First Step for CHRP or CHRL Designation

Choose and complete one of the four possible routes to meet the education or equivalent requirement (applies to both CHRP and CHRL)

Route 1

• Submit a transcript to the HRPA for assessment (must first register with the HRPA as a member or student).
• Complete courses in 9 subject areas specifically approved by the HRPA (see list for each school’s approved courses).
• Achieve at least 65% in each subject area and an overall average in the 9 subject areas of at least 70%.

Route 2

• Complete 9 subjects through a combination of
  • 0 to 8 subjects that meet the requirements of route 1.
  • challenge exams (must first register with the HRPA as a member or student).
  • course approval (must first register with the HRPA as a member or student).

Route 3 (Alternate Route—Academic)

• Register with the HRPA as a member or student.
• Apply for a review of education, designations, approved courses, and challenge exams.
• Receive confirmation that 50 points have been achieved (based on a master’s or doctorate degree in HR or IR, an SPHR or SPHRi designation, a chartered CIPD membership, other HR-related designations, approved courses, and challenge exams).

Note: master’s or doctorate degree in HR or IR from outside Canada needs to include a credential evaluation.

Route 4 (Alternate Route—Experience)

• Register with the HRPA as a member or student.
• Apply for a review of experience, designations, approved courses, and challenge exams.
• Receive confirmation that 50 points have been achieved (based on HR experience, specified HR-related designations, approved courses, and challenge exams).

CHRP Next Steps (complete in order)

• Write the CHRP or CHRL knowledge exam (valid for 15 years).
• Write the CHRP or CHRL employment law exam (valid for 10 years). (Can only write the CHRL employment law exam if successfully completed the CHRL knowledge exam.)
• Complete the online Job Ready Program.

CHRL Next Steps (complete in order)

• Write the CHRL knowledge exam (valid for 15 years).
• Write the CHRL employment law exam (valid for 10 years).

CHRL Additional Requirements

• Apply for a review of experience (must demonstrate 3 years of experience in HR at a professional level within 10 years before application, with at least three months within two years before application) (may apply before or after one or both exams).
• Must have a degree (may obtain the degree before or after the other requirements and the degree does not need to be in human resources).

For each of the designation requirements, we have estimated the amount of time it takes for completion. Learn more.

It is HRPA’s policy to provide reasonable extensions to deadlines related to the requirements for earning a designation on human rights grounds. Learn more.

To maintain your professional designations, you are required to complete ongoing professional development. Learn more.

HRPA has prepared a series of guides to each of the designations: Guide to the CHRP, Guide to the CHRL, Guide to the CHRE. Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs) may also wish to review the Guide to Designations for IEPs.

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