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SHRM-CP Exam Prep

SHRM-CP prep that gets you to certified.

The SHRM-CP mixes knowledge questions with situational judgment, which is exactly why cramming a textbook fails so many smart people. David Siler's system prepares you for how this exam actually thinks. His students pass at 90%+.

Enroll now, $219Preview the course free

The SHRM-CP, at a glance

The stuff you actually want to know before you commit.
Eligibility
No HR degree required. SHRM recommends a basic working knowledge of HR; current students and early-career pros can apply.
Format
134 questions over roughly 3 hours 40 minutes. About half knowledge items, half situational judgment.
Testing windows
Two per year: May 1 to July 15 and December 1 to February 15. Testing centers or live remote proctoring.
Cost & recert
Exam fee from $335 for SHRM members ($435 standard). Recertify with 60 PDCs every 3 years.
Exam details set by SHRM and refreshed here each cycle. Last reviewed for the current testing year.

Built for how the SHRM-CP thinks

The course covers the full SHRM Body of Applied Skill and Knowledge, and the SHRM Addendum module goes deep on what makes this exam different from everything else out there: the situational judgment items, where there is no fact to memorize, only better and worse decisions. You will drill those until the better ones feel obvious.

120 lessons, 100+ hours, 40+ sample tests, and a full-length SHRM-CP final exam so test day is a rerun, not a premiere.

Behavioral competenciesLeadership, business, and interpersonal clusters, woven through every module
PeopleModules 3, 4, 5: L&D, Total Rewards, Talent Planning & Acquisition
OrganizationModules 6, 7: Employee & Labor Relations, Business Management & Strategy
WorkplaceModules 1, 8: Safety, Health & Security, International HRM
Situational judgmentModule 9: the SHRM Addendum, plus scenario question sets

Preview the course free

Sign up free and start with the first lessons of the course, a sample from the Seven Princes, and a short knowledge check. Get a feel for the teaching style before you spend anything. The full course adds 40+ sample tests and a full-length SHRM-CP final exam.

Start the free preview
David Siler

Taught by David Siler

40 years in HR, 30 years prepping candidates, and holder of every major credential from both bodies. He retakes the exams himself to keep them current.

SPHRSHRM-SCPGPHRSPHRiPHRi90%+ student pass rate

Weighing your options?

Considering the SHRM-SCP instead?

If you are already operating at a strategic level, the senior credential may be your exam. Here is how to tell.

See SHRM-SCP prep →
Why not both SHRM and HRCI?

One course preps you for all four exams. Plenty of students walk away with two credentials for one enrollment.

Compare SHRM and HRCI →
$219 $895
Full SHRM-CP prep, plus every other exam's materials included. 12 months of access.
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SHRM-CP questions, answered straight

How hard is the SHRM-CP exam?

Harder than people expect, mostly because of the situational judgment items. First-time pass rates hover near the coin-flip range nationally. Students who complete this course pass at 90%+, largely because the situational questions stop being surprises.

How long should I study?

Most students land between 8 and 12 weeks at roughly an hour a day. The course includes a study plan you can adapt around a full-time job, a family, and a life.

SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP: which one am I?

Broadly, CP is for pros in operational roles and SCP is for senior leaders setting strategy. SHRM's eligibility guidance leans on your role, not just years. Our SHRM vs HRCI guide walks through it honestly.

Do I need to be a SHRM member?

No. Membership lowers the exam fee, but it is not required to sit for the exam or to take this course.