Human Resources Professionals Association

What Human Resources Professionals Association does

Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) is the legislatively mandated regulatory body and professional association for Human Resources practitioners in Ontario, governed under the Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013. The organization regulates more than 24,000 members and students across Ontario, of whom 14,897 hold the association's three credentialed designations: CHRP (entry-level), CHRL (mid-level), and CHRE (executive). HRPA operates as a self-governing nonprofit with a Board of Directors, an Executive Leadership Team led by Interim CEO Lindsay Temple, and Registrar Peninah Brickman, with offices headquartered at 150 Bloor Street West in Toronto.

HRPA's core revenue engine is recurring annual membership dues (subscription), ranging from $50 for students to $620 for CHRE in-province holders, with late fees applied after renewal deadlines. The association supplements dues with fee-based professional development (Certificate Programs, HR Skill UP, LeaderLab, eLearning, workshops, Dale Carnegie courses, conferences), corporate sponsorship and advertising (Platinum, Core, and Supporting tiers plus a 24,000+ subscriber newsletter), and transaction revenue from the Hire Authority job board connecting employers and recruiters with credentialed HR talent. The go-to-market is membership-led and event-driven, anchored by the annual HRPA Summit (the largest HR conference in Canada), eight regional chapters across Ontario, and digital channels including a member portal, LinkedIn, and a community platform.

Under its Vision 2027 strategic plan (2024-2027), HRPA is modernizing its designations (e.g., the 2025 CHRE Pilot Project), replatforming Hire Authority (2026), and expanding ecosystem partnerships with HR-tech, legal, insurance, and benefits providers. Its technology stack is conventional: a member portal, public register, LMS, digital badges, and job board — no proprietary AI capabilities disclosed. Customer concentration is structurally low given the membership-base model and horizontal HR-practitioner segmentation.

Name

Human Resources Professionals Association

Legal name

Human Resources Professionals Association

Website

https://hrpa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) is the legislatively mandated regulator and professional association for HR practitioners in Ontario, issuing CHRP, CHRL, and CHRE designations to 24,000+ members and delivering professional development, networking, and the Hire Authority job board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association & Regulatory Services

NAICS

Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Resources & Talent (SHRM/HRCI Recertification) (EDAAALAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

HR Compliance, Policy, EEO & Labor Law (BPACAPAM), Human Resources Certification Prep (SHRM, HRCI) (EDANAIAK)

Keywords

• Professional regulation services
• HR certification programs
• Professional association membership
• Continuing professional development
• HR job board marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: HRPA generates primary revenue through annual membership dues across multiple registration classes (CHRE, CHRL, CHRP, Practitioner, Allied, Student, Retired). Dues range from $50/year (Student) to $620/year (CHRE) for in-province registrants, with additional late fees applied after renewal deadlines.
2. Professional Development Programs: Revenue generated from certificate programs, workshops, master classes, Dale Carnegie courses, conferences, live webinars, eLearning and on-demand bundles, and HR Skill UP offerings. These are fee-based programs that complement the membership model.
3. Sponsorship & Advertising: Corporate partners and sponsors pay for event sponsorship, digital advertising in newsletters (24,000+ subscribers), website banner placements, and thought leadership opportunities at HRPA events and platforms.
4. Hire Authority Job Board: The Hire Authority platform charges employers/recruiters to post jobs and provides job search services to HR professionals. Pricing for employers includes paid job posting options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HRPA is the legislatively mandated regulatory body and professional association for HR professionals in Ontario, authorized to grant the CHRP, CHRL, and CHRE designations. It sells annual membership registrations across multiple classes, operates the Hire Authority job board marketplace for employers and HR professionals, and delivers fee-based professional development programs including certificate programs, workshops, webinars, eLearning, and conferences.

Product overview

HRPA is a regulatory association for HR professionals in Ontario operating under the Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013. The organization functions as a unified platform combining regulatory services, professional designations (CHRP, CHRL, CHRE), professional development (Certificate Programs, HR Skill UP, LeaderLab, eLearning, Webinars), and community networking (Chapters, Mentorship Program, HRPA Summit). Key products include the Hire Authority job board for career services, the Resource Centre for member tools, HR Insights Blog for thought leadership, and Digital Badges for credentialing. The portfolio is designed to support HR professionals from entry-level through executive ranks with integrated learning, certification, career advancement, and networking services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership & Registration Core membership service providing annual registration, renewal, CPD tracking, and professional regulation for HR professionals in Ontario. Distinguishes between CHRE, CHRL, CHRP, Practitioner, Allied, Student, and Retired registration classes with pricing from $50 to $620 per year.
• Hire Authority Job Board Marketplace job board connecting HR professionals seeking career opportunities with employers and recruiters seeking qualified, credentialed HR candidates. Offers free job search for HR professionals and paid job posting packages for employers and recruiters.
• CHRP Designation Entry-level HR designation certifying foundational knowledge and competence in HR practice for professionals beginning their HR career. Requires coursework, experience validation, and exams.
• CHRL Designation Mid-level HR designation for professionals with demonstrated experience in HR leadership roles. Requires coursework, experience validation, and exams.
• CHRE Designation Senior-level HR designation for executive professionals with extensive experience. A streamlined CHRE pilot application process was launched in 2025.
• HR Skill UP Professional development platform offering skill-building resources and training for HR professionals to enhance their capabilities.
• Certificate Programs Structured credential programs including Workplace Investigations Training and Certificate Program, providing recognized qualifications in specialized HR areas.
• LeaderLab Leadership development initiative providing advanced training and experiential learning for senior HR professionals.
• HRPA Summit Annual flagship conference bringing together HR professionals for keynotes, sessions, and networking. The 2026 Summit themed 'Human Advantage: Where People Power Progress' will be held in Toronto, London, Ottawa, and virtually.
• Live Webinars (HR Power Lunch) Real-time online learning sessions including HR Power Lunch webinars that explore important topics in HR with convenient virtual access.
• eLearning & On-Demand Self-paced online learning platform providing recorded professional development content accessible anytime for continuing education.
• Digital Badges Digital credentialing system allowing members to display their HRPA designations and achievements on professional networks and resumes.
• Mentorship Program Program connecting experienced HR professionals with those seeking guidance and career development support within the HRPA community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24,000+ members and students regulated and supported by HRPA
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered platinum partner, core and supporting.

• Garda World Securityplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarda World Security is a Platinum Partner of HRPA. They offer security consulting and investigations services to the HR community, providing HR professionals with resources related to workplace security and investigations.
• Folks HRplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFolks HR is a Platinum Partner of HRPA. They provide HR software and services to HR professionals and are featured on HRPA's partner page.
• Employment HerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Hero is a Corporate Partner of HRPA. They offer an HR platform providing HR, payroll, benefits, and engagement tools to businesses, and partner with HRPA to reach Ontario HR professionals.
• Canada LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada Life is a Corporate Partner of HRPA, providing workplace mental health strategies and benefits-related resources through their Workplace Strategies for Mental Health platform.
• Peninsula Canadaplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeninsula Canada is a Platinum Partner of HRPA. They provide HR and employment law services, compliance solutions, and health and safety support to businesses.
• VenngosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenngo is a Member Perks Partner of HRPA, offering employee perk and discount programs that provide value-added benefits to HRPA members.
• PROLINKsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPROLINK is a Member Perks Partner of HRPA, providing insurance products tailored for HR professionals.
• Ontario Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario Chamber of Commerce is a Corporate Partner of HRPA, representing business interests across Ontario and collaborating on matters related to workplace and HR policy.
• RealizesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRealize is a Supporting Partner of HRPA, providing expertise related to disability and inclusion in the workplace.
• Osgoode Hall Law SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsgoode Hall Law School is a Supporting Partner of HRPA, providing HR law education and professional development through programs such as certificates in HR Law.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management): The largest global HR professional membership organization, offering SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications, content, and conferences. Overlaps with HRPA on certification, learning, and community, but operates as a US-based broad incumbent rather than a regulator.
• WorldatWork: US-based global professional association focused on total rewards, compensation, and HR. Comparable as a non-regulatory HR professional association offering certifications, content, and events that compete for HR practitioner mindshare.
• LinkedIn Talent Solutions: Global professional networking and talent platform. Comparable to HRPA's Hire Authority job board as a recruitment/marketplace channel for HR professionals and employers, though at much broader scale and without regulatory function.
• Indeed: World's largest job board with employer-paid postings and professional job search. Directly comparable to HRPA's Hire Authority on the marketplace/job-posting side, though broader in scope and not HR-credentialed.
• ATD (Association for Talent Development): Largest international professional association dedicated to talent development and workplace learning. Comparable to HRPA's professional development, certificate programs, and conference offerings targeting HR/L&D practitioners.

Direct peers

• CPHR Canada: National federation of the provincial Chartered Professionals in Human Resources associations across Canada. Directly comparable to HRPA as a peer provincial/Canadian HR regulatory and professional body offering CPHR designations, CPD, and chapter-based membership.
• AHRI (Australian Human Resources Institute): Australia's national HR professional association offering CPHR-aligned credentials, CPD, and a member network. Comparable to HRPA as a single-country HR regulator/association serving a defined national HR workforce.
• CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development): UK chartered body for HR and people development with statutory-backed designations and a comparable regulator-plus-membership model. Most structurally analogous international peer given its combination of chartered status, designations, and professional development.
• Ordre des CRHA (ORHRI): Quebec's professional order for HR professionals (CRHA/CRIA designations) under provincial legislation. Closest Canadian regulatory counterpart to HRPA, sharing the legislated mandate, designations, and disciplinary framework.

Emerging players

• IHRIM (International Association for Human Resource Information Management): Professional association focused on HR technology, analytics, and information management. Comparable to HRPA on the certification/professional development axis but narrower in scope, addressing the HR-tech segment that intersects HRPA's HR Skill UP and Hire Authority offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HRPA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HRPATV
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHRPA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hrpa
• Instagraminstagram.com/hrpa_organization

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Human Resources Professionals Association