How to Maintain Your SHRM-SCP or SHRM-CP Certification Credential

Do I have to get recertified?

Yes, in order to maintain your SHRM-SCP certification or your SHRM-CP certification, you need to get recertified every three years. Maintaining your SHRM certification proves your dedication to human resource management and growth as a professional.

Your SHRM recertification is due every three years on the last day of your birth month. In order to recertify, you need to either acquire 60 professional development credits (or PDCs) or retake the exam.

Recertifying with PDCs

To maintain your SHRM-SCP or SHRM-CP certification with PDCs, you’ll need to earn 60 PDCs within three years. PDCs are separated into three groups: activities that advance your education, activities that advance your organization, and activities that advance your profession.

Advancing Your Education

You can achieve PDCs by advancing your education. There is no maximum to the amount of Education PDCs you can achieve during the three-year period. Activities that advance your education can include:

– Attending conferences, seminars, or workshops

– Taking undergraduate or graduate courses

– Attending any continuing education program

– Self-directed e-learning, webcasts, or podcasts

– Reading SHRM-approved books

– Earning other SHRM credentials or certificates

Advancing Your Organization

You can achieve PDCs by advancing your organization. There is a maximum of 30 PDCs to be earned in the three-year period. Activities that advance your organization include working on any projects that contribute to the success and growth of your organization and yourself as an HR professional. You can earn:

– 10 PDCs for completing an HR-related project that involved 40+ hours of work

– 20 PDCs for completing an HR-related project that involved 80+ hours of work

– 30 PDCs for completing an HR-related project that involved 120+ hours of work

Advancing Your Profession

You can achieve PDCs by advancing your profession. There is a maximum of 30 PDCs to be earned in a three-year period. Activities that advance your profession can include:

– Giving an educational presentation about HR behavioral competencies and functional domains as outlined in the SHRM BoCK. You can earn 2 PDCs for one hour of presenting, or 20 PDCs maximum for presentations spanning more than 10 hours.

– Researching, authoring, or co-authoring a book, article, or other written piece that is on an HR or HR-related topic, published by a third party. You can earn 20 PDCs maximum for authoring, co-authoring, or editing a book, 10 PDCs for the same with an article, and 1 PDC for the same with a white paper or blog post.

– Volunteering to support HR or HR-related initiatives for non-profit organizations or for SHRM directly. Depending on the activity, you can earn up to 5 PDCs per year or even 10 per activity.

You can also earn PDCs by having a professional membership at SHRM.

It’s worth noting that you will have a grace period of 60 days if you’re unable to earn the 60 PDCs needed before the expiration date at the end of the third year. However, you will have to pay a late fee in addition to the recertification fee.

If you want to learn more about recertification, check out this post: Essential Guide to SHRM and HRCI Recertification.

Retaking the Exam

You can also retake the certification exam during the third year in order to recertify your SHRM-SCP or SHRM-CP. You’ll need to pay the exam fee again, as well. If you fail the exam, however, your certification will be revoked and you’ll need to start the whole process over by re-applying and re-taking the exam. You also are not able to recertify with PDCs if you go this route.

For members, recertification costs $100. Recertification costs $150 for nonmembers.