HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE SHRM-CP EXAM

The SHRM-CP certification is an entry level certification. You are not required to hold an HR title and do not need a degree or previous HR experience to apply. In order to take the exam, you should have

- A basic working knowledge of HR practices and principles OR

- A degree from an academically aligned program

TOPIC BREAKDOWN FOR THE SHRM-CP EXAM

SHRM-CP Certification
SHRM-CP Certification

Overview of SHRM Exams - SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP

HR Certification

SHRM-CP EXAM PASS RATES

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SHRM-CP Pass Rate as of Jan. 2023

OUR HR CERTIFICATION PREP COURSE OFFERINGS

Click on each course to be directed to a new page with more about Workology's HR Certification prep program(s).

shining a light on HRCI and SHRM certification

What's on the SHRM-CP exam?

The SHRM-CP exam covers a broad knowledge base that includes HR, business, compliance, and employment law. This is discussed in the Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (BaSK). Access the BaSK here. To learn more specifics on what is covered in the SHRM-CP exam, you can view our free Insider Secrets webinar series.

We offer a SHRM webinar that discusses many of the exam foundations in more detail. Click the link to sign up below.

Testing Windows and Fees for the SHRM Exams

Each exam requires that HR professionals apply for the exam and pay a fee. The application will ask about your work history, including experience working in HR and your educational background.

For SHRM, the testing windows are Spring and Fall.

 

2023 Spring Testing Window: May 1 - July 15, 2023

Applications are accepted beginning January 4, 2023. The early bird application deadline is March 18, 2023 and the standard application deadline is April 8, 2023.

 

2023 Winter Testing Window: Dec. 1, 2023 – Feb. 15, 2024

Applications are accepted beginning June 1, 2023. The early bird application deadline is September 11, 2023 and the standard application deadline is November 9, 2023.

Details about SHRM Exam Fees and Application Process

 

Exam Fees SHRM Member Price Nonmember Price
Early Bird Exam Fee $335 USD $445 USD
Exam Fee (SHRM-CP & SHRM-SCP) $410 USD $510 USD
Student Exam Fee $149 USD $209 USD
Transfer Fee $100 USD $100 USD
Retest Fee Full exam fee Full exam fee
Rescore Fee $50 USD $50 USD

 

How Do I Study for the SHRM-CP Exam?

First, assess your strengths and weaknesses by taking a self-assessment. This will help you understand what areas should be your primary focus for study. We recommend at least 12 weeks of studying 3-7 hours a week. In our signature HR review program, we offer a 12-week study schedule along with a self-assessment designed to help you organize and focus your study efforts on the areas where you need to shore up your knowledge.

 

How to Study and Prepare for the SHRM-CP

Here are five things to consider that can help with your exam study and preparation.

 

#1 - Accountability and scheduling.

Having a plan (as opposed to a single deadline) can help keep you on schedule, especially when your time to study is limited to nights, weekends or your lunch hour. Programs like Workology's study prep break your studying down into manageable bites with multiple deadlines, setting up a series of accomplishment milestones as opposed to a singular finish date. This helps to ensure you have absorbed each section of exam prep as an item you can check off of a list, and holds you accountable for the deadline for each section.

#2 - Make time for studying.

Your job, especially if you’re already working in human resources at any level, tends to consume a large percentage of your time. If you’re looking into SHRM Certification, it means you’re also looking for ways to be more efficient with your time and better at your job. Like any type of training, in order to accomplish the goal, sometimes you have to prioritize tasks differently so you have time to study. Setting aside blocks of time and treating them as appointments you must keep can help move you forward in the learning process.

#3 - Studying regularly and consistently over time.

Consistency is key to retaining the information you learn. Following a regular study schedule and having a roadmap to follow, can help you retain the information you studied in the first week as well as you do that last. A learning roadmap, which is part of Workology's certification prep programs, gives you a solid foundation and each block of new information builds on what you previously learned, with real-world examples and solutions to situational questions. We offer this in every part of our SHRM certification prep programs. 

#4 - A community of support is critical.

Having a method of communicating with like-minded people who are at a similar stage in their human resources career and can commiserate or share information about their study process can help keep you motivated. You’re not out there on your own and you’re not the only person who is struggling to keep up with a study workload along with a full-time job and family. An online community of people who are also studying for their SHRM Certification can be the support you need to keep up with your study schedule and a cheering section when it comes time to take your exam.

#5 - Adapting to your specific learning style.

There are seven types of learning styles, and you may fall under more than one. It’s important to know how you learn best in order to absorb information in the most efficient way. For example, visual learners have had great results with flashcards and aural learners study more effectively by listening to audio courses.

 

TYPES OF LEARNING STYLES

HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

Visual Learning Using Pictures and Spacial Understanding

HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

Aural Learning Means You Prefer Sound and Music

HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

Physical Learners Prefer Using Their Body and Hands to Touch

HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

Social Learners Prefer to Learn in Groups or with People

HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

Verbal Learners Learn with Words Using Writing & Speech

HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

Solitary Learners Prefer to Work Alone or Use Self-Study

HR Certification with SHRM and HRCI

Logical Leaners Rely on Logic, Reasons and Systems

Sample Test for SHRM-CP Questions

 

SHRM's test questions are different even between the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams. However, they both use a weighted scoring system and a score of 500 is passing. Keep in mind that with even the SHRM-CP exam, 40% of your exam questions will be situational judgement test questions. Workology's prep programs offer sample situational judgement test questions along with a strategy to help you answer correctly even if you are not completely confident with your best answer. This can increase the chances that you will answer correctly and allow you to score higher and pass your exam.

 

DOWNLOAD 25 QUESTION HR PRACTICE TEST

Access 25 FREE Sample Test Questions for SHRM

HOW WORKOLOGY HELPS YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR HR CERTIFICATION EXAMS

Ace The HR Exam Bundle

We offer HR certification prep that ACCELERATES YOUR LEARNING  while working with your busy schedule. COURSE PRICES START AT $39.

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WORKOLOGY'S PREP PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING SHRM EXAMS

OUR HR CERTIFICATION PREP COURSE OFFERINGS

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Frequently Asked Questions