SHRM Senior Certified Professional credential artwork

SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) Exam Guide

Validates strategic HR knowledge and judgment across leadership, interpersonal and business competencies, and people, organization and workplace knowledge.

SHRM-SCP tests the same competencies and HR knowledge as SHRM-CP, judged at the level of a senior HR leader: enterprise-wide, strategic and focused on business outcomes. Situational judgment questions decide most results, and many answers seem reasonable. Refresh the BASK with one resource, then spend most of your time on senior-level scenario practice.

Understand the exam

Syllabus

Half the scored questions test competencies and half test HR knowledge, and 40% are situational judgment items.

Leadership competencies19%
  1. Leadership & Navigation
  2. Ethical Practice
  3. Inclusive Mindset

Example scenario: The CEO wants to cut the parental leave policy to reduce costs before a funding round. As CHRO, how do you frame the decision and what alternatives do you bring?

Interpersonal competencies13.5%
  1. Relationship Management
  2. Communication
Business competencies17.5%
  1. Business Acumen
  2. Consultation
  3. Analytical Aptitude

Example scenario: Turnover in one region doubled after a reorganization, and the regional VP blames pay. What data do you ask for before proposing a fix to the executive team?

People knowledge19%
  1. HR Strategy
  2. Talent Acquisition
  3. Employee Engagement & Retention
  4. Learning & Development
  5. Total Rewards
Organization knowledge18%
  1. Structure of the HR Function
  2. Organizational Effectiveness & Development
  3. Workforce Management
  4. Employee & Labor Relations
  5. Technology Management
Workplace knowledge13%
  1. Managing a Global Workforce
  2. Risk Management
  3. Corporate Social Responsibility
  4. U.S. Employment Law & Regulations

SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge · 2026 BASK

Format

Questions
134
Duration
3h 40m
Passing score
200 (scaled)
Delivery
Test centre
Languages
English, Arabic, Korean

Question types

Choose the single correct answer to a stand-alone question on HR knowledge or the behavioral competencies.

CertUp example

A company plans to close a site and lay off 150 employees. Which US federal law generally requires advance written notice to affected employees?

  1. The Fair Labor Standards Act
  2. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
  3. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act
  4. The Family and Medical Leave Act
Show answer

B. The WARN Act requires covered employers to give 60 days' notice before plant closings and mass layoffs. The other laws cover wages, benefit plans and leave.

Make a study plan

Start with a set of senior-level situational questions to see where your instincts differ from SHRM’s answers.

Most candidates spend 60–110 hours. Plan for the low end if you already work in strategic HR or hold SHRM-CP; add time if you have not set HR policy or led an HR function, and keep most of the time for senior-level scenario practice.

9 weeksto be ready
  1. 1Understand the examRead the syllabus and format, check you’re eligible and pick a target date.5 h
  2. 3Learn the core conceptsWork through one main course or book, topic by topic.53 h
  3. 4Practice with mock examsTake timed practice tests and review every mistake.27 h
  4. 5Prepare for exam dayBook the exam and check the ID and delivery rules.5 h

Learn the core concepts

One resource built on the BASK is enough for content. Most of the work is scenario practice.

Best official course2026 SHRM Certification Prep SystemSHRM · $1,130 non-member · $820 member · 18 months onlineBest low-cost bookSHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 2nd editionDance, Willer, Kelly and Truesdell (McGraw Hill) · $63 print or ebook
See all 2 SHRM-SCP courses →

Answer as the senior HR leader. Note who you are in the scenario, such as HR director or CHRO. Choose the option that addresses the organization-wide cause, uses data and brings in the right executives.

Practice with mock exams

Practise with explanations and long scenario sets, and track which clusters you miss. SHRM also sells official Exam Preview sets built from previous exams.

SHRM-SCP Practice QuestionsSHRM · Free · no sign-upSHRM-SCP Exam Prep (Master Bundle)HRStudyPro · $179 Master Bundle · $109 two full exams only · lifetime accessSHRM-SCP Test PrepPocket Prep · $20.99/month · $49.99 for 3 months · $124.99/year · 30 questions free
See all 6 SHRM-SCP practice tests →

Are you ready?

  • You can explain why the best answer suits a senior HR leader rather than an HR generalist.
  • You review all flagged items before submitting a section.
  • You stay focused through a full 134-question exam.
  • Your results on fresh senior-level scenarios are steady across all six areas.

Prepare for exam day

SHRM-SCP is taken only at Prometric test centers.

  • Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID with the same name as your SHRM application.
  • Plan for a 4-hour appointment, including the tutorial and survey.
  • Review every flagged question before you submit Section 1. You cannot go back to it afterwards.
  • You see a preliminary pass or fail result at the center. The official score report reaches your SHRM portal several weeks later.
  • To reschedule, cancel with Prometric at least 30 days before ($45) or 5–29 days before ($60). Less than 5 days counts as a no-show and you lose your fees.

SHRM certification handbook

Advice from exam takers