2026 SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge
How to register for the SHRM-CP exam and what it costs
Choose an open application window and apply with SHRM. The published U.S. standard fee is $399 for members and $499 for nonmembers for 2026 Window 2. Once SHRM issues your Authorization to Test, use its eligibility ID to book an in-person Prometric appointment within the approved window.
Choose the exam level and application window
Select SHRM-CP if operational HR is the right level for you. If your work is strategic, check the separate SCP criteria first. Confirm the application window is open, then check the dates during which you can sit. The application cutoff and the last testing date serve different purposes.
SHRM lists December 1, 2026–February 15, 2027 as the Window 2 testing period. SHRM lists January 4, 2027 as the next application opening. Use the dates guide and the official calendar for the status of the next window. Check the application site before planning around a new deadline or fee.
How much does the SHRM-CP exam cost?
Standard rates already include a $50 nonrefundable application component and a $49 nonrefundable standard-deadline component. Student and military rates have their own eligibility and prices. Check the applicable total at the time you apply, particularly if you are outside the U.S. or applying for a later window.
Use the account in your own name and keep the application receipt. If you are claiming member pricing, verify that it appears on your application before completing payment. The handbook says membership must be active at the time of application to receive that rate.
| U.S. application rate | SHRM member | Nonmember |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, 2026 Window 2 | $399 | $499 |
| Early bird, 2026 Window 2 (closed) | $350 | $450 |
How do you request accommodations or check language options?
Request testing accommodations from SHRM when you apply. Follow the accommodation form and documentation instructions, including the qualified professional’s evaluation where required. Use the authorization and appointment instructions for your approved arrangement when you book.
SHRM lists Arabic and Korean testing in designated locations and instructions for affected candidates who want to request the English form in writing. Check the official language guidance for your location, including any advance screening, before submitting an application or reserving a seat.
Can you reschedule, transfer or retake the exam?
To move an appointment within your window, use Prometric’s rescheduling procedure. The handbook lists $45 or $60 in vendor charges depending on timing. Read the confirmation and handbook for the applicable cutoff before releasing an existing seat, particularly close to the window’s end.
A transfer to the next testing window is a separate SHRM request. The handbook allows one transfer per application for $150, with a possible separate Prometric cancellation charge. If you already hold an appointment, cancel it through Prometric before requesting a transfer. Transfer deadlines depend on whether an appointment is booked. Check SHRM’s current rules before paying or cancelling.
If you do not pass, SHRM requires you to apply again in a future testing window and pay the full applicable exam fee. A second attempt at the same exam in the same window is prohibited. Use your score report to decide what to review before choosing a new window.