SHRM Certification: Options, Costs, and How to Get Certified

Key takeaways

Earning a human resources (HR) certification can be a valuable way to strengthen your resume, showing potential employers the extra steps you've taken to gain extra knowledge and formalize your skill set.

• The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is an organization that offers two relevant certifications for HR professionals.

• You can either earn the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

• The SHRM certification you pursue will depend on your level of HR experience.

Learn about the different levels of SHRM certification, what's involved in each test, and how to get SHRM certified. Afterward, build your HR knowledge by enrolling in the HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate, where you'll learn about recruiting, compensation, and other key responsibilities of HR.

What is SHRM certification?

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is an organization that offers two HR-related certifications based on level of experience: the SHRM-CP and the SHRM-SCP. Each test is only available to take during two windows each year: December to February or May to July [1].

Getting SHRM certified can be an excellent choice if you're interested in starting an HR career and need to build critical knowledge and skills, or if you're an HR professional seeking a credential to strengthen your knowledge and advance in your career.

1. SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

The SHRM-CP certification is for those who are working in non-leadership or non-strategic human resources roles, such as HR specialists and HR coordinators.

The competencies for this certification are determined by the SHRM BASK and include the topic areas:

• Organization

• People

• Leadership

• Business

• Interpersonal

• Workplace

SHRM-CP test specifics

The SHRM-CP involves questions broken down into two categories: knowledge-based and decision-making.

• Test length: 4 hours

• Questions: 134 (80 knowledge-based and 54 situational-judgment)

• Format: Computer-based

• Cost: $495 for members and $595 for non-members [2].

2. SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)

The SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) exam is for senior-level HR professionals in strategic roles. You will need to have a work history of at least three years (1,000 hours) performing strategic-level HR. You can also pursue this certification if you have held the SHRM-CP credential for at least three years and are working in or will be moving into a strategic-level role. 

Competencies assessed fall under the same SHRM BASK topic areas but focus on more advanced skills. Topic areas include:

• Organization

• People

• Leadership

• Business

• Interpersonal

• Workplace

SHRM-SCP test specifics

The SHRM-SCP involves two question types that will seek to verify your knowledge of certain practices and your decision-making skills.

• Test length: 4 hours

• Questions: 134 (80 knowledge-based and 54 situational-judgment)

• Format: Computer-based

• Cost: $595 for members and $695 for non-members [3]

Does SHRM certification increase salary?

Yes, a SHRM certification may increase your salary. SHRM reports that individuals who earn a certification report earning salaries 14 percent to 15 percent higher than their colleagues who don’t have a certification [4].

Benefits of getting SHRM certified

Getting SHRM certified may be useful for a few different goals, including beginning an HR career, pivoting into HR from another career path, or advancing in an HR career. SHRM certification is an opportunity to learn and validate skills and topic areas so you qualify for relevant HR positions.

Other benefits of HR certification include: 

• Earning more money: A certification can help you qualify for roles that pay a higher salary. 

• Gaining a competitive advantage: A certification helps you stand out from other applicants and increases your chance of getting hired. 

• Learning new skills: Certification programs can help you review your existing skills and expand your skill set to take on new challenges. 

• Preparing for leadership: A certification program can help you develop the leadership skills you need to take on a role with more responsibility. 

How to get SHRM certified 

Follow the steps below to get SHRM certified.

1. Decide which certification is appropriate for your level.

Reflect on your HR experience and which SHRM certification makes sense to complete.

• SHRM-CP is for HR professionals who: Implement HR policies and support daily functions, serve as HR points of contact for staff and stakeholders, and are not in senior leadership positions.

• SHRM-SCP is for senior HR professionals who: Participate in strategic decision-making, have at least three years of HR experience, and hold or aspire to leadership roles.

2. Apply to take the certification exam.

The application process begins with creating a user account on the SHRM website and completing the application. When the registration window opens, select the exam you want to take.

Indicate if you need testing accommodations, and agree to the SHRM policies and code of ethics. After paying for the exam, SHRM will determine your eligibility, after which you'll receive an email confirming you can take the exam. You'll then schedule your exam with SHRM's testing vendor, Prometric.

3. Take the SHRM certified professional exam.

You will complete the certification exam for either the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP online via remote proctoring or in person at an authorized testing center. If you’re taking the test remotely, you’ll need a computer to complete the four-hour certification test.

You will need a photo ID for both options. In person, you will need to undergo a security screening and place your items in a locker. You will also receive your testing materials. You will be guided to your seat for the exam, and a Prometric Test Center administrator will be on hand for assistance or to address any concerns during your test.

If taking the exam remotely, you must download a ProProctor application on your computer and run a system-readiness check. You will also need to review the remote proctoring FAQs and user guide. The security check for remote testing will be:

• Self-service check-in that includes capturing an image of your face and your photo ID, and completing a candidate preparedness checklist

• A video chat

• A 360-degree environmental check using your webcam

• A person who checks where the agent will ask you to stand up so they can complete personal scans 

The proctor will observe you during the entire test and will be available to assist you.

4. Maintain certification.

Your SHRM certification requires that you get recertified every three years through 60 hours of professional development activities, for which you earn professional development credits (PDCs). The other way to maintain certification is to retake and pass your certification exam within the last year of your three-year certification. 

Qualifying activities for your PDCs include:

• Attending HR conferences, webinars, and seminars

• Completing degree program courses from accredited universities for your undergraduate or graduate degree

• Earning continuing education credits awarded by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)

• Participating in online learning, podcasts, webcasts, and other offerings from SHRM eLearning

• Reading SHRM-approved books and e-books

• Earning SHRM Specialty Credentials

• Completing a SHRM Foundation Veterans at Work or Getting Talent Back to Work certificate program

• Completing projects that advance your organization

• Giving presentations about HR topics

• Researching, writing, and publishing research, books, articles, white papers, and blogs about HR

• Volunteering to support HR activities at non-profit organizations

• Holding professional memberships in other HR organizations

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