Over the past year, the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations and representatives from provincial HR associations across the country participated in a taskforce to review the need for a senior designation, and possible parameters leading to granting such a designation.

Provincial associations in Ontario and Saskatchewan have opted to move forward with the implementation of the SHRP. Nova Scotia/PEI is considering the opportunity the SHRP presents and is planning to consult with their members to determine the appropriate approach for their association. Likewise, other provincial associations may establish a senior designation at a later time based on their members’ needs.

HR professionals can click on the following links for detailed information on the SHRP criteria and process in their province:

Ontario
Saskatchewan
Nova Scotia/PEI

Questions & Answers

What is the Senior Human Resources Professional (SHRP)?

The SHRP has been created to recognize experienced high-impact HR leaders who demonstrate the qualities of leadership, trusted advisor, strategic orientation, breadth of knowledge (not just in HR but in management generally), the ability to build business-aligning HR strategy and most importantly, who have significant impact and influence on their organizations and the profession.

Why the SHRP?

The SHRP is being implemented by some provincial HR associations to meet the needs of their most senior members by offering a recognition tailored specifically to those with executive-level HR experience.

The US-based Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers a senior-level designation, the SPHR. In the UK, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) also offers a senior-level qualification, but which builds on its more junior level standards.

What is CCHRA’s role in the senior designation?

A taskforce including representatives from CCHRA and provincial HR associations was struck to assess the need for a senior designation and develop the parameters for the SHRP. It will be up to each provincial HR association to decide whether or not to implement a senior designation in their province.

The CHRP is granted by provincial associations based on common core national standards. CCHRA is responsible for the development of the HR Body of Knowledge and the national exam process.

Will all provinces grant the senior designation?

At this time, Ontario and Saskatchewan are the only provinces that plan to implement the SHRP. Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island has expressed interest in implementing a senior designation and plans to consult with its members in the coming months to determine the appropriate course of action. Some provinces (such as Quebec) have legislation that does not allow them to introduce a senior designation. Other provinces will consider their needs and those of their members – some may opt to implement the SHRP in the future, while others may consider an adapted senior designation.

What are the criteria to grant the senior designation?

The taskforce specified that individuals who will hold the SHRP will share six attributes in common: leadership, trusted advisor, strategic orientation, breadth of knowledge (not just in HR but in management generally), the ability to build HR strategy that aligns to business, and the ability to have significant impact and influences across their organizations and the profession.

Details on the specific criteria and the process to obtain the SHRP can be obtained through participating provincial HR associations:

Ontario
Saskatchewan

The Human Resources Association of Nova Scotia will release further details following member consultation.

What’s the difference between the SHRP and the CHRP?

The Certified Human Resource Professional Designation is the designation of choice for Canadian HR professionals. It represents a commitment to a national standard of excellence, sets a benchmark for the practice of effective human resources, and emphasizes the strategic role of human resource management in business. The CHRP is a nationally recognized level of achievement in the HR profession. It exists in all provinces and creates significant job mobility and career opportunities. With a requirement to recertify every three years, CHRPs remain current with the evolving Body of Knowledge of the HR profession, ensuring they can most effectively respond to their organization’s needs.

The SHRP recognizes senior HR executives who have demonstrated high-impact leadership within their organizations. The existing model has no requirement for recertification. It is not related or tied to the CHRP.

Is the senior designation portable?

The SHRP may be portable in those provinces that have decided to grant the SHRP. It is not portable in all provinces. To maintain their title, SHRPs must be (or become) and remain members in good standing of the provincial association issuing the SHRP designation.