Short answer: To finish SHRM recertification cheaply before your deadline, count how many PDCs you still need, then fill the gap in order of cost: PDCs you’ve earned but not logged, free sources (SHRM membership gives 3 PDCs a year, many SHRM webinars are free for members, and work projects can count), and only then paid webinars, bought by cost per PDC. Submit before the last day of your birth month. The 60-day grace period costs $75 more, and after it the credential is revoked.
The deadline facts that matter
SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP work the same way:
- You need 60 PDCs in a three-year cycle, or you can retake the exam in the last year.
- The cycle ends on the last day of your birth month, three years after you passed (or last recertified).
- Miss it, and you get a 60-day grace period to finish, at a higher fee.
- If you don’t finish in the grace period, the credential is revoked.
What you’ll pay SHRM:
- Regular recertification fee: $165 for SHRM members, $210 for non-members
- Late fee (during the 60-day grace period): $240 for members, $285 for non-members
Step 1: Count what you’re really missing
Log in to the SHRM certification portal and look at your PDC total and your cycle end date. Then go hunting for PDCs you’ve already earned but never logged. Most people find a few:
- Conference sessions or chapter meetings from the past three years
- Employer training on HR topics
- An HR project you led at work
- Volunteer work for an HR association
SHRM sorts PDCs into three categories. Advance Your Education (courses, webinars, conferences) has no cap. Advance Your Organization (work projects endorsed by your supervisor) and Advance Your Profession (volunteering and thought leadership) are each capped at 30 PDCs. That second category is the biggest source of free PDCs most people overlook.
Step 2: Use the cheapest PDCs first
Here’s how the common sources compare on cost:
- Work projects (Advance Your Organization): up to 30 PDCs per cycle, free. The catch: you need a supervisor’s endorsement and a short write-up.
- Volunteering (Advance Your Profession): up to 30 PDCs per cycle, free. The catch: it has to be HR-related work for the profession.
- SHRM membership: 3 PDCs per year, included with membership. The catch: it only helps if you’re already a member.
- SHRM webinars: 1 PDC each, with free registration for members on many. The catch: fixed dates, 60 minutes and SHRM’s choice of topics.
- E-Verify webinars: credit varies by session, free. The catch: Form I-9 and E-Verify topics only.
- Recertification Provider webinars: 1 to 2 PDCs each, around $199 per session or less on a plan. The upside: you choose the topic and the timing.
Free sources can cover a surprising share of a gap. Paid webinars make sense for the rest, especially when you want a specific topic or need credits on your own schedule.
Step 3: Buy the rest by cost per PDC
When you pay, compare on cost per PDC, not per session:
- A 90-minute webinar at $199 is about $133 per PDC. A 60-minute one at the same price is $199.
- If you need 15 PDCs, that’s about 10 sessions of 1.5 PDCs. Buying 10 singles costs $1,990; a 10-pack at $799 covers it at about $53 per PDC.
- If you need 20 or more, an unlimited pass ($999 at Pedu) brings the cost close to $50 per PDC or lower.
Recorded sessions are the fastest route when time is short, because you don’t wait for a live date. SHRM counts self-paced continuing education the same way as live sessions under Advance Your Education.
Step 4: Avoid the mistakes that cost time
- Logging too early. SHRM won’t let you record an activity until its end date has passed.
- Dates outside your cycle. Activities must fall between your cycle start and end dates.
- Rounding the wrong way. SHRM counts education in 15-minute increments, so a 75-minute session is 1.25 PDCs.
- Throwing away proof. Keep certificates for six months after your cycle ends in case you’re audited.
- Waiting for the grace period on purpose. It’s not an extension; it’s $75 more and the same work.
A six-week plan for a 15-PDC gap
- Week 1 (3 to 6 PDCs): Log forgotten activities and ask your supervisor to endorse a recent HR project.
- Week 2 (1 to 2 PDCs): Register for any free SHRM member webinar this month and pick a plan for the rest.
- Weeks 3 to 5 (about 9 PDCs): Watch two recorded sessions a week at 1.5 PDCs each.
- Week 6 (0 to 2 PDCs): Close any small gap, check your total, submit and pay the regular fee.
Finishing with Pedu
Pedu is a SHRM Recertification Provider. Every credit-eligible session awards SHRM PDCs with the activity ID on your certificate, live or recorded, and the recorded library is available immediately. Single sessions are $199, and the pricing plans bring the per-PDC cost down if you need several.
Check your requirements on our SHRM recertification guide, then start with the recorded sessions. Not sure how many PDCs a session carries? Email [email protected] before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
When does my SHRM recertification cycle end?
On the last day of your birth month, three years after you passed the exam or last recertified. For example, if your birthday is in July and you passed in May 2025, your cycle ends July 31, 2028. The SHRM certification portal shows your exact date.
What happens if I miss my SHRM recertification deadline?
You enter a 60-day grace period. You can still complete and submit your recertification, but the fee rises by $75. If you haven’t finished by the end of the grace period, your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP is revoked.
How much does SHRM recertification cost?
The regular fee is $165 for SHRM members and $210 for non-members. During the grace period it’s $240 for members and $285 for non-members. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Can I recertify by retaking the SHRM exam instead of earning PDCs?
Yes. You can retake the exam at your current level no earlier than 12 months before your cycle ends. Contact SHRM before you apply. If you fail, the credential is revoked and you can’t switch back to PDCs for that cycle.
How many PDCs does SHRM membership give?
SHRM membership is worth 3 PDCs per year of membership. Over a three-year cycle that’s up to 9 PDCs, before you’ve attended anything.
Can work projects count toward SHRM recertification?
Yes, under Advance Your Organization, up to 30 PDCs per cycle. The project must be HR work that contributes to your organization and has your supervisor’s endorsement. It’s one of the most overlooked free sources of PDCs.
When can I submit my SHRM recertification application?
Once you’re at least a year into your cycle and have 60 PDCs logged, the portal shows a "Click Here to Recertify" button. You review your PDC history, update your details, accept the terms and pay the fee.
Should I log more than 60 PDCs?
SHRM recommends logging all your activities, including those beyond the 60 required. Extra PDCs give you a cushion if any activity is questioned.
What if my SHRM credential is revoked?
You’d need to apply for and pass the certification exam again to regain it. That’s far more expensive and time-consuming than finishing your PDCs, which is why the grace period is worth using if you’re close.
