CPHR Canada added a coursework requirement to ensure that registrants for the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) have a foundational knowledge of the CPHR Competency Framework. The coursework requirement builds on the credibility of the CPHR designation by establishing a standard of Human Resource educational requirements to become a CPHR. 

To pursue the CPHR designation, one must first become an Associate Member. If you do not have an HR focused education (certificate, diploma, degree or masters in HR) you must complete the coursework requirement.  

The required 9 Foundational Courses are:

1. Accounting and Financial Management
2. Human Resources Management
3. Industrial Relations
4. Organizational Behaviour
5. Occupational Health and Safety
6. Recruitment and Selection
7. Strategic Compensation
8. Strategic Human Resources Planning
9. Training and Development

The Coursework Requirement may be met in the following ways:

• Through a CPHR accredited HR program
• Completion of an HR certificate or HR diploma that covers the 9 foundational courses
• Continuing Education courses in HR
• HR courses already completed within your non-HR post-secondary program
• The CPHR Academic Program through Captus Institute

Assessing Foundational Coursework:

New Members are required to have official transcripts sent from their post-secondary institution, or through MyCreds to CPHR Saskatchewan when applying for membership as an Associate Member.  

In place of transcripts, education from outside Canada needs to be evaluated by either the World Education Services  (WES) or International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) and sent directly to us from either organization.  We accept document-by-document reports from WES or basic assessments from IQAS.  

Note- if the name on your transcripts or reports is different than your current name, please update the “maiden name" in your member profile. 

Applicants with HR Education:

Transcripts, IQAS or WES assessments must indicate Human Resources as the major or specialization to meet the coursework requirement. 

Applicants without HR Education:

Applicants without education in HR and who have taken some of the foundational HR courses, can access a Prior Learning Assessment Requirement (PLAR) equivalency database created by Captus Institute that lists courses from post-secondary institutions across Canada that are equivalent to the CPHR Canada required foundational courses.  Access the database to self-assess here.

Process:

• Send us an email to info@cphrsk.ca outlining which course(s) you have in the database. We will assess your transcripts on file and confirm. 
• If your coursework is not in the pre-approved database, you would need to apply for a Prior Learning Assessment (PLAR) through Captus Institute. This also applies to those with international education. Captus Institute would perform your assessment and notify CPHR Saskatchewan. 
• CPHR Saskatchewan will send you a confirmation email. There are fees associated with this assessment which are listed on the Captus Institute website. 

For a course to meet the requirement, the applicant must have achieved a grade of C+ or 65% in the required course.  For multiple courses or a full program equivalency to be considered, the minimum grade in any of the courses is 60% or C and the minimum average grade over all the courses is C+.

CPHR Academic Program

CPHR Canada, in partnership with Captus Institute, has set up the following online foundational courses to obtain the required foundational coursework. Taught by leading Canadian HR professors, each foundational course provides extensive multimedia lectures with downloadable PowerPoint slides, progress quizzes, and a discussion board where you will interact with your instructor and other students and post answers to assignments.

Visit the CPHR Academic Program to review these foundational courses and to see which are open for registration. Descriptions of each of the nine foundational courses can be viewed here. 

To register with Captus Institute click here.

If the full program is completed through Captus Institute, you may be eligible for an NKE Waiver.  For additional information click here.

CPHR Post Secondary Accredited Programs

Another option for those without HR education, is to take a post secondary program that has been accredited by a CPHR Member Association. Graduates of an accredited post secondary program may be eligible to apply for a waiver for the NKE. 

Additional information can be found here.