HR certification cost, every fee as of Oct 2026

What it costs to sit, Oct 2026

Two price models

HRCI publishes one price per exam, the same all year and for everyone. It is two fees paid together: for the PHR, $395 for the exam and $100 for the application. A retake means a new application, so the application fee comes back with every attempt.

SHRM has one price list for both of its levels, set by two things. The first is membership when you apply: member prices apply only if you are a SHRM member when you submit the application. The second is timing, and an early-bird price leaves the deadline fee out. Application fee: $50 nonrefundable, included in the exam price; the standard price also includes a $49 deadline fee. Right now only the standard price is open: $399 / $499 until Dec 24, 2026. Membership itself is $299 a year, optional; it lowers the exam price by $100, so joining for the exam alone costs more than it saves (the member math).

Students: $199 member / $299 nonmember at the standard price; the $150 / $250 early-bird price closed August 31, 2026. Military: $369 member / $469 nonmember at the standard price; the $320 / $420 early-bird price closed August 31, 2026.

Charges you can avoid

What a failed attempt adds

A fail is the largest avoidable cost on every exam: neither body publishes a discounted retest fee. At HRCI you wait and pay the full price again, $495 for the PHR, unless you bought Second Chance Insurance with the application. Neither HRCI’s exam fees page nor the handbook prints its price. SHRM sells no such insurance: no retake in the same window; apply again as a new candidate in a later window and pay the full fee (no limit on attempts). A late reschedule can cost the whole fee too; its Prometric rule is $45 paid to Prometric 30+ days before the appointment, $60 at 5–29 days; under 5 days you cannot reschedule and lose all fees. The SPHR page works through the cost of a fail on the senior exam: SPHR cost.

Three years of ownership, our arithmetic

Exam price plus the first renewal fee, for the cheapest standard path of each exam, at Oct 2026 prices. The cost of earning credits depends on the activities you choose and is left out.

What the totals leave out

• Prep. Books, courses and practice tests are sold separately and none is required. SHRM's own course, the Prep System, is described in the CP study guide.
• Credits. They cost whatever the activities you choose cost; what counts with each body is on HR recertification.
• A late renewal. HRCI adds a $100 suspended-status fee (recertification handbook, p. 13). SHRM charges $75 more in its grace period (recertification page); the full fee line: $165 for members, $210 for nonmembers; $240 / $285 late (during the grace period).
• A second HRCI credential. Renewal is $169 for one HRCI credential, plus $50 for each additional one (up to $369 for five or more), as of Oct 2026.

Cost of each exam

• aPHR cost →entry level, and when to go straight to the PHR
• PHR cost →one price, and what can add to it
• SPHR cost →the price of a fail and of moving up
• SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP cost →member math and avoidable SHRM charges