HRCI Provides Updated Comments on SHRM's Proposed Certification
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HR Certification Institute Executive Director Amy Schabacker Dufrane, Ed.D., SPHR, CAE, released the following statement today regarding SHRM's updated announcement about its proposed certification:
"SHRM's initial announcement on May 12 about their proposed certification program confused and frustrated many in the HR community. SHRM's update today did little to clarify, particularly since it has not allowed the HR profession to review any of its certification proposals in detail. Much of the announcement continues to lack the detail that would allow HR professionals to make considered decision about future certification.
Nearly 140,000 HR professionals across 100 countries hold one or more HRCI certifications – the PHR®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHR–CA®/SPHR-CA®, HRBP® and HRMP® – that are sought-after and recognized by organizations and business worldwide. Importantly, HR professionals in 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies also hold one or more HRCI certifications; and HRCI certified professionals play increasing active roles within their companies and organizations.
HRCI is confident that the HR profession will continue to pursue and support these certifications. In fact, a just-released survey of HR professionals by HR.com, showed that 93 percent of decided respondents say they will continue to support the PHR/SPHR designations.
SHRM claims in its public statements that it invites collaboration with HRCI. But SHRM's private actions tell a different story. SHRM launched a competitive certification without notification and terminated HRCI's operating agreement that connected us for decades. Then they barred us from participating as an exhibitor at the SHRM Annual Conference. We are not sure what Hank Jackson, C.P.A., President and CEO of SHRM, means when he says he is hopeful HRCI will support SHRM's new certification.
HRCI exists to support and advance the HR profession, not to support one specific membership organization. HRCI has always been independent and financially self-sustained. That independence is essential to the integrity of our certifications, which is why they are so valuable to HR practitioners and their employers. We've worked very hard over the years to maintain strategic alignment with SHRM. With their announcing a competing certification, SHRM's leaders have clearly chosen to go their own way. It's a direction that many HR professionals say is harmful to the profession, and we agree.
We at HRCI go to great lengths to be good stewards of the certifications professionals have worked hard to earn. HRCI remains well positioned and well resourced to serve its certificants today and for the foreseeable future. We will continue to invest in and listen to our certificants."
Learn more at
About the HR Certification Institute
The HR Certification Institute, established in 1976, is the internationally recognized, independent certifying organization for the Human Resources Profession. The HR Certification Institute is the global leader in developing rigorous exams to demonstrate competence, mastery and real-world application of forward-thinking HR practices, policies and principles. Today, more than 135,000 HR professionals worldwide proudly maintain the HR Certification Institute's credentials as a mark of high professional distinction. The HR Certification Institute offers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced professional credentials for HR professionals worldwide. Visit www.hrci.org to learn more.
SOURCE HR Certification Institute
Share this article