Recertification demonstrates your continued dedication to stay up to date with the rapidly changing HR profession. To retain the PHR, SPHR or GPHR designations, the HR Certification Institute requires all certificants to recertify every three years either by accumulating 60 educational hours through continuing education, instruction, on-the-job experience, research and publishing, leadership activities, or membership in a national or international professional organization such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), or by retaking the examination (“recertification by examination”). This section of the website discusses how to recertify by accumulating continuing education hours. For more information about how to recertify by retaking the exam, please refer to the most recent version of the GPHR or PHR and SPHR Certification Handbook. The cost to recertify by documenting 60 credit hours of continuing education is $100. The cost to recertify by retaking the exam is the same as for candidates attempting to certify. To download a PDF version of the recertification application form, please click here.