Lynn Lievonen

TORONTO, March 20 - The Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation is growing in credibility according to a recent Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)/Canadian HR Reporter Pulse Survey.

Of the more than 1,000 respondents to the cross-Canada survey, 66 per cent said the designation is either noticeably more (33 per cent) or somewhat more (33 per cent) credible, valued and recognized than it was five years ago.

“Creating credible, valued and recognized designations has been, and continues to be, a core aspect of the strategies of professional HR associations across Canada,” says Claude Balthazard, HRPA’s VP Regulatory Affairs.

“The last few years have seen important changes to the CHRP, including the introduction of a degree requirement and phasing out of the National Professional Practice Assessment (NPPA) in favour of a three-year experience requirement. And with more than 1,000 respondents to the Pulse Survey, it is quite clear the credibility, value and recognition of the CHRP designation is a topic many HR professionals care deeply about.”

However, while many HR professionals consider the CHRP to be highly desirable, the survey shows more needs to be done to educate employers and the public about the credibility and value of the designation.
About seven in 10 (68.8 per cent) of HR professionals would say the CHRP designation is either “quite” or “highly desirable,” compared to 57.6 per cent of those who hire or engage HR professionals and 20.2 per cent of the public.

Closing the gap
Most respondents indicated there was a gap between where the profession is at and where it needs to be in regards to the credibility, value and recognition of the CHRP; and almost 60 per cent thought improving the credibility of the designation should be either top priority (18.4 per cent) or one of our most important priorities (41.2 per cent).

Finally, respondents were asked which activities or initiatives would have a significant, beneficial impact on the credibility of the CHRP, and two came out on top: These were “better marketing of the CHRP designation among the public at large,” at 65 per cent, and “making the CHRP certification requirements the same across all provinces,” at 62.1 per cent.

About the Survey
The survey was conducted in January by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) in partnership with Canadian HR Reporter through an online poll of more than 1,000 HR professionals from across Canada. For full survey findings, please see the attached article. Commentary on the report can be viewed at: http://www.hrreporter.com/articleview/17379-hr-split-on-chrps-progress

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About the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)
The Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) is Canada's HR thought leader with more than 19,000 members in 28 chapters across Ontario. It connects its membership to an unmatched range of HR information resources, events, professional development and networking opportunities and annually hosts the world's second largest HR conference. In Ontario, HRPA issues the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation, the national standard for excellence in human resources management and the Senior Human Resources Professional (SHRP) designation, reserved for high-impact HR leaders.