Chartered Professionals in Human Resources accreditation

Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) is a recognized certification for human resources professionals administered and managed by provincial CPHR associations across Canada (except Ontario). CPHR designation signals that the recipient is verified as having appropriate educational credentials and professional experience and abides by the highest professional practice standards. Many employers look for CPHR designation when hiring senior HR positions. In general, to receive CPHR designation, individuals must have a recognized post-secondary degree, pass the National Knowledge Exam, and have a minimum of 3 years of experience practicing HR. Because AU’s BHRLR program has been accredited by CPHR-Alberta, graduates who complete the CPHR stream with a GPA of at least 2.7 are exempted from the National Knowledge Exam requirement. Designation by any provincial association is recognized by all other provincial associations except Ontario. Provincial CPHR associations also accredit educational programs.

The BHRLR and BHRLR(PD) programs are accredited with CPHR-Alberta. This means that graduates of the program who have met specific criteria are exempt from writing the National Knowledge Exam, which can be a significant hurdle in the designation process. BHRLR graduates are exempt from the National Knowledge Exam if they complete the CPHR stream of courses within their program and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.7. All CPHR stream courses can be included as part of the student’s core and elective requirements for the BHRLR programs.

The CPHR stream is an optional path within the BHRLR program consisting of a set of 18 courses that meet CPHR-Alberta’s requirements for accreditation. If a student completes all 18 courses as part of their BHRLR program, while maintaining a minimum 2.7 GPA, CPHR-Alberta recognizes they have sufficient breadth and depth of human resources and labour relations knowledge that they are not required to write the National Knowledge Exam. All 18 courses can be completed within the existing program rules as part of a student’s core and elective course options.

BHRLR graduates who do not complete the 18 courses in the BHRLR CPHR stream are still eligible to pursue the CPHR designation. This approach would require students to write the National Knowledge Examination.

The CPHR stream is an optional path towards receiving your BHRLR. If you do not wish exemption from the National Knowledge Exam, you may complete the program under existing program rules.

No. Since all the courses are included in the program’s core and elective requirements, you simply register for each of the courses during your studies. You are encouraged to talk with a student advisor to develop a schedule to ensure you meet the requirements of the stream.

Yes, 9 provincial CPHR associations have agreed to recognize accreditations awarded in other provinces. The National Knowledge Exam exemption for completing the CPHR stream is transferable across these provinces. The only exception is Ontario, which has established its own designation process. BHRLR program courses are accredited with the Ontario process as well.

The Ontario Human Resources Professionals Association (OHRPA) opted to design their own certification process for HR professionals. The requirements for this certification can be found here. All BHRLR courses required for the course-based certification assessment have been accredited by the OHRPA.