Coursework Requirement

To earn the right to use the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation or the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation, applicants must have a sufficient foundation of HR discipline-specific knowledge. Because coursework is the main way to meet​ this requirement, it is known as the ‘coursework’ requirement.

The coursework requirement must be met before an individual may be deemed eligible to write the CHRP Knowledge Exam​ or the CHRL Knowledge Exam – meaning you will not be able to register for the exams until HRPA has confirmed that you have met the coursework requirement.

Currently, for both the CHRP and CHRL designations, the coursework requirement is the same and there are two ways of meeting the requirement: the course-by-course approach and the Alternate Route​. For information about the Alternate Route, please click here.

​The Course-by-Course Approach

The coursework requirement consists of successful completion of courses in nine subject areas:

• HR Management
• Compensation
• Labour Relations/Industrial Relations
• Finance & Accounting
• HR Planning
• Recruitment & Selection
• Training & Development
• Organizational Behaviour
• Occupational Health & Safety

HRPA has approved courses at most colleges and universities in Ontario. To determine whether specific courses are approved, please use our School Search Tool. If you completed courses outside of Ontario, please refer to our Course Approval Process for assistance.

Successful completion means obtaining a grade of 70% or better overall in the nine subject areas with no single course mark below 65%. If the educational institution at which you completed your courses uses letter grades, HRPA will refer to the numerical equivalency of your letter grade specified by the educational institution. This also applies to courses for which you were granted an exemption. The original course grade on which the exemption is based must be at least 65%.

Submitting your Transcript and Fees

If you are using the course-by-course method to meet the coursework requirement, please have your academic institution email your transcript directly to exams@hrpa.ca. HRPA does not accept transcripts submitted by email from outside of the academic institution. Transcripts must come directly from the academic institution. HRPA has allowed for the submission of transcripts by email, in response to our office closure and the closures of academic institutions. For more information on HRPA’s updated Transcript Submission Policy, please click here. 

There is a fee of $90 plus HST that must be paid to complete the assessment of your transcript(s). This is a one-time fee and covers the assessment of all subsequent transcripts. You can pay for the assessment here. In order to pay for the assessment, as well as to have your transcript assessed, please note that active membership is required.

We will send you an email confirmation when your transcript has been received. The assessment of your transcript will then take approximately 10 to 15 business days to complete. Once the assessment has been completed, an email with the results of the assessment will be sent to you, with further instructions on how to proceed.