What are SHRM PDCs?
PDCs — Professional Development Credits — are the unit SHRM uses to measure continuing education for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP credentials. You earn them by completing approved learning and professional activities, then log them in your SHRM account. One PDC is generally one hour of eligible content.
How many PDCs do you need, and how often?
You need 60 PDCs within each three-year recertification cycle. The requirement is the same for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP. Your cycle runs three years from your certification date (or your last recertification), and the deadline is the end of that cycle.
If you'd rather not collect PDCs, the alternative is retaking the certification exam — but for most people, earning 60 credits over three years is far easier.
The three ways to earn PDCs
Advance Your Education
Webinars, courses, conferences, and other approved learning. No cap, so this can cover all 60 PDCs.
Advance Your Organization
Applying HR work on the job through projects and initiatives. Capped at 30 PDCs per cycle.
Advance Your Profession
Volunteering and giving back to the HR community. Capped at 30 PDCs per cycle.
The fastest way to earn SHRM PDCs
Education is the only uncapped category, which makes accredited webinars the most reliable way to hit 60. Every Pedu webinar is approved for SHRM PDCs, each hour earns 1 PDC, and your certificate — with the activity ID for your SHRM portal — is emailed after you attend or finish the recording. Sixty one-hour sessions, or a mix of longer ones, covers a full cycle.
Quick recap
How to recertify, step by step
1
Earn Credits
Earn 60 PDCs across your three-year cycle.
2
Log Activity
Log each activity in the portal as you go — easier than scrambling later.
3
Pay Fee
Submit the standard SHRM recertification fee.
4
Submit
Submit your application before the cycle end date.
What happens if you don't recertify?
If you miss the deadline, your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP lapses and you'd need to retake the exam to regain it. Logging credits as you earn them — rather than in the final months — is the simplest way to avoid that.
Requirements reflect SHRM's standard recertification policy. Always confirm current details and fees at shrm.org before you apply.