Best HR certifications · 2026
The best HR certification for where you are
The best HR certification is the one whose level matches the work you do now. The five general US HR credentials this site covers come from two bodies and sit at three levels. Level and experience rules narrow the realistic list for any one person to two of these exams, not five. Start with the table, then read who each one suits.
Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Not affiliated with HRCI or SHRM.
- 5general HR certifications
- 50%lowest pass rate of the five (SHRM-SCP, May–Jul 2025)
- 2of the five with no experience rule
The five general HR certifications
| Certification | Certifying body | Level | Eligibility | Exam price | Where you test | Accreditation | Pass rate | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHR | HRCI | Professional | 1–4 years of HR work | $495 | Test center, or online for select exams and locations | NCCA | 72% (2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] | |
| SHRM-CP | SHRM | Professional | None | $399–$499 | Prometric center only | Buros | 68% (May–Jul 2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [11][12][13] | |
| SPHR | HRCI | Senior | 4–7 years of HR work | $595 | Test center, or online for select exams and locations | NCCA | 76% (2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][14] | |
| SHRM-SCP | SHRM | Senior | 3 years strategic HR | $399–$499 | Prometric center only | Buros | 50% (May–Jul 2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [11][12][13] | |
| aPHR | HRCI | Entry | None | $400 | Test center, or online for select exams and locations | NCCA | 71% (2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][15] |
Who each one suits
HRCI
Best for HR generalists a few years in who run day-to-day programs; HRCI describes it as operational HR, US laws and regulations included
- Who it is forOperational HR, US law
- Testing time2 hours
SHRM
Best for people doing day-to-day HR who think in scenarios, and for newcomers who want a professional-level credential from the start
- Who it is forOperational HR
- Testing time3 h 40 min
HRCI
Best for HR leaders who set policy and can document the years HRCI asks for; renewal adds Business credits
- Who it is forStrategic HR leaders
- Testing time2 h 30 min
SHRM
Best for senior HR people whose work is strategic; it also has the lowest pass rate of the five here, 50% (May–Jul 2025)
- Who it is forStrategic HR
- Testing time3 h 40 min
HRCI
Best for students, career changers and HR assistants: the shortest exam of the five here, with nothing to prove before you apply
- Who it is forNew to HR
- Testing time1 h 45 min
Is an HR certification worth it?
It depends on the jobs you apply for, and the evidence is thinner than most lists admit. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that “although certification is usually voluntary, some employers prefer or require it,” and that HR generalists in particular may benefit because certification shows knowledge across all HR areas (BLS: human resources specialists, checked Oct 2026). For HR managers it calls certification voluntary but says it “may enhance job opportunities” (BLS: human resources managers).
BLS reports pay by occupation, not by credential: a median of $75,940 for HR specialists and $149,280 for HR managers in May 2025. HRCI publishes no pay data for holders. SHRM’s certification page cites its own 2022 HR Careers Study, in which holders report salaries 14% to 15% higher than peers without the credential (checked Oct 2026). That is a self-report published by the certifying body, not an independent comparison, so treat any single “premium” figure with care.
The practical test is cheaper: read ten postings for the job you want next and count how many name a credential, and which one.
A certificate is not a certification
Search results for HR certification are full of college programs and free online courses that end in a certificate. All five credentials on this page are awarded only after a proctored exam; a course certificate is proof you finished a course. Some courses prepare you for one of these exams, which is a different thing from replacing it.
Other HR credentials
HRCI also awards general credentials this site doesn’t have practice sets for: the GPHR for global HR, the PHRca for California law, and the aPHRi, PHRi and SPHRi for HR work outside the US (HRCI certifications). Beyond them, specialist bodies certify single HR functions: compensation and total rewards (WorldatWork’s certifications), employee benefits (the CEBS), payroll (the CPP and FPC) and talent development (ATD’s CPTD). Outside the US, the UK has CIPD qualifications and Canada the CPHR and CHRP. This site has no practice sets for any of them and hasn’t checked the specialist bodies’ facts, so none gets a row in the table above; if your work is one of those functions, compare their own handbooks with the general exams here.
How this page is put together
No credential pays to be listed, and the order is not a ranking. This site is funded by its own practice apps for these five exams, which is also why only they have rows. Every value in the tables comes from one fact record per exam, taken from the HRCI or SHRM handbook or exam page, with the check date printed under the table; when a body changes a fee, every page on this site changes with it. The “best for” notes above are our reading of each body’s own description of its candidates.
Compare them two at a time
Practice for any of the five
PHR: practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with HRCI or SHRM.
Practice on your phone
SHRM-CP: practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with HRCI or SHRM.
Practice on your phone
SPHR: practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with HRCI or SHRM.
Practice on your phone
SHRM-SCP: practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with HRCI or SHRM.
Practice on your phone
aPHR: practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with HRCI or SHRM.
Each exam has an iPhone app with its own question set; the PHR and SPHR apps run on Android too. Or use the practice tests here in the browser.
Sources
- HRCI: individual certifications hrci.org · checked Oct 25, 2026
- HRCI: PHR certification page hrci.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI Certification Policies and Procedures Handbook (PDF dated 2026-10-01) hrci.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI: understanding professional-level experience hrci.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI: exam fees hrci.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI: online testing hrci.org · checked Oct 25, 2026
- HRCI: exam pass rates hrci.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI pass rates as of Dec 31, 2024 (Wayback, 2025-02-08) web.archive.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI pass rates as of Dec 31, 2023 (Wayback, 2024-05-29) web.archive.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI pass rates as of Dec 31, 2022 (Wayback, 2023-11-30) web.archive.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- 2026 SHRM Certification Handbook (PDF) shrm.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- SHRM: eligibility criteria shrm.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- SHRM: exam options and fees (fees, windows, format, pass rates) shrm.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI: SPHR certification page hrci.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
- HRCI: aPHR certification page hrci.org · checked Oct 26, 2026
Questions about choosing an HR certification
What HR certification should I get?
Match the level to your work. With no HR experience, the aPHR or the SHRM-CP; with 1–4 years of HR work depending on your degree, the PHR or the SHRM-CP; in a strategic role, the SPHR or the SHRM-SCP. The entry choice is laid out on which HR certification first.
Which is better, SHRM or HRCI?
Neither in general. HRCI tests knowledge and lets you book any day, at a center or, for select exams and locations, online; SHRM adds situational judgment and tests in two windows at Prometric centers. The full comparison is on HRCI vs SHRM.
Which is better, SHRM or CIPD?
They belong to different countries. CIPD is a UK body whose qualifications follow UK practice, while the SHRM exams are built around US practice. This site covers only the US credentials, so it doesn’t compare the two.
How much does an HR certification cost?
As of Oct 2026, HRCI charges $400 for the aPHR up to $595 for the SPHR. The SHRM exams cost $399–$499 at the standard price, depending on membership; the early-bird price for the current window has closed. Renewal fees and retakes are added up on HR certification cost.