SHRM
SHRM is the world's largest HR professional membership association, founded in 1948 and serving 300,000+ members across 168 countries through HR certifications (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP), tiered membership, executive networking, conferences, research, and education programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersAlexandria, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What SHRM does
SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1948 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. It operates as the world's largest HR professional body, serving more than 300,000 members across 168 countries, with wholly owned regional operations in India (SHRM India) and the MENA region (SHRM MEA FZ in Dubai, plus a KSA office in Riyadh). The organization supports over 100,000 employers representing an estimated 362 million workers globally. SHRM delivers its value through a tiered membership model (Professional, Student, Global, Executive, Business), gold-standard HR certifications (SHRM-CP at $300 and SHRM-SCP at $400 per exam, with up to 40% volume pricing for groups of five or more), specialty credentials such as the AI + HI Specialty Credential and People Manager Qualification, and an annual executive network membership tier priced from $3,995 to $9,750.
SHRM's underlying technology and content assets center on proprietary competency frameworks — the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (BASK) and the HR-X Framework — together with certification examination platforms, learning management systems for the SHRM Learning System and eLearning library, and member portals (mySHRM, SHRM Certification Portal). The organization publishes flagship research products including the State of AI in HR Report, Top Five Workplace Issues, Global Workplace Culture Report, and the India Skill Intelligence Report. Flagship events include the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM26 drawing 20,000+ attendees to Orlando) and SHRMTech26 in Mumbai (2,500+ attendees), supplemented by state conferences, regional events, the SHRMTech India series, and SHRM UnConference26 in Hyderabad. Distribution spans direct enterprise sales, website commerce, regional sales teams in India and MENA, and a global chapter network.
SHRM's business model combines recurring subscription revenue (membership dues with annual auto-renewal), one-time fees (certification exams, conference registration, eLearning), and enterprise contracts (corporate membership, team certification, and team training). GTM is hybrid: sales-led for enterprise corporate memberships, event-driven through flagship conferences, and community-led via chapters, SHRM Connect online platform, and five regional Membership Councils. Strategic sub-brands include SHRM Executive Network, SHRM Linkage (leadership development), SHRM Labs (innovation), SHRM Foundation (research and scholarships), and the Center for Inclusion & Diversity, creating multiple revenue and engagement surfaces across the HR professional lifecycle from student to CHRO.
SHRM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SHRM
- Legal name
- Society for Human Resource Management
- Website
- https://shrm.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- SHRM is the world's largest HR professional membership association, founded in 1948 and serving 300,000+ members across 168 countries through HR certifications (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP), tiered membership, executive networking, conferences, research, and education programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SHRM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Resources Professional Association
- NAICS
- Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Business Associations (813910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- HR Shared Services Centers (Captive/Managed) (BPACAKAB)
Keywords
Where SHRM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alexandria
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
SHRM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees across multiple tiers including Professional, Student, Global, Executive, and Business memberships. Executive Network membership ranges from $3,995 to $9,750 annually depending on position level and company size. Standard professional membership operates on annual auto-renewal basis.
- Certification and Exam Fees: Revenue from SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certification exams. Individual exam fees are $300 (SHRM-CP) and $400 (SHRM-SCP). Volume pricing offers up to 40% savings for group certification (5+ employees) with pricing ranging from $396-$470 per exam depending on quantity.
- Conferences and Events: Registration fees for annual conferences including SHRM Annual Conference, SHRMTech, state conferences, and specialty events. Corporate group registrations include benefits like general sessions, expo admission, and discounts on team trainings.
- Education Programs and eLearning: Revenue from instructor-led training, self-study materials, SHRM Learning System, specialty credentials, and certificate programs. Includes preparation materials for certification exams and continuing education.
- Corporate/Enterprise Membership: Bulk membership purchases for organizations including team certification, team training & development, and corporate membership programs with customized engagement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Executive Network Membership - Premium tier for CHROs and senior HR leaders |
| Subscription | Annual | Professional Membership - Standard tier for HR practitioners |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Certification Exam - SHRM-CP |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Certification Exam - SHRM-SCP |
| Subscription | Annual | Global, Student, and Business Membership tiers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
SHRM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SHRM is a professional membership association that sells HR certifications (SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP), specialty credentials such as the AI + HI Specialty Credential, tiered individual and corporate memberships, instructor-led and online education programs, annual conferences, and access to HR research, tools and templates. Its products are aimed at HR practitioners, senior HR leaders (CHROs/VPs), and the organizations that employ them across 168 countries.
Product overview
SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is a membership-based organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of HR certifications, education programs, research reports, events, and professional communities. The core offerings include SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications for HR practitioners at different career stages, supported by the SHRM Certification Handbook and exam preparation resources (eLearning, instructor-led learning, SHRM Learning System). SHRM provides specialty credentials including the AI + HI Specialty Credential and People Manager Qualification (PMQ), alongside foundational education through SHRM Essentials of Human Resources and professional seminars. The organization operates flagship events including the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo and SHRMTech26 in India, while the SHRM Executive Network and SHRM Linkage serve senior HR leaders. Additional offerings include the SHRM HR-X Framework for HR excellence, the Center for Inclusion & Diversity, and research publications such as the State of AI in HR 2026 Report, Global Workplace Culture Report, and Employee Benefits Survey. SHRM also provides practical tools including the Employee Handbook Builder and Job Description Manager, supported by innovation through SHRM Labs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SHRM Executive Network: Exclusive community of senior HR leaders (CHRO or VP-equivalent) providing networking, research, and professional development
- SHRM Linkage
- CEO Circle
- SHRM Labs
- SHRM Foundation
- SHRM Business
- SHRM India
- SHRM MENA
Products and services
- SHRM-CP Certification Certification for early to mid-level HR practitioners whose work is operationally focused: implementing policy, delivering HR services, and managing specialized HR functions. Sold as a $300 per-exam credential, with volume discounts of up to 40% for groups of 5+ purchasers.
- SHRM-SCP Certification Certification for senior-level HR practitioners focused on HR strategy, policy development, culture, and leading the HR function. Sold as a $400 per-exam credential with the same volume-discount structure as SHRM-CP.
- SHRM Membership (Professional, Student, Global, Executive, Business tiers) Annual membership tiers for individual HR professionals and organizations, providing access to HR news, research, tools & guides, Ask an HR Advisor, and the SHRM Connect online community. Auto-renews annually.
- AI + HI Specialty Credential Specialty credential demonstrating competence in AI and Human Intelligence integration in HR practice, differentiated by combining two emergent competency areas for HR professionals.
- People Manager Qualification (PMQ) Standalone qualification program for people managers that enhances their HR leadership capabilities and is often bundled with LifeGuides Professional Mentoring.
- SHRM Essentials of Human Resources Instructor-led foundational HR training program covering core HR knowledge for new HR professionals and people managers.
- SHRM eLearning Self-paced online learning modules for HR professional development and certification exam preparation.
- SHRM Seminars Expert-led live seminars for HR professionals seeking specialized skills in HR topics.
- SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (All Things Work / SHRM26) Annual flagship SHRM conference and expo for HR professionals with corporate group registration options, featuring 20,000+ attendees and executive network tracks.
- SHRMTech (India Regional Conference) Annual flagship HR technology conference in India exploring the convergence of human expertise and intelligent systems.
- SHRM Executive Network Elite paid membership and advisory community for senior HR leaders (CHROs and VPs) at 1,000+ member companies, providing research, peer benchmarking, exclusive events such as the EN Experience and Visionaries Summit, and People + Strategy Journal access. Annual dues range from $3,995 to $9,750.
- SHRM Linkage Leadership development and executive coaching programs for HR professionals focused on inclusion, innovation, and workforce transformation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% of SHRM-certified HR professionals report having current and up-to-date information regarding HR best practices
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SHRM
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SHRM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature5 records
SHRM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- PowerGridminorSHRM India partnered with PowerGrid to organize the HR Tech Conference 2025 in New Delhi. The conference brought together over 400 delegates and 20+ thought leaders from public sector enterprises to discuss digital HR transformation, AI adoption, and workforce capability building in India's energy sector. PowerGrid is a public sector enterprise in India's energy sector.
- LifeGuides, PBCminorLifeGuides provides the PMQ+ LifeGuides Professional Mentoring component bundled with SHRM's People Manager Qualification (PMQ) program. LifeGuides is a third-party content provider whose terms and conditions govern the mentoring services. This partnership enables SHRM to offer professional mentoring alongside its qualification program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SHRM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HRCI (HR Certification Institute): HRCI is the closest direct peer to SHRM, offering the PHR, SPHR, GPHR, and other HR certifications. Both organizations compete for the same HR practitioner audience with comparable certification programs, recertification requirements, and credentialing frameworks.
- WorldatWork: WorldatWork is a direct peer offering compensation, benefits, and total rewards certifications (CCP, GRP) along with member education. It serves a similar HR professional audience but specializes in the total rewards subdomain rather than general HR.
- ATD (Association for Talent Development): ATD is the leading professional association for talent development and learning professionals, offering the CPTD and APTD certifications. Its member base overlaps meaningfully with SHRM's HR audience around workforce capability building, L&D, and training.
- International Public Management Association for HR (IPMA-HR): IPMA-HR is a professional membership association serving HR practitioners in the public sector, offering the IPMA-CP and IPMA-SC certifications. It competes with SHRM for HR professional mindshare in government and public-sector employer segments.
Emerging players
- LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning offers on-demand professional development courses including HR content paths, bundled into enterprise subscriptions. It competes with SHRM's eLearning and certification prep through greater flexibility, lower unit costs, and integration with LinkedIn's professional network.
- Coursera: Coursera partners with universities and companies to offer professional certificates and specializations, including HR management content from Wharton and other institutions. It challenges SHRM's exam-prep market with university-branded alternatives and subscription access models.
- Cegos: Cegos is a global L&D and HR training provider offering corporate training programs, certifications, and consulting. It competes with SHRM's enterprise training, eLearning, and seminars in the global corporate L&D market, particularly outside the US.
Broad incumbents
- Workday: Workday is a broad enterprise HCM and HR technology platform serving many of the same Fortune 500 employers as SHRM. It does not directly compete in certification but influences how HR practitioners operate, indirectly shaping demand for SHRM's training and credentialing.
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm offering talent acquisition, leadership development, and HR advisory services. It overlaps with SHRM at the senior HR executive tier where SHRM Executive Network members engage consulting firms for strategic workforce projects.
Regional players
- SHRM-style regional associations (e.g., CIPD): CIPD is the UK-based professional body for HR and people development, operating regionally as the dominant HR membership and certification body in the UK and parts of Europe. It is comparable to SHRM in mission and offerings but does not directly compete in North America or MENA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SHRM social profiles
Digital presenceSHRM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SHRM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
SHRM subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
SHRM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SHRM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SHRM
What does SHRM do?
SHRM is a professional membership association that sells HR certifications (SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP), specialty credentials such as the AI + HI Specialty Credential, tiered individual and corporate memberships, instructor-led and online education programs, annual conferences, and access to HR research, tools and templates. Its products are aimed at HR practitioners, senior HR leaders (CHROs/VPs), and the organizations that employ them across 168 countries.
Is SHRM a public or private company?
SHRM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SHRM founded?
SHRM was founded in 1948. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is SHRM based?
SHRM is headquartered in Alexandria, United States, in the North America region.
How does SHRM make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are certification and Exam Fees, conferences and Events, education Programs and eLearning and corporate/Enterprise Membership.
Who are SHRM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HRCI (HR Certification Institute), WorldatWork, ATD (Association for Talent Development) and International Public Management Association for HR (IPMA-HR). Emerging players are LinkedIn Learning, Coursera and Cegos. Broad incumbents are Workday and Korn Ferry. SHRM-style regional associations (e.g., CIPD) is listed as a regional player.
Does SHRM have an API?
No public API is recorded for SHRM.
What industry is SHRM in?
SHRM's product category is Human Resources Professional Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAKAB, HR Shared Services Centers (Captive/Managed). Its NAICS code is 541612.