Short answer: On-demand HR training with SHRM PDCs is available from SHRM itself (SHRM On Demand, eLearning and podcasts), from workforce learning libraries such as BizLibrary, and from SHRM Recertification Providers with recorded libraries, such as Pedu. SHRM accepts self-paced learning under Advance Your Education, the uncapped PDC category, so on-demand training can count toward all 60 PDCs. What you need from any provider is an activity ID and a certificate dated the day you finished.
Does SHRM accept on-demand training?
Yes. SHRM’s Advance Your Education category covers instructor-led and self-paced continuing education, and it has no PDC maximum. SHRM’s own catalog includes on-demand formats: SHRM On Demand, eLearning courses and podcasts all carry PDCs.
The rules are the same as for live sessions: the program must fit SHRM’s competencies, PDCs are counted in 15-minute increments, and the activity has to fall inside your three-year cycle. The one difference is the date. For on-demand learning, the activity date is the day you completed it, and SHRM won’t let you log it until that date has passed.
Who offers on-demand HR training with SHRM PDCs
- SHRM On Demand: recorded programs and bundles worth 1 to 60 PDCs each. Best for large blocks of PDCs straight from SHRM.
- SHRM eLearning: self-paced courses worth 1 to 5 PDCs each. Best for short, focused topics.
- SHRM podcasts: episodes worth 1 to 2 PDCs. Best for learning on a commute.
- BizLibrary: a large course library, with many courses eligible for PDCs and HRCI credit; PDCs vary by course. Best for employers training whole teams.
- SHRM Recertification Providers (such as Pedu): recordings of live compliance webinars at 1 to 2 PDCs per session. Best for specialist compliance topics.
SHRM’s own on-demand options are the most straightforward for logging, and its catalog is broad. Specialist providers are the place to go when you need depth on a particular compliance subject, such as multistate payroll tax or the FMLA and ADA overlap.
How on-demand PDCs get from the video to your record
- Watch all of it. Many providers track completion and issue the certificate only when you reach the end.
- Download the certificate. It should show the PDCs and the activity ID.
- Log it in the SHRM portal. Click Add PDCs, enter the activity code and use the date you finished.
- Keep the certificate. SHRM asks credential holders to keep documentation for up to six months after the recertification period ends.
Comparing on-demand libraries on PDC mechanics
Most comparisons focus on library size and price. For PDCs, a few mechanical details matter just as much:
Five steps to earn and log SHRM PDCs from an on-demand HR webinar.
- Buy or open the recording. Confirm first that the recording itself earns PDCs, not only the live session it came from.
- One activity ID per recording. Each recorded program should carry its own activity code. A single code for "the whole library" makes logging and audits harder.
- PDCs that match run time. A 75-minute recording should be 1.25 PDCs, not rounded up to 1.5.
- A clear completion rule. Know whether you need to watch to the end, pass a short quiz or both.
- Certificates on demand. You shouldn’t wait weeks for a certificate you need for a deadline.
- Search by topic and PDC value. When you’re 3.5 PDCs short, filtering by PDC amount saves real time.
When on-demand is the better choice
- You’re closing a PDC gap against your birth-month deadline.
- The topic is procedural and stable, like completing a form or setting up a process.
- Your schedule makes fixed webinar times unrealistic.
- You want to rewatch a complex section before applying it.
Live sessions still win for brand-new rules and situations you want to ask a speaker about. Most people do best with a mix.
On-demand training at Pedu
Pedu is a SHRM Recertification Provider. Every live session is recorded and added to the recorded library, and each credit-eligible recording earns the same SHRM PDCs and HRCI credit as the live session. Recordings stream on any device from your account, and the certificate with your activity ID downloads once you’ve completed the session. Sessions run 60 to 120 minutes on HR, payroll, employment law and workplace compliance topics.
Browse the recorded sessions, compare the pricing plans, and check PDC rules on our SHRM recertification guide.
Short on PDCs and not sure which recordings fit? Email [email protected] with how many PDCs you need and your deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Do on-demand webinars count toward SHRM recertification?
Yes. SHRM’s Advance Your Education category includes self-paced continuing education, and it has no PDC cap. The on-demand program needs to come from SHRM or a Recertification Provider, or otherwise fit SHRM’s competencies if you log it yourself.
Which date goes in the SHRM portal for a course I watched on demand?
The date you finished it. SHRM won’t let you record an activity until its end date has passed, and the date must fall inside your three-year cycle.
What is SHRM On Demand?
It’s SHRM’s own on-demand learning, with programs worth anywhere from 1 to 60 PDCs according to SHRM’s recertification page. It’s one of the quickest ways to earn a large block of PDCs without waiting for live dates.
Do SHRM podcasts count for PDCs?
Yes. SHRM lists its podcasts at 1 to 2 PDCs each. They’re a low-effort way to add PDCs during a commute, though they cover fewer specialist compliance topics than a full webinar.
Can I earn SHRM PDCs from free on-demand content?
Sometimes. SHRM membership itself is worth 3 PDCs a year, and some providers and agencies offer free recordings that carry PDCs. Check for an activity code before you invest the time.
Do I have to finish an on-demand course in one sitting?
Usually not. Most players let you pause and come back. What matters is reaching the end, because many providers issue the certificate only on completion.
How fast do I get a certificate for an on-demand course?
It varies by provider, from immediately to a few business days. At Pedu, the certificate downloads from your account once you’ve completed the session.
Can on-demand courses in my employer’s learning system count for PDCs?
Yes, if the course comes from a SHRM Recertification Provider with an activity code, as many courses in libraries like BizLibrary do. If not, you can log it yourself under Advance Your Education when it fits SHRM’s competencies.
Can I claim PDCs twice if I rewatch an on-demand course?
No. Rewatching is a good way to learn a hard topic, but each program counts once in a cycle. Log it the first time you complete it and keep that certificate.
