What is SHRM? The Everything SHRM Guide

The Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM, is the largest human resource professional organization that includes 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries. 

Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, SHRM’s mission is to provide professional support, resources, and even legislation to help create thriving and functioning workplaces. They strive to help human resource professionals foster empowering work environments.

SHRM was founded in 1948 as the American Society of Personnel Administration, or ASPA. ASPA started as various personnel managers gathering to commiserate about problems they were facing in their jobs, and they would talk together to come up with solutions. Quickly, different chapters of ASPA sprang up and grew. In 1989, ASPA became SHRM as the organization and gained members and various chapters around the country, hosted events with speakers, and fostered a community of professional development and workplace education.

What is a SHRM Membership, and how much does it cost?

If you’re interested in accessing all of the benefits SHRM provides, they do offer several membership plans. A SHRM membership means you have access to:

– Workplace news and updates of new and evolving policies and approaches,

– A huge amount of HR resources such as compliance guides and other tools,

– A network of HR professionals including advisors and other workplace experts,

– Templates of various helpful policies, worksheets, files, and organization techniques, and

– Discounted access to seminars, conferences, and certifications.

Here’s a list of SHRM’s membership fees:

Professional Membership: $229

Includes all the above benefits, plus printed issues of HR Magazine.

Global: $109

Includes all the above benefits, plus printed issues of HR Magazine.

Student: $49

Includes all the above benefits, plus digital versions of HR Magazine, access to shrm.org resources (except Ask an Advisor service), and member discounts.

Executive

Available to eligible HR executives.

Enterprise

A suite of customizable assessment tools, employee training, competency development, and business growth plans.

What SHRM Conferences are there? 

SHRM has several conferences they offer annually. All of them focus on different aspects of HR professional development and fostering a thriving workplace:

SHRM Annual Conference & Expo

– SHRM’s biggest conference, where you can network, learn and develop skills, and meet various HR partners. It focuses on changing your workplace for the better by using the experiences you learn with all of SHRM’s available resources.

– In 2023,  it’s being held virtually and in Las Vegas, NV on June 11 – 14.

SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference

– Learn about new and evolving employment law and compliance issues with this conference focused on keeping you up to date with the newest policies.

– In 2023, it’s being held virtually and in Washington, DC on February 26 – 28.

SHRM Talent Conference & Expo

– Gain tools, learn about adjusting your talent strategies, and meet other talent professionals at this conference, focused on hiring and acquiring the best talent for your company.

– In 2023, it’s being held virtually and in Orlando, FL on April 16 – 19.

INCLUSION 2023

– Learn how to curate a more diverse and inclusive workplace with sessions to attend, workshops, and DE&I (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) networking.

– In 2023, it’s being held virtually and in Savannah, GA on October 30 – November 1.

What is SHRM Certification?

SHRM-CP (SHRM Certified Professional) and SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional) are the certifications SHRM offers that prove you’re well-versed in HR issues and tools and are able to use these tools in real-life workplace situations.

These certifications are well-recognized around the world as proof that you have verifiably excellent human resource skills. The certification tests your competency and knowledge in SHRM’s Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK).

The SHRM-CP is for individuals who are either currently working a job related to HR (with specialized and/or operational duties) or are pursuing HR as a career. The SHRM-SCP is for individuals who have worked in HR for at least three years in a strategic, policy-driven, and leading role.