Due to the volume of applications received, we cannot verify receipt of applications. We recommend sending your application by certified mail to verify receipt.

Payment may be made by VISA, MasterCard, American Express or check made payable to the HR Certification Institute. Your name must appear on all checks.

Duplicate/replacement certificate requests must include:

• Name under which certificant became certified.
• Home address.
• Date of certification.
• Recertification cycle.
• New name as you would like it to appear in HR Certification Institute records (if applicable).
• Legal documentation attesting to the name change (if applicable).

Requests may be faxed to the HR Certification Institute at (703) 535-6474 or mailed to the HR Certification Institute, 1800 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

Examples of who may be eligible for an extension:

• Certificants who have been out of work for at least one year of the three-year recertification cycle due to being laid off or child birth/childcare.
• Certificants who have spent a significant amount of time caring for a seriously ill family member or who have suffered serious illness themselves.
• Certificants who are being deployed to active duty in one of the armed forces for at least a one-year assignment.

Certificants who have not accrued the required 60 recertification credits by their expiration date and who have not experienced extenuating circumstances or have simply not submitted a recertification application on or before their expiration date are not eligible for an extension.

If the extension is approved, the recertification expiration date will be extended for one year, allowing enough time to accumulate the necessary continuing education credits. At the end of that period, certificants will be required to submit a completed recertification application form demonstrating that they have successfully met the continuing education requirements. The full recertification application fee is also due at that time. Upon successful recertification, the new three-year recertification cycle will begin at the end of the extension period.

To request the extension, the following materials must be submitted at least three months before the expiration date:

• A written request for extension providing a description of the extenuating circumstances.
• Documentation of the extenuating circumstances. This may include a letter from a physician, notice of termination or receipt of unemployment benefits.
• The extension request fee of U.S. $100.
• A completed recertification application demonstrating the efforts made to meet recertification requirements.

Certificants not approved for an extension must submit a completed recertification application by the original expiration date or their certifications will lapse.

Certificants who do not submit an application within 12 months after their expiration date will be considered expired and no longer certified. The HR Certification Institute will notify certificants if their certification expires and will also provide certification status to employers who request it. They must cease using the PHR, SPHR or GPHR designation(s) immediately. To become certified, they must retake the exam.

For security reasons, legal documentation (such as a driver’s license, marriage license or other legal notification) is required to change your name due to a legal name change. Requests must be made in writing to the HR Certification Institute and include:

• Name under which certificant became certified.
• Home address.
• Date of certification.
• Recertification cycle.
• New name as you would like it to appear in your records (must be consistent with legal documentation provided).
• Legal documentation attesting to the name change.

Requests may be faxed to the HR Certification Institute at (703) 535-6474 or mailed to the HR Certification Institute, 1800 Duke St., Alexandria, VA22314.

We will not reissue a new certificate for name change requests submitted during a recertification cycle unless a replacement certificate is requested (see “Duplicate/Replacement Certificates”). The certificant’s new name, however, will appear on any future recertification certificates issued. Certificants submitting name change requests and documentation at the time of recertification will have their new name reflected on their new certificate.

Recertification cycles are listed on your certificate and in your online record.

Recertification credits must be accumulated during the three-year cycle. Unused recertification credits cannot be carried to the next recertification cycle.

For newly certified professionals, recertification credits can be accrued immediately after the examination. For example, a candidate who took the exam on May 1 could accrue recertification credits on May 2. For those who have already completed a recertification cycle, the new recertification period begins immediately after the current cycle ends. For example, if a certified professional's recertification deadline is Dec. 31, he or she may start accruing recertification credit toward the next recertification cycle on Jan. 1.

To submit an application, complete the application as requested, making sure to list the titles of the activities and the specific dates and times. Certificants do not need to submit supporting documentation unless they are audited or otherwise requested.