HRCI®, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is the premier credentialing and learning organization for the human resources profession. For 50 years, we have set the global standard for HR expertise and excellence through our commitment to the development and advancement of businesspeople in the people business. HRCI develops and offers world-class learning, as well as the administration of eight global certifications and is dedicated to helping professionals achieve new competencies that drive business results.
People and organizations perform better because of us.
Empowering HR through world-class learning and certifications.
At HRCI, we are committed to an inclusive culture built on respect, integrity, and inclusivity, with the goal of every individual feeling a sense of belonging. We value each person's unique strengths and promote fairness, equity, and equality throughout our organization. By actively seeking feedback, we create a workplace that encourages innovation and collaboration. Together, we celebrate authenticity and invest in ongoing learning to advance both our employees and our organization.
We are a global market leader in creating professional and organizational value by delivering high-quality, forward-looking products and solutions that satisfy our customers’ needs – present and future.
We are dedicated to continuous improvement to ensure that we deliver exceptional service, every day. We anticipate, listen to and respond to our customers’ needs.
We are committed to the ongoing development and engagement of our employees and to cultivating a respectful, collaborative and participatory environment. We encourage continuous learning, recognize and promote our employees’ interests and strengths and celebrate their successes.
We model the highest ethical standards in our business practices and relationships. We promise to honor commitments and act with goodwill, and professionalism.
We are committed to the ongoing development and engagement of our employees and to cultivating a respectful, collaborative and participatory environment. We encourage continuous learning, recognize and promote our employees’ interests and strengths and celebrate their success.
In 1960, a Cornell University study found that a profession is defined by five characteristics:
Based on this definition, the American Society of Personnel Administration (ASPA) set out to create a set of criteria that would define HR management as a profession. As part of this process, ASPA, (now known as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) approved the formation of a task force to explore the creation of an HR certification, what was then called HR accreditation. In 1973, based on the task force’s recommendations, the ASPA Accreditation Institute (AAI) was born.
AAI administered the first HR exams in 1976. As the HR profession matured, the certification program changed.
Today, the AAI is known as the HRCI®.
HRCI is the premier professional credentialing organization for the human resource management profession. For 50 years, HRCI has set the standard for worldwide HR mastery and excellence. The HRCI suite of 8 HR credentials, represent various levels of HR knowledge, skill and practice-based experience. Best-in-class HRCI certifications include the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). With HRCI credential holders in more than 100 countries, the HRCI vision is the advancement of HR practitioners, people and organizations.
