Professional certification · Business & HR

SHRM Certified Professional

The SHRM-CP is a competency-based certification for HR professionals in operational roles. It tests both HR knowledge and judgment in workplace scenarios and has no degree or experience prerequisite.

Issued by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) · Official page

Verified by ConnectPrep Verified against Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on October 18, 2026. Fees and rules change; always confirm on the official page before you apply.

Who can apply

SHRM states no degree or experience is required; it is aimed at people performing HR or HR-related duties or pursuing an HR career, with basic working knowledge recommended.

Exam

Exam: SHRM-CP Exam
Format: Computer-based at Prometric test centers; stand-alone knowledge items and scenario-based situational judgment items
Questions: 134
Time: 4 hours total, including 3 hours 40 minutes of testing time

134 items: 80 knowledge and 54 situational judgment. 24 are unscored field-test items. Scores are reported on a 120 to 200 scale with 200 needed to pass. Testing windows: May 1 to July 15, 2026 and Dec 1, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027.

Official fees

Fee	Amount	Notes	Source
Exam fee, SHRM member, early bird	$350	Includes a $50 nonrefundable application fee.	Official page
Exam fee, nonmember, early bird	$450	Includes a $50 nonrefundable application fee.	Official page
Exam fee, SHRM member, standard	$399	Includes the $50 application fee and a $49 standard deadline fee.	Official page
Exam fee, nonmember, standard	$499	Includes the $50 application fee and a $49 standard deadline fee.	Official page

Only fees published by the issuer or regulator are listed. Blank amounts mean no official figure was available to verify.

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle: Every 3 years from the date of certification
Requirement: Earn 60 professional development credits (PDCs) within the three-year cycle, or retake the exam.

Related careers

Occupation	National median wage
Human resources specialists	$75,940
Human resources managers	$149,280

Holding a credential does not guarantee these wages; they describe all workers in the occupation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Sources

SHRM: Exam Options and Fees, accessed October 18, 2026
SHRM: HR Certification, accessed October 18, 2026
SHRM: SHRM Certified Professional, accessed October 18, 2026
SHRM: Qualifying Professional Development Credit Activities, accessed October 18, 2026

Verification notes

Retake fees and recertification fees were not stated on the pages reviewed.

ConnectPrep is not affiliated with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Credential names may be trademarks of their owners.