Two Credentials, One Body of Knowledge
What the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP are, who awards them, and what this independent course is and is not.
11 min
Activities: 0 of 2
What the two credentials are
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a United States professional association for human resources (HR). It offers two certifications built on the same framework:
- SHRM-CP (SHRM Certified Professional) is aimed at HR professionals who work at an operational level. They carry out HR policies, serve as a point of contact for staff, and do the day-to-day work of the function.
- SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional) is aimed at senior HR professionals who work at a strategic level. They set HR strategy, lead the function, and align HR with the goals of the whole organization.
Both exams test the same framework: the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK). The difference is the level at which questions are pitched, not the list of topics. A question about a pay-equity problem asks a CP candidate what to do next in the process, and asks an SCP candidate how the organization should change its approach.
What this course does
The course walks through the SHRM BASK from end to end: the eight behavioral competencies, the three HR knowledge domains (People, Organization and Workplace) and their functional areas, and the United States employment law that the Workplace domain contains. Each module ends with a quiz, and most lessons include situational judgment practice written for this course in the style of the exam.
The practice questions are our own. They are not real exam questions and are not recalled from any exam. A good score on them shows that you understand the material. It does not predict your result on the real exam.
What it does not do
- It does not replace the official SHRM BASK document or the current SHRM Certification Handbook. Download both from SHRM and treat them as the final word.
- It does not confirm your eligibility, book your exam, or count toward any SHRM requirement unless SHRM says so.
- It does not give legal advice. Employment law is taught as exam knowledge; real cases need an employment lawyer.
CP or SCP: which one fits?
You implement policy, answer employee questions, run processes such as hiring, onboarding, benefits enrolment or investigations, and report to an HR manager or leader. Your decisions are mostly about how to do the work well and within the rules.
Choosing the right exam
Leila is an HR generalist at Quorvale Logistics in Texas. She runs recruiting for two warehouses, handles employee questions about leave, and drafts policy changes for her manager to approve. She does not set HR strategy. A colleague tells her to sit the SHRM-SCP “because it looks better”. What should Leila do?
Who can award the SHRM-CP credential?