Overview
The SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) is a human resources credential from SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management in the United States. It is aimed at HR practitioners who work at an operational level: putting policy into practice and acting as the day-to-day HR contact. SHRM also offers a separate SHRM-SCP credential for strategic roles, which this page does not cover.
Who can apply
SHRM describes the SHRM-CP as being for people who already do HR or HR-related work, or who are building a career in HR. Candidates are expected to have basic HR knowledge. The pages read for this review do not list a specific degree or years-of-experience requirement, so check the current eligibility rules on the SHRM site before applying.
Exam pattern
The exam is computer-based and taken at authorised Prometric test centres.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total time | 4 hours, of which 3 hours 40 minutes is testing time |
| Total items | 134 |
| Item types | 80 knowledge items and 54 situational judgment items |
| Unscored items | 24 field-test items that do not count toward the score |
Situational judgment items present a workplace scenario and ask what the best course of action is. Knowledge items are stand-alone questions.
Syllabus
The exam is built on the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK), which SHRM also uses as the common framework for the people who write exam questions. SHRM last updated it in 2021. It covers both behavioral competencies and HR knowledge.
Behavioral competencies: the BASK has nine. SHRM's earlier competency model named eight of them: Leadership and Navigation, Ethical Practice, Relationship Management, Communication, Global and Cultural Effectiveness, Business Acumen, Consultation and Critical Evaluation.
Technical competency: HR Expertise.
After the exam
The SHRM-CP is valid for a three-year cycle that ends on the last day of the holder's birth month. To keep it, holders must earn 60 professional development credits (PDCs) within the cycle. Advancing your education carries no PDC limit.
For recertification, SHRM lists these processing fees as shown on its site in 2026:
| Timing | SHRM member | Nonmember |
|---|---|---|
| On time | $165 | $210 |
| Late | $240 | $285 |
If the cycle ends without recertification, a 60-day grace period applies, during which both the recertification fee and the late fee are due. The credential is revoked if requirements are still unmet afterwards.
Preparation tips
Study the SHRM BASK, since it defines what exam writers draw from.
SHRM sells a Certification Prep System with over 2,700 practice questions, learning tools and a practice exam of previously used questions. SHRM states that candidates who use both the BASK and the prep system are 42% more likely to pass than those using limited resources.
Practise situational judgment questions, as they make up a large share of the exam.
How long is the SHRM-CP exam?
Four hours in total, including 3 hours 40 minutes of testing time, with 134 items.
Do all questions count toward my score?
No. 24 of the 134 items are field-test items that are not scored.
How long does the credential last?
Three years. You need 60 PDCs in that time to recertify.