SHRM recertification: requirements, deadlines and fees

SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP credentials last three years. To keep yours, you either earn 60 professional development credits (PDCs) in your cycle and pay a processing fee, or retake the exam near the end of the cycle. Everything below comes from SHRM's recertification page and Recertification Handbook.

The two ways to recertify

	Earn 60 PDCs	Retake the exam
What you do	Log 60 PDCs in the SHRM certification portal, submit your completed record by your end date and pay the processing fee.	Contact SHRM (Recertification@shrm.org) before you apply online and pay the exam fee. Test at your current level no earlier than 12 months before your cycle ends.
Risk	Low: you can keep adding PDCs until you submit.	If you fail, SHRM revokes the credential and you can't fall back on PDCs.

Your cycle and deadline

• Your cycle begins the day you pass the exam and ends three years later on the last day of your birth month.
• SHRM's example: birth month July, exam passed May 3, 2025. The cycle ends July 31, 2028, and the certification is revoked on September 30, 2028 if you haven't recertified.
• Miss the end date and you enter a 60-day grace period: you can still finish, but the fee rises by $75. If you haven't recertified by the end of the grace period, the certification is revoked.
• Once you're a year into the cycle and have 60 PDCs, the portal tells you you're ready to submit.

Fees

Fee	SHRM member	Nonmember
Regular (by your end date)	$165	$210
Late (during the 60-day grace period)	$240	$285

Source: shrm.org recertification, checked 2026-10-21. Fees apply to recertification by PDCs only and are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

What counts as a PDC

Activities must relate to the SHRM BASK (body of applied skills and knowledge). SHRM groups them in three categories:

Category	Cap per cycle	Examples
Advance Your Education	No limit	Conferences, seminars, webinars, podcasts, e-learning, college courses
Advance Your Organization	30 PDCs	Documented work projects that build HR competencies
Advance Your Profession	30 PDCs	Presenting, writing, volunteering, SHRM surveys and focus groups

Caps from the SHRM Recertification Handbook. Up to 20 surplus PDCs can carry over to the next cycle. Details and free options: how to earn all 60 PDCs for free.

How many PDCs typical activities give

SHRM's own page lists these ranges for its products: SHRM conferences 20+ PDCs, educational programs 7.5–36, specialty credentials 13.5–26, SHRM on Demand 1–60, eLearning 1–5, podcasts 1–2, webinars 1 PDC each, and SHRM membership 3 PDCs per year. Third-party providers such as vendors, law firms and associations give their own activity codes.

• Biggest single block: SHRM HR-X Live! 2027 (the renamed SHRM annual conference) says it earns 30 PDCs. Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues 2027 (GCS27) lists up to 17 PDCs.
• Cheaper blocks: SHRM state council conferences. See HR conferences 2027 by state.
• Free: 109 upcoming free webinars that offer SHRM PDCs (65 PDCs in stated amounts).

How to log PDCs

1. Log in to the SHRM certification portal with your SHRM login.
2. Choose "Add PDCs" and enter the activity code if the provider gave one, or the activity details if not.
3. SHRM-sponsored conferences and programs upload automatically to your record; third-party activities you enter yourself.
4. Keep certificates, agendas or registration emails in case of an audit.

SHRM recertification: FAQ

How many PDCs do I need to recertify my SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP?

60 professional development credits (PDCs) in each three-year recertification cycle. The alternative is to retake the exam in the last 12 months of your cycle.

When is my SHRM recertification due?

Your cycle starts the day you pass the exam and ends three years later on the last day of your birth month. That end date is when your completed record and fee are due. After it there is a 60-day grace period with a higher fee.

How much does SHRM recertification cost?

The processing fee is $165 for SHRM members and $210 for nonmembers. During the 60-day grace period it is $240 / $285. Fees apply to recertification by PDCs only and are nonrefundable.

Can I earn SHRM PDCs for free?

Yes. SHRM counts webinars, podcasts and e-learning under "Advance Your Education", which has no PDC limit. We list 109 upcoming free webinars that offer SHRM PDCs.

What happens if I fail the exam when recertifying by exam?

SHRM says your credential will be revoked and you will need to reapply and pass the exam to regain it; you can no longer recertify with PDCs.