HRCI Recertification

Like many HR professionals, you’ve dedicated significant effort to earning your online human resources certification from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). Given that only one in four HR managers has a professional designation, this achievement positions you to stand out and craft effective, agile strategies for your organization’s long-term success.

The certification initials after your name indicate more than just completion of a program—they reflect your commitment to shaping your career. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), having an HR certification can expand your job prospects. Many employers prefer certified candidates, and some even mandate it. Now that you have your HR credential, maintaining it is the next step.

HRCI certification requires renewal every three years. Instead of retaking the test, you can accumulate recertification credits gradually through various activities such as volunteering, attending conferences, and other qualifying events. While some continuing education opportunities for HR professionals can be costly, there are numerous ways to earn free HRCI credits, often without leaving your office.

This article will cover the essentials of HRCI recertification, how to find free credits, and why maintaining your certification is beneficial.

How Many Credits Do You Need for HRCI Recertification?

To retain your HRCI credential, you must accumulate either 45 or 60 credit hours every three years, including at least one ethics credit to stay current with the latest workplace standards. The exact number of credits required depends on your specific credential.

HR professionals with the following credentials need 45 credit hours:

Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR®)
Associate Professional in Human Resources – International (aPHRi™)

For those with these credentials, 60 credit hours are necessary:

Professional in Human Resources (PHR®)
Professional in Human Resources – International (PHRi™)
Professional in Human Resources – California (PHRca®)
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®)
Senior Professional in Human Resources – International (SPHRi™)
Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR®)

If you hold multiple designations, the total number of required credits for recertification might be reduced. Moreover, professionals with certain designations must also include either 15 California, 15 Business, or 15 Global credits in their total.

After completing an activity, it must be submitted for review and approval through the HRCI recertification application process.

How to Calculate HRCI Credits

When engaging in activities, it’s important to monitor your credit hours and understand what counts toward them. Calculating HRCI recertification credits is straightforward: one recertification credit hour corresponds to one hour of learning time, rounded to the nearest quarter hour.

However, note that not all parts of continuing education sessions qualify as educational. Essential but non-educational components like registration, meal times, and breaks are necessary for the smooth running of the event and attendee comfort, but they do not count toward credit hours.

When calculating HRCI recertification credits, you must exclude the time spent on these non-educational activities. For example, if a workshop consists of 3.5 hours of learning and a 30-minute lunch break, you should only count the 3.5 hours of educational time.

Do Extra HRCI Credits Count?

Accumulating credit hours through work and other activities can be quite straightforward, so you may find you’ve gathered more than needed. If you have earned extra hours beyond what’s required for recertification, you can carry over up to 15 credits. To be eligible, you must be actively certified and have earned these surplus credits within the last 12 months of your three-year recertification cycle.

However, don’t feel pressured to exceed the minimum requirements for maintaining your designation. It’s your choice whether to earn more than the necessary HRCI credits and to submit any extra. Meeting the minimum requirement is sufficient to keep your credential active.

What If My HRCI Certification Expires?

Similar to standard HR certification programs, it’s essential to keep up with the latest recertification requirements and timely submit activities for approval. HRCI will send email reminders as your credential’s expiration date approaches. If you miss the deadline, your credential will be suspended for up to 12 months. Failure to recertify within this suspension period will result in the expiration of your credential.

If your credential expires, you will need to reapply and pass the current HR certification exam offered by HRCI.

To avoid this, you can easily log credit hours for relevant activities you enjoy or are assigned at work. This proactive approach will save you the cost of retaking the PHR® certification exam or studying again for the GPHR® certification.

10 Ways to Get Free HRCI Recertification Credits

HRCI recertification doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult—you can earn HRCI credits for free in various ways. By diversifying your options, you can stay informed about the latest industry developments in ways that suit your personal and professional needs. HRCI offers several methods to obtain free or low-cost credits:

Pre-Approved Programs Credits: No maximum

Requirements: HRCI-approved provider Participate in programs conducted by HRCI-approved providers. These include conferences that provide a pre-approved program ID, which can be used to report general HR credits. However, specific credits like Business, Global, California, or Ethics need to be self-reported under a separate category.

Self-Reported Programs Credits: 30-credit maximum

Requirements: Approval by an HRCI reviewer In-house training can count toward HRCI recertification even if it wasn’t pre-approved. The activity must align with the HRCI Exam Content Outline and contribute to your HR knowledge. Personal development activities like time management or stress reduction are not eligible. You’ll need to explain the relevance to your Exam Content Outline and provide documentation for review.

HRCI Resources Credits: 40-credit maximum

Requirements: Approval by an HRCI reviewer Utilize HRCI resources to earn free credits, including webinars, videos, and books. These resources offer a range of topics, and many are available for free or at a low cost. Examples include:

The Rise of HR: Wisdom from 73 Thought Leaders by Dave Ulrich et al. (free ebook)
Victory Through Organization by Dave Ulrich et al.
Fulfillment! Beyond Engagement by William A. Schiemann
Alchemizing HR: Your Formula for the New Era by Amy Dufrane Ed.D. SPHR CAE, Clarissa Peterson GPHR SPHR LPEC

On-the-Job Experience Credits: 40-credit maximum

Requirements: Approval by an HRCI reviewer Work-related projects, such as rewriting an employee handbook, can earn credits. Provide a sample of your work and a letter from your supervisor detailing your contribution. Repeated activities must include new or updated elements to qualify.

Leadership Credits: 40-credit maximum

Requirements: Approval by an HRCI reviewer Earn credits by volunteering in an HR-related organization or serving on an HR board. Include documentation of your role and dates, and provide a summary of your contributions.

Instruction Credits: 40-credit maximum Requirements: Approval by an HRCI reviewer Teaching a class, leading a workshop, or hosting a webinar on an HR topic can earn credits. Submit proof of your efforts, such as a syllabus or email.

HR Research and Publishing Credits: 40-credit maximum Requirements: 700-word minimum; must be available for review Conducting research and publishing content, such as articles, books, or blogs, can earn credits. The amount depends on factors like your role, the type of content, and its length.

HR Membership Credits: 12-credit maximum per cycle Requirements: Must be a member for at least 6 months Submit proof of membership in HR organizations to earn credits. This is an easy way to gain credits if you’re already a member of an HR association.

Free HR Webinars (Approved by HRCI) Free webinars are a convenient way to earn credits. Some sources for these webinars include:

BizLibrary HRCI Webinars: Offers both live and on-demand webinars, but verify they are HRCI-approved.
Human Capital Institute (HCI) HRCI Webinars: Sign up for a free HCI membership to access a variety of webcasts on topics like AI, workplace connections, and neurodiversity.
HR Daily Advisor HRCI Webinars: Links to various online events. Ensure the events are HRCI-approved for credit.
HR.com HRCI Webinars: Offers webinars that can be filtered by the type of HRCI credit needed, such as General, Global, Business, or California credits.

HRCI Learning Center HRCI® Learning provides courses that help HR professionals
earn recertification credits to maintain their certifications. These courses enhance HR expertise with proven practices, ensuring professionals stay current and advance their skills to drive business results.

Recertification Provider Recertification Providers have met HRCI’s standards in offering learning for HRCI certified professionals.

Ethics Credit – all certificants must fulfill one Ethics credit as part of their total recertification credits requirement.

Business Credit – Business Credits are earned by SPHR® and SPHRi™ certification holders who complete programs or activities that enhance their knowledge of their organization’s operations and its industry.

Next Steps: Reap the Benefits of HR Recertification
Earning HRCI recertification credits helps you stay current in the HR field, enhance your resume, and make valuable professional connections. This process supports your professional growth, continued learning, and ability to positively impact your organization. By keeping track of eligible activities and spreading them out over three years, HRCI recertification can be a manageable and enriching experience.