Advance Your Profession

30 PDCs maximum per 3-year recertification period

SHRM recognizes the value of activities that contribute to the continued development of the HR profession and the community. These include thought leadership activities, such as making presentations, teaching, conducting research and writing, as well as volunteering for nonprofit organizations.

For complete information on PDCs earned through each activity, please view the Recertification Handbook ».

​RESEARCHING, WRITING & PUBLISHING

 You may earn recertification credit by:

  • Conducting primary research on an HR-related competency or knowledge domain, and publishing that research.
  • Authoring a book, article, white paper or blog post on an HR-related topic, published by a third party.
These additional qualifications apply:
  • Research, writing and publishing activities must occur outside of your own organization.
  • The content of the materials must:
    • Be related to the SHRM BoCK.
    • Include at least 750 words.
    • Not be solely opinion-based.
    • Include factual information and data analysis.
    • Include at least one reference to an external resource.

VOLUNTEERING
SHRM recognizes the value of providing your time and services to help support volunteer organizations, which in turn helps develop your leadership capabilities and other competencies. Volunteer activities that qualify for recertification credit are those in which you perform:
  • An HR services role.
  • Without compensation.
  • For an HR association, HR membership organization or another nonprofit.
​PRESENTATIONS

You may earn recertification credit by: 

  • Creating and presenting a course based on HR-related competencies and/or knowledge domains. 
  • Serving as a subject matter expert in a panel discussion. 

Presentation activities are subject to the following limitations:

  • Credit is awarded only for the first time the presentation is made.
  • Credit is not awarded for presenting updates on company policies.


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
(9 PDC maximum)
SHRM recognizes the value of joining the wider community of HR professionals, which can expose you to new ideas and broaden your perspectives. You can earn recertification credit by being a SHRM national member, or a member of a:

  • SHRM affiliate organization (HR People + Strategy or The Council for Global Immigration).
  • National membership organization whose primary focus is HR.
  • World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA) affiliate organization (applicable to SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP holders outside of the U.S.).