?Have questions about recertifying your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential? The SHRM Certification Team has answers! Something else you want to ask? Send an e-mail to recertification@shrm.org.
Q: I’ve reached retirement age at my company. How will retiring affect my SHRM credential?
A: Retiring from your job or organization will not change anything about your SHRM credential or recertification requirements. If, however, you are planning to retire from the HR profession altogether, you may apply for retired status for your credential. That means you’ll no longer be required to earn professional development credits (PDCs) toward recertification.
Q: What do I need to do to qualify for retired status?
A: To gain retired status for your credential, you must be fully retired from the HR profession. That means you cannot do any HR work, full time or part time—including consulting, teaching, etc. To apply for retired status, send an e-mail request to recertification@shrm.org.
Q: If a new opportunity convinces me to come out of retirement, can I take my credential out of retirement too?
A: Yes. To reactivate your credential, send an e-mail request to recertification@shrm.org.
Q: What happens when my credential is reactivated after retired status?
A: Reactivation restores the standard requirement to maintain your credential by earning 60 PDCs within three years. You’ll be given a new start date for a new three-year recertification cycle. As before, you’ll have to recertify every three years—unless you retire again from the HR profession.
To learn more about how to obtain or maintain your SHRM credential, visit shrm.org/certification.
