General Information BACKGROUND

In 2006, SHRM created its Academic Initiative—an effort to set the agenda for the future of HR education, based on a multi-year, multi-method research study to define minimum standards for HR education at the undergraduate and graduate level. Part of the long-range strategy for the Academic Initiative was the development of an assurance of learning assessment for graduating HR students. SHRM commissioned the American Institutes for Research (AIR) in November 2009 to conduct a series of studies to inform the potential development of a new assessment for graduating HR students.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSURANCE OF LEARNING ASSESSMENT
  1. Help universities meet their accrediting body’s assurance of learning requirements by showing that the HR degree program delivers what is promised.
  2. Show that the student has acquired the knowledge required for an entry level HR position.
  3. Provide HR students who pass the exam, a means to differentiate themselves in the job marketplace.
  4. Replace a student's eligibility to take the Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) certification offered by the HR Certification Institute, which traditional students can no longer take, according to the revised eligibility requirements of the HR Certification Institute.
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CONTENT AREAS COVERED ON THE EXAM
  • Career Planning (4 questions)
  • Employee and Labor Relations (16 questions)
  • Employee Benefits (8 questions)
  • Employment Law (24 questions)
  • HR and Globalization (4 questions)
  • HR and Organizational Strategy (16 questions)
  • HR Information Systems (4 questions)
  • HR Mergers and Acquisitions (4 questions)
  • Leadership (4 questions)
  • Managing a Diverse Workforce (12 questions)
  • Measuring HR Outcomes: Metrics and the Bottom Line (4 questions)
  • Negotiation Skills (4 questions)
  • Performance Management (8 questions)
  • Risk Management: Occupational Health, Safety and Security (4 questions)
  • Staffing: Recruitment and Selection (16 questions)
  • Total Rewards (12 questions)
  • Training & Development (8 questions)
  • Workforce Planning and Talent Management (8 questions)

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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate students and graduate students in HR or HR-related degree programs are eligible to take the exam beginning one year before graduation and ending one year after graduation. The registration web site will require the applicant to provide information on a variety of areas, including but not limited to the degree program sought, the university the student attends and the number of HR-specific courses in the major area of study or concentration. Any applicant who meets the eligibility requirements will be given a registration number and information about selecting a test-taking site.

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EXAM WINDOWS
Exam registration is now open. For more information please contact assessment@shrm.org.

There are three 30-day exam windows annually.

2012 EXAM WINDOWS

EXAM WINDOW REGISTRATION PERIOD ELIGIBILITY GRADUATION DATE*
March 15 – April 15, 2012 January 1, 2012 - March 5, 2012 January 1, 2011 - April 15, 2013
July 15 - August 15, 2012 April 16, 2012 - July 6, 2012 April 16, 2011 - August 15, 2013
October 15 - November 15, 2012 August 16, 2012 - October 5, 2012 August 16, 2011 - December 31, 2013

* If your graduation date falls within this range of dates, you are eligible to take the exam during the associated exam window. If it does not, select an exam window that corresponds with your graduation date, and register for that exam window during the associated registration period.

2013 EXAM WINDOWS

EXAM WINDOW REGISTRATION PERIOD ELIGIBILITY GRADUATION DATE*
March 15 – April 15 January 1 - March 5, 2013 January 1, 2012 – April 15, 2014
July 15 - August 15 April 16 - July 5, 2013 April 16, 2012 – August 15, 2014
October 15 - November 15 August 16 – October 5, 2013 August 16, 2012 – December 31, 2014

* If your graduation date falls within this range of dates, you are eligible to take the exam during the associated exam window. If it does not, select an exam window that corresponds with your graduation date, and register for that exam window during the associated registration period.

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HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAM

SHRM Assurance of Learning Assessment Preparation GuidebookThe content of the exam reflects HR content areas in SHRM’s HR Curriculum guidelines under both required and integrated content areas defined in the guidelines. Although completing coursework toward an HR or HR-related degree program is the primary method of preparation, SHRM has created preparation materials that will help students acquaint themselves with the style of questions they can expect to see on the exam. Sources used as the basis for individual items on the assessment, as well as the rationales for correct answers, are included in the preparation materials. This will enable a student to supplement texts, research and web sites studied as part of his or her degree program with additional sources used by item writers. Preparation materials are available through the SHRMStore.

Andrew Gray
Albertus Magnus College
The top benefit I received from the guidebook was the chance to take a practice exam and see what areas I was weakest in. This allowed me to focus my studying and preparation prior to taking the test. It also gave me reassurance that I did in fact have the knowledge required to pass the exam.

Esther Francis
Park University, Parkville, MO
The Preparation Guidebook is a must-have. It allowed me to confidently prepare and gave me a thorough understanding of what would be expected on the exam and what I should have learned in the Human Resources undergrad program at my university.

HOW CAN FACULTY HELP STUDENTS PREPARE?

Faculty members are also encouraged to review the contents of SHRM’s HR curriculum guidelines periodically and advise students to supplement their coursework through experiential learning and additional study. For example, understanding the current research and thought leadership by reading, analyzing and applying the results of empirical studies—especially on topics that are covered on the assessment but might not be covered in the university’s required coursework—would help students become acquainted with those topics. Studying HR topics through case study methodology is also an effective way for students to learn to assimilate and synthesize the various HR disciplines and integrate them into solutions and applications they may encounter as an entry-level professional.

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REPORTS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS & UNIVERSITIES

For the first exam administration, students will receive a passing score report in addition to a Certificate of Learning approximately 8 weeks after the close of the test window. Universities will receive pass/fail information and scores for their students.

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THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Many of the decisions about the structure, content, administration and scoring policies of the assessment are guided by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC for the SHRM Assurance of Learning Assessment is composed of a variety of psychometricians, academics, former practitioners who are now academics and HR practitioners. Members of the TAC are chosen based on individual expertise as well as how well each represents one of the intended stakeholder groups.

Current TAC members:
  • Wayne Cascio (TAC Chair), University of Colorado Denver
  • David Allen, University of Memphis
  • Alexander Alonso, Ph.D.
  • Dan LeClair, AACSB
  • Sue Meisinger, author, speaker, consultant on HR
  • Gayle Porter, Rutgers
  • Mark Schmit, SHRM
  • Neal Schmitt, Michigan State University
  • Karen Tarnoff, East Tennessee State University
  • Cheryl Wyrick, California State Polytechnic University Pomona

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Please go to the Frequently Asked Questions section for more information