Chartered Professionals in Human Resources accreditation

The Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations (BHRLR) program is accredited with Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Alberta (CPHR-Alberta). Accreditation means that BHRLR graduates who maintain an average GPA of 2.7 or higher are exempted from writing the National Knowledge Exam.

To be eligible for the National Knowledge Exam exemption, a graduate of the BHRLR or BHRLR(PD) must:

  • maintained a grade point average of 2.7 or higher (70%/B-minus)  

The CPHR-Alberta accreditation is recognized by all provincial CPHR associations, except Ontario. This means graduates outside Alberta are also eligible for the exemption.

The CPHR exemption does not apply to students residing in Ontario. The Ontario Human Resources Professionals Association (OHRPA) has a separate certification, called the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). All applicable BHRLR courses at AU are certified by the OHRPA. .

Chartered Professionals in Human Resources stream (recommended)

The BHRLR faculty members recommend that students seeking CPHR designation complete a specific-set of courses as part of their program. Taking this stream is not a requirement for the National Knowledge Exam exemption, however the stream is designed to ensure you achieve all of the core competencies covered in the exam. Of these courses, 8 are existing core requirements and the remaining 10 can be completed as electives for the program.

Core courses:

  • EDUC 317: Training and Development in Organizations
  • HRMT 386: Introduction to Human Resources
  • IDRL 215: Introduction to Labour Relations
  • IDRL 308: Occupational Health and Safety
  • IDRL 309: Human Rights, The Charter and Labour Relations OR LBST/ECON 330: Workers and the Economy
  • IDRL 316: The Practice of Labour Relations
  • IDRL 320: The Law of Work
  • SOCI 321: The Sociology of Work and Industry

Elective courses:

If you are unsure about how to proceed with the CPHR stream, please contact the Student Advising Office for assistance.


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Updated July 02, 2025 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)