Getting certified is a great way to demonstrate your HR expertise and advance your career. Though many HR leaders choose between the "big two," there are other options they can pursue — specifically, alternatives designed for global teams.
If you’re representing HR on a global stage and looking to show your worth (not to mention add a few impressive acronyms to your LinkedIn profile), here are some of the most popular global HR certifications.
Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD)
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) is the leading HR professional association in the United Kingdom, and has over 150,000 members across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. While other HR associations like the Society for Human Resources (SHRM) keep membership status and certification separate, the CIPD takes a different approach: membership is your certification.
But CIPD membership isn’t just about paying an annual fee. Individuals will need to either complete a series of educational courses or take an “experience assessment” to validate their knowledge. The latter route includes interviews with a CIPD assessor and even professional reference calls.
Membership is tiered or “graded” based on course completion and experience. Below are the membership grades professionals can choose from. Note that there are even higher tiers (like “Chartered Companion”), but those are only granted by nomination.
1. Student Member
Student Member Fee: £138
Experience Assessment Fee: N/A
Student membership in the CIPD is for those in the earliest stages of their HR career. This membership grants professionals full access to the CIPD’s exhaustive training programs and content library. Once these members complete their studies, they’ll be eligible for either Foundation Member or Associate Member status based on their level of expertise.
2. Foundation Member (Foundation CIPD)
Course Fees: £138 + study center fee
Experience Assessment Fee: N/A
The Foundation Member (Foundation CIPD) credential marks the second step of the CIPD qualification journey. Individuals with this status will need to have a mastery of the administrative, tactical day-to-day duties associated with HR and recruiting — including new hire onboarding, processing employee requests, and booking interviews. They should also have a working knowledge of essential HR metrics like turnover and retention.
Because this designation is reserved for early-stage HR professionals, the experience assessment is not a path toward membership. Common job titles of Foundation CIPD members include HR Assistant or HR Specialist. A full CIPD list of knowledge and behavioral qualities can be found here.
3. Associate Member (Assoc CIPD)
Course Fees: £138 + study center fee or
Experience Assessment Fee: £2,199
The Associate Member (Assoc CIPD) membership grade is reserved for mid-level HR professionals involved in a mix of tactical and strategic work. They aren’t just responsible for implementing and executing policies, for example, but play a role in their creation. Because Associate CIPD members are expected to make data-backed decisions, they should be comfortable reporting on metrics like employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) and career path ratio.
Popular job titles among Associate CIPD members include HR Associate, HR Generalist, and HR Business Partner. A full CIPD list of knowledge and behavioral qualities can be found here.
4. Chartered Member (Chartered MCIPD)
Course Fees: £198 + study center fee or
Experience Assessment Fee: £2,275
The Chartered Member (Chartered MCIPD) membership grade is reserved for HR leaders who split their time between operational and strategic work. They partner with a variety of teams across the organization, and executive leadership often requests their insight on talent management and broader HR trends.
Popular job titles among Chartered MCIPD members include Senior HR Business Partner, Senior HR Manager, and Global HR Manager. A full CIPD list of knowledge and behavioral qualities can be found here.
5. Chartered Fellow (Chartered FCIPD)
Course Fees: £250 + study center fee or
Experience Assessment Fee: £2,631
The Chartered Fellow (Chartered FCIPD) membership grade identifies you as not just an HR leader but a recognized thought leader. Members with Chartered FCIPD status are leaders with a proven track record of guiding and building world-class HR teams, as well as successfully working with cross-departmental stakeholders. Core competencies include change management, business acumen, and HR analytics.
Popular job titles among Chartered FCIPD include HR Director and Vice President of HR. A full CIPD list of knowledge and behavioral qualities can be found here.
Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI)
Most People leaders are familiar with the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and its popular U.S. credential: The Professional in Human Resources (PHR). The organization also offers a line of certifications tailored to those outside the U.S. or interfacing with global teams.
Each of these certifications come with their own requirements and exam fees, so we’ll cover them individually. Note that HRCI offers its certification exams in English, Arabic, and Spanish.
1. Associate Professional in Human Resources - International (aPHRi)
Required Experience: N/A
Exam Fee: $100 application fee + $300 exam fee
Exam Format: 1 hour, 45-minute exam including 65 multiple-choice questions.
The Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHRi) was created for global HR professionals in the earliest stage of their career. Unlike its U.S. counterpart, the aPHR, this credential is location-agnostic, meaning you won’t find questions that dive into the Fair Labor Standards Act, EEO-1, or other U.S. compliance standards.
Content covered in the exam includes HR operations, recruiting, compensation, benefits, development, retention, safety, and employee relations. A detailed HRCI content outline can be found here.
2. Professional in Human Resources - International (PHRi)
Required Experience:
- 1 year of HR experience (plus a master’s degree) or
- 2 years of HR experience (plus a bachelor’s degree) or
- 4 years of HR experience
Exam Fee: $100 application fee + $395 exam fee
Exam Format: 3 hours, 15-minute exam including 145 multiple-choice questions.
The Professional in Human Resources - International (PHRi) is the global counterpart to the U.S. PHR. The PHRi is designed for international practitioners with at least a year of hands-on HR experience, making it a natural next step for those already holding aPHRi certification. Generally, PHRi recipients will hold an HR Associate, HR Generalist, or similar mid-level role.
An important distinction to make: The “international” designation doesn’t require candidates to work with multinational teams. This is specifically for those working outside of the U.S., regardless of whether they have teams in multiple countries.
Talent acquisition, HR administration, and talent management account for nearly two-thirds of the exam’s multiple-choice questions. The remainder is split between total rewards, employee relations, and HR information management. A detailed HRCI content outline can be found here.
3. Senior Professional in Human Resources - International (SPHRi)
Required Experience:
- 4 years of HR experience (plus a master’s degree) or
- 5 years of HR experience (plus a bachelor’s degree) or
- 7 years of HR experience
Exam Fee: $100 application fee + $495 exam fee
Exam Format: 2 hours, 30-minute exam including 105 multiple-choice questions.
The Senior Professional in Human Resources - International (SPHRi) is the global counterpart to the U.S. SPHR. This credential is meant for more tenured and experienced People leaders, likely possessing a job title at the manager, director, or executive level. While managing a team isn’t a prerequisite to qualify, those possessing an SPHRi are expected to be heavily involved in strategic work and organizational planning.
“Business leadership” accounts for nearly a third of the exam’s questions, and includes sub-topics like managing a budget, running a human capital risk analysis, and conducting HR due diligence during mergers and acquisitions. Talent management, HR service delivery, and measurement and analysis account for the rest of the test. A detailed HRCI content outline can be found here.
4. Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)
Required Experience:
- 2 years of HR experience (plus a master’s degree) or
- 3 years of HR experience (plus a bachelor’s degree) or
- 4 years of HR experience
Exam Fee: $100 application fee + $495 exam fee
Exam Format: 2 hours, 30-minute exam including 105 multiple-choice questions.
It takes a unique breed of HR professional to support a global organization. Workplace collaboration, business communication, and talent management take on added complexity when your company’s teams are working in multiple countries or even continents. The Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) credential is designed for HR leaders that support international employees.
In addition to driving HR strategy and global talent management, GPHR holders need to be experts in a variety of regulations, ranging from U.S. anti-harassment laws to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) security standards. Naturally, the exam’s risk management and compliance sections include a heavy emphasis on immigration and visa law. A detailed HRCI content outline can be found here.
Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR)
The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) association has nearly 50,000 members across Canada, the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Singapore, France, India, Norway, New Zealand, and nearly a dozen other countries. The organization offers one credential, the Chartered Professional in Human Resource (CPHR).
Qualification requirements and membership fees for the CPHR vary by country. Overall, CPHR certification is contingent on members demonstrating proficiency in a wide range of topics, including administration, talent management, employee communication, learning and development, and recruiting. This is typically confirmed with a “National Knowledge Assessment,” or certification exam tailored to the test taker’s country. In some countries, HR professionals with three years of experience as a manager can apply for an exam exemption.
The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Though headquartered in the U.S., SHRM is an international HR powerhouse with hundreds of chapters around the world. Founded in 1948, the organization boasts over 300,000 members across 165 countries — making it by far the largest HR professional association. The organization offers two certifications, the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP. Expertise in U.S. employment law does not feature as part of the certification requirements for test-takers outside of that country.
1. SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
Required Experience:
- 3-4 years of HR experience or
- 1-2 years of HR experience (plus a bachelor’s degree) or
- 1 year of HR experience (plus a graduate degree)
Exam Fee: $300-$475 depending on membership status
Exam Format: 4-hour exam including 160 multiple-choice questions
The Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) credential is intended for those who balance both tactical and strategic duties. In addition to implementing policies, delivering HR services, and performing operational work, they should also have a working knowledge of talent acquisition and diversity and inclusion.
Common roles include HR Generalist, HR Associate, and HR Manager. A full list of SHRM competencies can be found here.
2. SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
Required Experience:
- 6-7 years of HR experience or
- 4-5 years of HR experience (plus a bachelor’s degree) or
- 3-4 years of HR experience (plus a graduate degree)
Exam Fee: $300-$475 depending on membership status
Exam Format: 4-hour exam including 160 multiple-choice questions
The Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential is reserved for leaders who conduct primarily strategic work. SHRM-SCP holders should have several years of experience implementing employee engagement strategies, total rewards programs, and leading performance management initiatives.
SHRM-SCP holders are typically director-level and above. A full list of SHRM competencies can be found here.
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