Certification |
Focus |
Cost |
Qualifications |
Exam Format |
Certification Length |
HRCI Certifications |
aPHR |
Basic HR Functions |
$300 (Exam) + $100 (Application) |
None |
In-person or online; 65 scored + 25 pretest questions |
3 years |
PHR |
HR Operations |
$395 (Exam) + $100 (Application) |
1 year with master`s, 2 years with bachelor`s, or 4 years experience |
In-person or online; 90 scored + 25 pretest questions |
3 years |
SPHR |
Strategic HR Leadership |
$495 (Exam) + $100 (Application) |
4 years with master`s, 5 years with bachelor`s, or 7 years experience |
In-person or online; 115 scored + 25 pretest questions |
3 years |
GPHR |
Global HR Professionals |
$495 (Exam) + $100 (Application) |
1 year with master`s, 2 years with bachelor`s, or 4 years experience |
In-person or online; 100 scored + 25 pretest questions |
3 years |
SHRM Certifications |
SHRM-CP |
HR Operations |
Early-bird: $335 (members) / $435 (non-members); Standard: $410 (members) / $510 (non-members) |
No experience required; student applicants must be enrolled |
In-person or online; 110 scored + 24 field-test questions |
3 years |
SHRM-SCP |
Strategic HR Roles |
Early-bird: $335 (members) / $435 (non-members); Standard: $410 (members) / $510 (non-members) |
3 or more years of strategic-level HR work experience; student applicants must be enrolled |
In-person or online; 110 scored + 24 field-test questions |
3 years |
ATD Certifications |
APTD |
Talent Development |
$499 (members) / $699 (non-members) |
3 or more years in talent development or related field, 28 PD hours in last 3 years |
In-person or online; 115 multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
CPTD |
Advanced Talent Development |
$975 (members) / $1,350 (non-members) |
5 or more years in talent development or related field, 60 PD hours in last 5 years |
In-person or online; Multiple-choice and case management questions |
3 years |
American Staffing Association Certifications |
CSP |
Staffing Professionals |
$405 (members) / $810 (non-members) |
- |
Online; 100 true-or-false and multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
CSC |
Search Consultants |
$405 (members) / $810 (non-members) |
- |
Online; 50 true-or-false and multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
TSC |
Technical Services |
$405 (members) / $810 (non-members) |
- |
Online; 120 true-or-false and multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
CHP |
Healthcare Staffing |
$405 (members) / $810 (non-members) |
- |
Online; 120 true-or-false and multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
TMI Certifications |
TMP |
Talent Management |
$625 |
Bachelor’s degree, 6 months of HR-related work experience |
Online; 60 multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
STMP |
Senior Talent Management |
$850 |
Bachelor’s degree, 7 years of HR-related work experience |
Online; 60 multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
GTML |
Global Talent Management |
$1,750 |
Bachelor’s degree, 10 years of HR work experience |
Online; 60 multiple-choice questions |
5 years |
WorldatWork Certifications |
CCP |
Compensation Professional |
$13,500 (members) / $19,290 (non-members) |
- |
Online; 10 exams with 855 total multiple-choice questions |
3 years |
CBP
| Benefits Professional
| $13,500 (members) / $19,290 (non-members).
| - |
Online; 7 exams with 621 total multiple-choice questions
| 3 years
|
Other Certifications |
CEBS |
Employee Benefit Specialist |
$2,475 (exams) / $1,250 (study guides) / $1,020 (textbooks) |
- |
Online; 5 exams with 500 total multiple-choice questions |
- |
SHRL |
Strategic HR Leadership |
$1,995 |
- |
Online; Multiple-choice questions |
- |
Cornell HR Analytics |
HR Analytics |
$3,900 or $1,025 per month |
- |
Online |
- |
HRIP |
HR Information Professional |
$445 (exam only) / $645 (exam and membership) / $1,100 (exam, membership, and prep course) |
- |
In-person or online; 90 multiple-choice questions |
3 years |