
It helps you through screening and shows commitment, especially if you're moving into HR or coming back after a layoff. Employers will also ask how you'd handle real situations: a difficult investigation, a hiring plan, a policy change. Prepare with our HR manager interview questions, HR manager skills guide and HR generalist job description. If recruiting is your path, see the recruiter career guide and recruiter practice simulation.
If you're between jobs, start with what to do when you get laid off, and if HR is a new field for you, read how to change careers.
FAQs
Do you need HR experience for SHRM-CP?
No. SHRM says no HR title, degree or prior HR experience is required, though a working knowledge of HR is recommended.
What is the difference between SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP?
SHRM-CP is for people doing general HR work. SHRM-SCP is for strategic-level HR professionals and needs at least three years of strategic-level work.
Is SHRM or PHR better?
Neither is better for everyone. SHRM-CP has no experience requirement; PHR needs one to four years depending on your degree. Check which one job adverts in your area mention.
How long does SHRM certification last?
Three years. You recertify with 60 professional development credits in each cycle.
What is the best HR certification for beginners?
SHRM-CP or HRCI's aPHR, as neither requires prior HR experience. In the UK, a CIPD foundation or associate qualification.
What does PHR stand for?
Professional in Human Resources, from HRCI.
What next
Choose the credential that fits your experience and market, check eligibility, and set a study plan. Cohesyve lets you practise simulations of real HR and recruiting work and see where you lost marks in a scored report. Free to start, no card.
Sources
Checked 3 November 2026:
- SHRM: Eligibility criteria and Recertification
- HRCI: Certifications, aPHR and PHR
- CIPD: Qualifications