Short answer: SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP holders can earn PDCs through HR compliance webinars from five places: SHRM’s own webinars (1 PDC each, many free for members), SHRM Recertification Providers (specialist training companies that award PDCs for their programs), SHRM chapters and state councils, government agencies such as E-Verify, and HR and payroll software companies. All of them count under Advance Your Education, the one PDC category with no cap, so webinars alone can cover all 60 PDCs.
How webinar PDCs work
You need 60 PDCs every three years to keep your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Webinars fall under Advance Your Education, which has no limit, unlike the work-project and volunteering categories, which are capped at 30 PDCs each.
One hour of education equals 1 PDC, counted in 15-minute increments, so a 90-minute webinar earns 1.5 PDCs and a 75-minute one earns 1.25. You log each activity in the SHRM certification portal, either with an activity code from the provider or by choosing a category and describing the activity yourself.
1. SHRM’s own webinars
SHRM runs regular webinars on HR trends and compliance, each worth 1 PDC, and many are free to register for if you’re a SHRM member. Recent examples include sessions on top compliance trends for the year and on wage and hour questions such as overtime exemptions.
Why they’re convenient: PDCs from SHRM-sponsored events upload to your certification record automatically if you register with the same login you use for your SHRM certification.
The trade-off: 60-minute sessions on SHRM’s schedule and SHRM’s choice of topics. Good for staying current; less suited to deep, specialist compliance subjects.
2. SHRM Recertification Providers
These are organizations SHRM has approved to award PDCs for their own HR programs, without SHRM pre-approving each one. SHRM lists them in its Recertification Provider Directory, which it says is searchable by more than 136,000 SHRM-certified professionals. On a provider’s site, look for the SHRM Recertification Provider badge and the PDC amount on each session.
Why they’re useful: depth. Specialist providers run 60- to 120-minute sessions on narrow compliance topics like multistate payroll tax, FMLA and ADA overlap, OSHA recordkeeping or Form W-4, often taught by attorneys, CPPs or EAs.
The trade-off: most charge per session or by subscription.
3. SHRM chapters and state councils
Local chapters and state councils can become Recertification Providers too, so many monthly meetings and state conferences carry PDCs. You get local employment law content and a room full of peers.
The trade-off: dates and quality vary by chapter, and topics follow the chapter’s calendar.
4. Government agencies
E-Verify, run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is recognized by SHRM to offer PDCs, and most of its free Form I-9 and E-Verify webinars are eligible. You get the rules straight from the agency that enforces them.
The trade-off: a narrow set of topics.
5. HR and payroll software companies
Some vendors get their webinars approved so HR attendees can earn PDCs. Patriot Software, for example, has offered SHRM and HRCI credit for live attendance at its free payroll webinars, and BizLibrary runs monthly webinars, some approved for PDCs.
The trade-off: expect some product talk, and credit is sometimes tied to live attendance.
Side by side
- SHRM webinars: 1 PDC each, free for members on many. Broad and current. PDCs post automatically when you register with your SHRM login.
- Recertification Providers: 1 to 2 PDCs per session, paid, though plans lower the cost. Deep and specialist. You log them with an activity code.
- Chapters and state councils: 1 to 2 PDCs per meeting and more at conferences, at low to moderate cost. Local content; quality varies. Logged with an activity code.
- E-Verify: usually 1 PDC, free. Narrow but straight from the source. Logged with an activity code.
- Software vendors: usually 1 PDC, free. Basic to intermediate depth. Logged with an activity code.
Most SHRM-certified professionals use three or four of these over a cycle: SHRM membership and webinars for breadth, a provider for the topics that carry real risk in their job, and free sources where they fit.
Earning PDCs with Pedu
Pedu is a SHRM Recertification Provider focused on HR, payroll and workplace compliance. Every credit-eligible session awards SHRM PDCs and HRCI credit, live or recorded, with the activity ID on your certificate. Sessions run 60 to 120 minutes and are taught by practitioners, including attorneys, CPPs and Enrolled Agents.
See what counts on our SHRM recertification guide, check our accreditation details, and browse the live webinars. We also have pages for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP holders.
Frequently asked questions
Are SHRM webinars free?
Many are free to register for if you’re a SHRM member, and each is worth 1 PDC. Some SHRM programs and non-member registrations are paid. Check each webinar’s registration page for member and non-member pricing.
Can I earn all 60 SHRM PDCs from webinars?
Yes. Webinars count under Advance Your Education, which has no PDC limit. You can mix in work projects or volunteering if you like, but you don’t have to.
How many PDCs is a 90-minute webinar worth?
1.5 PDCs. SHRM counts educational time in 15-minute increments, each worth 0.25 PDC, so a 60-minute session is 1 PDC and a 2-hour session is 2.
How do I add webinar PDCs to the SHRM portal?
Log in to the SHRM certification portal, click Add PDCs, and say whether you have an activity code. If you do, enter it. If not, choose Advance Your Education and enter the program details yourself. Wait until the activity’s end date has passed before you log it.
Do PDCs from SHRM webinars appear in my record automatically?
PDCs from SHRM-sponsored events upload automatically if you registered with the same single sign-on you use for your SHRM certification. If they don’t appear, SHRM asks you to email its recertification team.
What is a SHRM Recertification Provider?
An organization SHRM has approved to award PDCs for its own HR programs. Providers can show SHRM’s Recertification Provider badge and appear in SHRM’s provider directory. The designation covers PDCs only; it doesn’t mean SHRM endorses the provider’s other services.
Do the same webinars count for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP?
Yes. Both credentials need 60 PDCs every three years, and the same approved activities count toward either. There’s no separate PDC requirement for the senior credential.
What’s the difference between SHRM webinars and Recertification Provider webinars?
SHRM’s own webinars are short, broad and often free for members. Recertification Providers are independent organizations; their webinars tend to be longer and more specialized, like a 90-minute session on multistate payroll tax, and most are paid.
Can I earn SHRM PDCs from free government webinars?
Yes, from some. E-Verify is recognized by SHRM to offer PDCs, and most of its free Form I-9 and E-Verify webinars are eligible. Check the specific session, as a couple of E-Verify programs are excluded.
Sources
- SHRM recertification requirements, PDC values and logging
- SHRM Recertification Provider program and directory
- Wisconsin SHRM Council: PDC categories and caps
- SHRM webinar example: Top Compliance Trends of 2026
- Patriot Software: SHRM and HRCI credit for live webinars
- BizLibrary: HRCI/SHRM accredited content
