Recertification is easier than you think.
The HR Certification Institute is here to ensure you maintain your well deserved certification by having a successful recertification. Here are a few answers to questions that you had about recertifying your credentials and the process for doing so.
Q: If I attend a 2 hour immigration law workshop, will I receive credit for this?
A: Yes, we award hour per hour for HR-related seminars and courses.
Q: Would being a member of the National Notary Association count towards hours in professional membership since being a notary is a requirement of my job as the HR director?
A: In order to receive credits for a professional membership the association must be an international or national HR-related association. This particular association would not count for credit.
Q: We are members of the California Chamber of Commerce for HR issues pertaining to California. This is a company membership, but I use their HR resources and update services. Does this count under memberships for any credit?
A: If the is a national organization then yes you may earn two hours per year of your membership.
Q: When instructing, I understand that the class itself is 1.5 X the duration, but how do you count preparation time and research for the presentation.
A: When receiving instruction credit the preparation time is taken into consideration. Therefore, every hour that you list we award 1.5. The extra time is for the preparation of the presentation.
Q: Can I receive credit for attending local SHRM chapter events? If so, what category does it fall under & is there a limit?
A: If you attend chapter events that have a formal presentation of at least 1hr then you may list it under category 1 continuing education.
Q: Can PhD programme be used for recertification?
A: Any HR-related college course may be used for recertification credits.
Q: If I create job descriptions and an employee handbook for a small company that I started, will this qualify for re-cert?
A: Yes, this qualifies for credits if you spent a substantial amount of time you may list the maximum of 20 credit hours.
Q: I started to earn some of my credits with my maiden last name but then got married and my last name changed. After I got married I started earning credits with my new last name. Will that name change affect my recertification credits?
A: No, your name change will not affect your credits as long as all your information is under the same account.
Q: I am a certified SPHR, working outside of the USA. Where can i find out about pre-approved credit courses online?
A: You may go to our website and search the searchable directory. You may want to also visit SHRM as they have many e-learning and webinars online.
Q: I was asked to work with our Internal Audit team to redo our HR Audit Program (Used at plant locations). New experience. I have about 15 hours in to it, but it is now on hold until next year. Can I count this for 2012?
A: You may enter this activity now and list the time you have invested into it. If you complete the activity then please list the outcome of the project.
Q: Would on-the-job training teaching new HR employees/co-workers count as instruction credit?
A: Yes, teaching on the job training to your staff can be counted as instruction credit. However, we do not award for orientation or going over benefits information.
Q: I can't seem to change my name in my HRCI profile, I recent married and my last name has changed.
A: To change your name because of a legal name change, please submit documentation to the HR Certification Institute. Please do not send originals because documents cannot be returned. When submitting a name change, make sure that you have an unexpired, government-issued ID that matches the requested name change.
Send a fax with your current name and HRCI User ID #. Clearly state what you want your name changed from and what you want your name changed to. The fax should also include a copy of your name change documentation (driver’s license, marriage license or certificate, legal degree, etc)
Make sure to include your phone number and email address in case we have any questions. Please allow 3-5 business days for the change to occur.
Q: If I entered an activity under general but it should have been submitted under a specified area, will it affect my application?
A: If you are short hours for the specified credit, then the reviewer will look at the activities submitted for general credit to see if they can award any specified for those. If not, then they will make your status incomplete and contact you via email to let you know we need the additional information. Then you can request that the activity be considered for the specified credit or submit something else.
Q: What if I serve on a diversity Committee within my organization? Can this go toward my leadership credits since I am responsible for leading, directing, providing HR expertise, etc.?
A: Activities that are submitted under Leadership are volunteer activities that take place outside of your organization. However, if you work on a project or impact diversity in your organization through your committee involvement, and it was a first-time experience, you can submit it for credit under the On the Job category. When you submit the activity you would have to be able to say that it was a first-time work experience and describe how it enhanced your understanding of the exam knowledge base. The maximum amount that may be awarded from the On the Job category toward the 60 hours required is 20 hours. However, when you are requesting credit, please tell us your best estimate of the actual hours that you invested. This will help us in understanding and evaluating your activity.
Q: How are you notified that your recertification credits have been accepted and you are recertified for the new period?
A: We will send you an automatic email that you would receive the day after your record is approved. That is followed within 3 weeks by a letter and a new certificate.
Q: Is there recert hours awarded for joining the Advocacy team?
A: I am not familiar with the Advocacy team. Please contact us via email at Recertification@hrci.org with some additional information or call directly at 1866-898-4724 so we can get more specific information to answer your questions.
Q: Is there a reference place to look up the recertification credit hour values?
A: For HR-specific activities submitted under Continuing Education, we want to award hour per hour credit for time spent in the classroom or under Instruction.
The Recertification Handbook is the best resource for recertification information and it is available on our website under Resources/Recertification Resources/Recertification Handbook.
Q: If an activity credit is determined to be unacceptable after being reviewed, will I have the opportunity to submit something else in its place? How long do we have to make these amendments?
A: If we cannot approve your recertification application with the information we have then we will put a comment just below the activity requesting some specific information. We will send you an email directing you back to your online application. You can then submit additional information or another activity for the credit. The amount of time depends on when you submit the application. We can accept information toward your recertification for up to 12 months after your cycle end date.
Q: Are leadership credits for Boards/Committees only awarded for work boards/committees?
A: Under the Leadership category, credit is awarded for volunteer activities that utilize one’s HR expertise to further a volunteer organization’s mission. The volunteer activity must be one where you are lending your HR expertise to an organization or where you serve in a volunteer capacity for an HR organization. Under the Leadership category, credit is awarded based on the leadership position and the tenure of your commitment to the organization. If you worked with the organization over a period of at 6-12 months, then you can request recertification credit. HR CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE awards 5 hours per year for board positions or for chairing a committee and awards 3 hours per year for participation in a committee. Please note, the maximum amount awarded from the Leadership category is 10 hours.
Q: I didn't catch any information during the presentation about SME'ing a college course. I'm the Subject Matter Expert for a 300-level college course: RMMT 360: Human Resources Practices. Is this acceptable activity?
A: You can submit this as a volunteer experience under Leadership. You can request 5 hours per year for a maximum of 10 hours per recertification cycle.
Q: What credits are given for the American Payroll Association annual memberships?
A: HR CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE awards 2 hours per year for membership in a national or international HR-affiliated organization for a maximum of 6 hours per cycle.
Q: I participate in mock interviews to help develop students at our local college. Would this qualify as volunteer credit?
A: It needs to be at least 6 months to a year and if this was, than yes this is something you can submit for recertification credit.
Q: How do you calculate hours for leadership activities, such as mentoring for 1 year?
A: It works off a year timeframe. Mentoring activities would include preparing an individual for the HR profession, teaching HR-related practicum and HR consultation. We award five credit hours per recertification cycle for a full year formal mentoring activity. Please note: Internal corporate mentoring, while still valuable, does not qualify for recertification credit. Activities submitted for credit in this category must take place independent of the workplace.
Q: If you submit, something is not accepted and you need to resubmit, do you have to pay again?
A: No, you do not have to pay again. The $100 recertification fee is only paid once within each recertification cycle.
Q: I am the representative for our company at our monthly health insurance consortium meetings. These meetings deal with the company health insurance benefits & discuss current health insurance benefit laws & regulations. Do I get cedit for this?
A: Yes, this can be submitted for credit under the “Continuing Education” category.
Q: What are the minimum qualifications for 1st time certification? How do you begin this process?
A: It seems you are asking on how to become certified. If this is correct you will want to look at the two links that are here that will help get you started http://www.hrci.org/Exam_Eligibility/ and http://www.hrci.org/hrcertification.aspx?id=163 . If you need additional assistance please, feel free to contact the HR Certification Institute Customer Relations by phone at 1-866-898-4724.
Q: I volunteered for a day with a local college to review resume's and assist in writing more appropriate resumes. Would that count?
A: For activities in the leadership category it needs to be at least 6 months to a year to submit it for credit. If this was a formal workshop or seminar than you can submit it under the “Instruction/Teaching” category for credit. To take into account the time you spend preparing, you earn 1.5 credit hours for every hour of presentation time up to the 20-credit-hour maximum in this category.
Q: I am a member of the CA Employment Development dept, Employers Advisory council; Can i submit time for the meetings attended when the presentations are related to other than CA issues? The programs all HR related, but not HRCI pre-approved for credit.
A: Yes, you can submit it for credit under the “Continuing Education” category. You are not required to do pre-approved activities.
Q: I volunteered to help lead a PHR exam prep class. The class lasted 14 weeks and met once a week for 3 hours. Does this count as leadership or does it count at all? If so, how do I calculate the number of hours and add it to my profile?
A: This would go under the “Instruction/Teaching” category. To take into account the time you spend preparing, you earn 1.5 credit hours for every hour of presentation time up to the 20-credit-hour maximum in this category.
Q: I developed a new compliance online training for our entire company (1,000 employees); what category should I report my development time in? And how would I prove my time spent developing this if I were audited?
A: If this was a first time work experience, it would go under the “On the Job” category. The credits work off an hour by hour basis up to the maximum of 20 credits for this category.
Q: I attended an OSHA 30 hour training coarse. Does that qualify for credits?
A: Yes, you can submit this under the “Continuing Education” category.