How to Become SHRM Certified - Workology

How to Become SHRM Certified - Workology SHRM Offers Two Levels of Certification: SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP If you’re investigating how to become SHRM certified, you’ll want to know the different types of certifications, the cost and deadlines, as well as the best way to prepare yourself to take the certification exams. SHRM Offers Two Levels of Certification: SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) are HR professionals who implement policies and strategies, serve as point of contact for staff and stakeholders, deliver HR services, and perform operational HR functions, should take the SHRM-CP exam. SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) are HR professionals who develop strategies, lead the HR function, foster influence in the community, analyze performance metrics, and align HR strategies to organizational goals, should take the SHRM-SCP exam. SHRM Certification Deadlines Cost The SHRM exams must be taken during a specific window of opportunity, as outlined below, which is why preparation and study is so important. Additionally, passing the text on your first try means you only have to pay the exam fee once. If you must take the exam again, you’ll have to wait until the next exam window and pay the full exam fee again. 2018 Winter Exam Window: Dec. 1, 2018 Feb. 15, 2019 Apps  Accepted Reg.  App  Deadline Late App  Deadline May 14 Oct. 19 Nov. 9 2019 Spring Exam Window: May 1 July 15, 2019 Apps  Accepted Reg.  App  Deadline Late  App  Deadline Jan. 2 Mar. 22 Apr. 12 The testing windows are the dates during which the exams are administered. The regular application deadline dates are the dates during which candidates can register for the exam. Candidates who apply during the late application period will incur a nonrefundable late fee. SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP EXAM FEES Exam Fees SHRM Member Price Nonmember Price Exam Fee (SHRM-CP SHRM-SCP) $300 USD $400 USD Application Processing Fee  (nonrefundable) $50 USD  (included in exam fee) $50 USD  (included in exam fee) Late Application Fee  (nonrefundable) $75 USD $75 USD Transfer Fee $100 USD (subject to additional $53 Prometric exam cancellation fee when applicable) $100 USD (subject to additional $53 Prometric exam cancellation fee when applicable) Retest Fee Full exam fee Full exam fee Rescore Fee $50 USD $50 USD The SHRM Certification Tests Following each administration of the SHRM certification exams, in accordance with guidance from the SHRM Certification Commission, SHRM publishes the global exam pass rates for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP. The most recent data from SHRM indicates a 70 percent pass rate for SHRM-CP, and an average 55 percent pass rate for the SHRM-SCP. Exam Period SHRM-CP Pass Rate SHRM-SCP Pass Rate Dec. 2017 Feb. 2018 70% 53% May July 2017 71% 56% Dec. 2016 Feb. 2017 70% 56% While both tests are challenging, the SHRM-SCP certification is significantly more so. The SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams contain two types of multiple choice questions: stand-alone knowledge-based items that assess a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of factual information, and scenario-based situational judgment items that assess a candidate’s judgment, application and decision-making skills. There are two categories of stand-alone knowledge-based items on the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams. Items in the first category, referred to as HR-specific knowledge Items (KIs), cover key concept topics associated with the 15 HR functional areas, while items in the second category, referred to as foundational knowledge items (FKIs), cover key concept topics considered foundational to the eight behavioral competencies. Examinees receive credit for selecting the correct answer to a given question; otherwise, no credit is awarded. Situational judgment items (SJIs) assess candidates’ judgment and decision-making skills, which are not easily measured using traditional knowledge-based questions. Examinees are presented with realistic work-related scenarios and asked to choose the best of several possible strategies to resolve or address the issues described in each scenario. Although more than one strategy may be effective for addressing actual work-related scenarios, examinees only receive credit for choosing the best possible answer, as determined by a panel of experienced HR professionals. All other answers, which reflect either less effective or ineffective strategies, receive no credit. SHRM Certification Exam Prep HR practitioners are well aware of the difficulty of these exams and there is a lot of advice out there on methods of preparation for the SHRM certifications. First, there’s no “trick” to passing the exams. Preparation involves study and memorization, no matter how long you’ve been working in the HR field or what your degree is in. What does make the process easier is having an organized study schedule and preparation ahead of the exam to ensure you’ll pass it the first time you take it.     LEARN by Workology prepares you to ace your SHRM certification with a mix of self-paced, social and face-to-face learning designed for the modern HR professional. LEARN preparation courses keep you energized and helps you retain what you learn so you can put it to use long after you earn your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification.