There are several exams that will satisfy the comprehensive examination degree requirement through SHRM and HRCI, which are listed below. Click the exam to view its eligibility information.
- PHR (Professional in Human Resources)
- SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources)
- GPHR (Global Professional in Human Resources)
- SHRM-CP (SHRM-Certified Professional)
- *If you are interested in taking the SHRM-CP exam under the student eligibility criteria, please see our FAQ page for more details.
- SHRM-SCP (SHRM-Senior Certified Professional)
If you are unsure which exam is the right fit for you, please speak to your advisor.
Certifications must be active at the time of graduation.
Preliminary score sheets or official certificates will be accepted for the HR certification exams. In the event that preliminary scores cannot be provided the day of the exam, please note that we will need to receive your official certificate by the appropriate date. Official certificates can take 4-8 weeks from the close of the testing window to process and be delivered to you.
Students who choose to take a certification exam after completing their coursework should be sure to register for graduation during the semester they are sitting for the exam. Additional information can be found here.
Certifications must be active at the time of graduation.
Submit a scanned copy of your preliminary score sheet OR official certificate and email to: gradhrdoffice@villanova.edu so your exam can be posted to your academic record. This will indicate that this degree requirement has been met.
*PLEASE NOTE: Villanova does NOT automatically receive copies of your certification exam results - you must submit them to the HRD department via the instructions above.