SHRM BoCK-2016

The SHRM Body
of Competency
and Knowledge ™
This document describes the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge™

(SHRM BoCK™) which forms the basis for the SHRM Certified Professional
(SHRM-CP™) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP™) certifications.
THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge.................................................................. 1

Figure 1: The SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge............................................................2
Development of the SHRM BoCK.............................................................................................................3
Figure 2: SHRM Competency Model Development...................................................................................... 3
Figure 3: Knowledge Specification Process.................................................................................................... 3
What Are Competencies?...........................................................................................................................4
Figure 4: Competency Definitions...................................................................................................................... 4
Organization of the SHRM BoCK Document............................................................................................5
Section 1: Behavioral Competencies.................................................................................................................6

Behavioral Competency #1: Leadership & Navigation................................................................................7
Behavioral Competency #2: Ethical Practice...............................................................................................8
Behavioral Competency #3: Business Acumen............................................................................................9
Behavioral Competency #4: Relationship Management.............................................................................11
Behavioral Competency #5: Consultation.................................................................................................12
Behavioral Competency #6: Critical Evaluation........................................................................................13
Behavioral Competency #7: Global & Cultural Effectiveness....................................................................14
Behavioral Competency #8: Communication............................................................................................15
Section 2: HR Expertise (HR Knowledge)........................................................................................................16

What Are HR Functional Areas of Knowledge?.........................................................................................16
Figure 5: Knowledge Domains and HR Functional Areas.......................................................................... 17
DOMAIN 1: People................................................................................................................................18
Functional Area #1: Talent Acquisition & Retention.....................................................................18
Functional Area #2: Employee Engagement.................................................................................19
Functional Area #3: Learning & Development..............................................................................21
Functional Area #4: Total Rewards...............................................................................................22
DOMAIN 2: Organization.......................................................................................................................23
Functional Area #5: Structure of the HR Function.......................................................................23
Functional Area #6: Organizational Effectiveness & Development................................................24
Functional Area #7: Workforce Management................................................................................25
Functional Area #8: Employee Relations.......................................................................................26
Functional Area #9: Technology & Data.......................................................................................28
DOMAIN 3: Workplace...........................................................................................................................29
Functional Area #10: HR in the Global Context...........................................................................29
Functional Area #11: Diversity & Inclusion ................................................................................ 30
Functional Area #12: Risk Management.......................................................................................31
Functional Area #13: Corporate Social Responsibility...................................................................33
Functional Area #14: U.S. Employment Law & Regulations.........................................................35
DOMAIN 4: Strategy..............................................................................................................................37
Functional Area #15: Business & HR Strategy..............................................................................37
Section 3: Exam Overview................................................................................................................................39

Figure 6: Score Weighting for Each Domain in the Certification Exams............................................... 39
References..........................................................................................................................................................40
Additional Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 41

THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE
Introduction to the SHRM Body of

Competency and Knowledge ™
For more than sixty-five years, the Society for Human and for employers, to provide reliable indicators of
Resource Management (SHRM) has served the human proficiency in these critical dual aspects of modern HR
resource profession. HR professionals worldwide look practice.
to SHRM for comprehensive resources to help them
function effectively at their jobs, develop their careers, SHRM regards the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP as
and partner strategically with employers. the new standard in certification for the HR profession.
By incorporating key HR competencies into the
SHRM also works to advance the HR profession SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP, SHRM is enhancing
as a whole, ensuring that as business evolves, HR the relevance of the new certifications. SHRM’s
evolves to meet business needs. Increasingly, business new credentials demonstrate to the global business
understands that effective people management is a community that the credential holder has strong
strategic imperative. As a result, employers expect capabilities in both aspects of HR practice—
that HR professionals will demonstrate, in addition competency and knowledge—that are required for
to a thorough knowledge of HR concepts and effective job performance.
requirements, the behavioral competencies required
to effectively apply that knowledge in the modern The SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge™
workplace in support of organizational goals. (SHRM BoCK™), summarized in Figure 1, also draws
heavily on the SHRM Competency Model. The SHRM
In 2011, SHRM began years of extensive research BoCK documents the HR Behavioral Competencies
involving thousands of HR professionals to develop the and Knowledge Domains tested on the SHRM-CP
SHRM Competency Model, which identifies eight key and SHRM-SCP certification exams. The SHRM
Behavioral Competencies: Ethical Practice, Leadership BoCK is also the common framework for item writers
& Navigation, Business Acumen, Relationship developing questions and individuals developing
Management, Communication, Consultation, Critical exam preparation materials. SHRM operates exam
Evaluation, and Global & Cultural Effectiveness development and study material development as
and one Technical Competency: HR Expertise (HR separate, independent functions, and observes a strict
Knowledge) that are the foundation of successful HR firewall between these activities to protect the integrity
practice. The SHRM Competency Model provides and credibility of the certification exams.
HR professionals with a comprehensive roadmap for
developing the capabilities they need to advance their
careers and improve their effectiveness in the workplace.
The SHRM Competency Model is fundamental

to SHRM’s two new certifications, the SHRM
Certified Professional (SHRM-CP™) for early-career
practitioners, and the SHRM Senior Certified
Professional (SHRM-SCP™) for senior-level
practitioners. SHRM is launching these new credentials
to further two goals: for HR professionals, to reaffirm
the importance of acquiring both the competencies and
knowledge essential for successful job performance;
THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE 1

INTRODUCTION TO THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE
FIGURE 1: SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY & KNOWLEDGE (SHRM BoCK)
SHRM Body of Competency

& Knowledge
TM
■ Behavioral Competencies
■ Technical Competency
Leadership &
Navigation
Business Ethical Relationship

Acumen Practice Management
Effective
Individual
Performance
Global
Critical & Cultural
Consultation Evaluation Effectiveness Communication
HR Expertise (HR Knowledge Domains)
Successful
Business
People Organization Workplace Strategy
Outcomes
• Talent Acquisition • Structure of the • HR in the • Business

& Retention HR Function Global Context & HR Strategy
• Employee • Org. Effectiveness • Diversity & Inclusion HR
Engagement & Development • Risk Management Functional
• Learning • Workforce • Corporate Social
& Development Management
Areas
Responsibility
• Total Rewards • Employee Relations • Employment Law
• Technology & Data & Regulations*
*Applicable only to examinees testing within the U.S.
2 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Development of the SHRM BoCK

The SHRM Competency Model, which provides First, SHRM performed an extensive review of the
the framework for the SHRM BoCK, was developed existing literature on HR knowledge, including
using rigorous job analysis methods with the active textbooks, curricula, syllabi, and other educator
engagement of the global HR community (see resources, to determine the universe of potential
Figure 2). SHRM conducted 111 focus groups knowledge areas needed by HR professionals. SHRM
involving 1,200 HR practitioners to identify nine also consulted SHRM academic and employer surveys
critical competencies necessary for success as an HR regarding the basic functional knowledge needed for
professional. Focus group participants included HR participation in the human resources field. SHRM drew
professionals from 33 countries, representing a diversity on this research to create a preliminary knowledge
of both personal (e.g., career level, tenure) and framework for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP
organizational (e.g., sector, industry, size) attributes. certifications.
SHRM then confirmed the importance, relevance, and SHRM then established a BoCK Advisory Panel
universality of the SHRM Competency Model through to validate this framework. This panel included 19
a content validation survey, which drew responses HR and business leaders from various industries
from more than 32,000 HR professionals worldwide. including retail, research, consulting, health care, and
Finally, a series of large-scale multi-organizational manufacturing. The panel reviewed the proposed
criterion validation studies, involving a highly diverse framework for HR technical knowledge for accuracy
sample of more than 1,500 HR professionals and and comprehensiveness; defined key responsibility
their supervisors, established that proficiency in statements and knowledge topic areas associated with
these competencies is closely linked to successful job each Knowledge Domain and Functional Area; and
performance. developed importance rankings and weights for each
Knowledge Domain. After completing these tasks,
SHRM conducted a three-part knowledge specification a panel sub-group further refined the framework
exercise to develop the SHRM BoCK component by incorporating additional Panel feedback. Upon
identifying the key areas of HR functional knowledge completion, SHRM adopted the framework as the basis
or HR Expertise (HR Knowledge), the single technical for the knowledge component of the SHRM BoCK.
Competency in the SHRM Competency Model (see
Figure 3).
FIGURE 2: DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHRM COMPETENCY MODEL
MODEL DEVELOPMENT CONTENT VALIDATION CRITERION VALIDATION

111 focus groups 32,000 HR professionals 1,500 HR professionals and
their supervisors
1,200 HR professionals
FIGURE 3: KNOWLEDGE SPECIFICATION PROCESS

REVIEW OF EXISTING REFINE LIST OF TECHNICAL REVIEW
LITERATURE KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Textbooks, curricula, syllabi, BoCK Advisory Panel BoCK Advisory Panel
other resources

What Are Competencies?

A competency is a cluster of highly interrelated technical knowledge to job-related behavior. In other
attributes, including knowledge, skills, and abilities words, technical competencies reflect what knowledge
(KSAs) that give rise to the behaviors needed to HR professionals apply to their jobs, and Behavioral
perform a given job effectively. For example, Critical Competencies reflect how they apply this knowledge.
Evaluation, one of the Behavioral Competencies in the
SHRM Competency Model, requires an employee to A competency model is a set of competencies that
have research design knowledge, critical thinking skills, collectively defines the requirements for effective
and deductive reasoning abilities; those KSAs enable performance in a specific job, profession, or
the employee to behave in such a way as to perform a organization. There are eight Behavioral Competencies
job involving critical evaluation. and one Technical Competency, HR Expertise (HR
Knowledge) in the SHRM Competency Model, which
Competencies can be either technical or behavioral. forms the foundation of the SHRM BoCK. Figure 4
Technical competencies reflect the knowledge required provides an overview of these nine Competencies.
to perform a specific role. Behavioral Competencies
describe the KSAs that facilitate the application of
FIGURE 4: COMPETENCY DEFINITIONS
COMPETENCY DEFINITION
Leadership & Navigation The ability to direct and contribute to initiatives and processes within the organization.
The ability to integrate core values, integrity, and accountability throughout all
Ethical Practice
organizational and business practices.
The ability to understand and apply information with which to contribute to the
Business Acumen
organization’s strategic plan.
Relationship Management The ability to manage interactions to provide service and to support the organization.
Consultation The ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders.
The ability to interpret information with which to make business decisions and
Critical Evaluation
recommendations.
Global & Cultural Effectiveness The ability to value and consider the perspectives and backgrounds of all parties.
Communication The ability to effectively exchange information with stakeholders.
The knowledge of principles, practices, and functions of effective human resource

HR Expertise (HR Knowledge)
management.

Organization of the SHRM BoCK Document

The HR competencies and knowledge that will be
assessed on the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams are
detailed in the SHRM BoCK, which consists of the
following three sections:
Section 1 – Behavioral Competencies:
This section describes how HR professionals utilize proficient; nonetheless, advanced HR professionals
the eight Behavioral Competencies to perform should understand the concepts behind these tasks and
effectively in the workplace. Each Competency their strategic importance. (For example, an advanced
includes a definition; a broad summary of the primary HR professional may not be required to perform the
actions associated with that Competency; and key key behavior/transactional task of daily consultation
behaviors indicative of proficiency in that Competency. with a hiring manager; nevertheless, an advanced HR
The section identifies behaviors relevant to all HR professional should be able to ensure that such a key
professionals, and those relevant only to advanced HR behavior aligns with the strategic direction of the
professionals. organization, and to mentor and develop this behavior
in a junior employee.)
Please note that some of the key behaviors relevant to
all HR professionals reflect transactional tasks in which
advanced HR professionals may not be specifically
Section 2 – HR Expertise (HR Knowledge):
This section covers the single technical Competency of Definition summarizing the key concepts associated
HR Expertise (HR Knowledge). Several introductory with the Area; (2) Responsibility Statements relevant
paragraphs explain how this Competency is organized to all HR professionals, and those relevant only to
into four broad Knowledge Domains (covering People, advanced HR professionals; (3) pertinent illustrative
Organization, Workplace, and Strategy), divided Sample Applications of Competencies; and (4) key
among 15 HR Functional Areas. A subsection on Knowledge Topics in the Area.
each Functional Area follows, and includes: (1) a
Section 3 – Exam Overview:
This section outlines the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP

exams, including the number of questions on each
test, and score weightings assigned to each of the
Competencies and Knowledge Domains.

Section 1: Behavioral
Competencies
This section of the SHRM BoCK identifies and details the eight Behavioral Competencies that will be tested on
the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams. Behavioral Competencies describe the KSAs that facilitate the application
of technical knowledge to effective job-related behavior. SHRM’s research indicates that HR professionals who
exhibit advanced levels of proficiency in these Behavioral Competencies are likely to be effective in the workplace.

SECTION 1: BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES
Behavioral Competency #1: Leadership & Navigation
Definition: Leadership & Navigation is defined as the ability to direct and contribute to initiatives and
processes within the organization.
Effective leadership is associated with numerous • Promoting consensus among organizational

positive employee outcomes (Barling, Christie, & stakeholders (e.g., business unit leaders, employees,
Hoption, 2011), in such areas as work attitudes (job informal leaders) when proposing new initiatives.
satisfaction, organizational commitment) (Burke, • Serving as a transformational leader for the
Sims, Lazzara, & Salas, 2007; Judge & Piccolo, 2004), organization by implementing change.
decreased turnover, and increased job performance
(Barling et al., 2011). HR professionals at every level Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Leadership
can demonstrate proficiency as leaders and navigators. & Navigation for advanced HR professionals include:
Early-career professionals can behave in ways consistent • Leading HR staff in maintaining or changing
with organizational culture and foster collaboration organizational culture.
with coworkers. Mid- and senior-level HR professionals • Working with other executives to design, maintain,
can develop strategies to implement HR initiatives and and champion the mission, vision, and strategy of
support others’ initiatives. Executives can establish a the organization.
vision for HR initiatives, work to obtain buy-in from • Identifying the need for and facilitating strategic
relevant stakeholders, serve as transformational leaders organizational change.
to implement change, and lead the organization in the • Developing the organizational strategy for
face of adversity. In sum, the Leadership & Navigation achieving the human capital vision and mission.
Competency recognizes an important role for HR • Ensuring alignment between the human capital
professionals by describing needed attributes. vision, mission, and organizational business strategy.
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Leadership • Serving as the influential voice for HR strategies,
& Navigation for all HR professionals include: philosophies, and initiatives within the organization.
• Exhibiting behaviors consistent with and • Managing risk, opportunities, and gaps in business
conforming to organizational culture. strategy.
• Fostering collaboration among stakeholders and • Overseeing critical large-scale organizational
team members. changes with the support of business leaders.
• Understanding the most effective and efficient • Ensuring appropriate accountability for the
ways to accomplish tasks within the parameters of implementation of plans and change initiatives.
organizational hierarchy, processes, systems, and • Setting tone for maintaining or changing
policies. organizational culture.
• Developing solutions to overcome potential • Championing the HR function and organizational
obstacles to successful implementation of initiatives. mission and vision.
• Demonstrating agility and expertise in leading • Building buy-in for organizational change with
organizational initiatives or supporting the agility across senior leadership.
initiatives of others.
• Setting the vision for HR initiatives and building
buy-in from internal and external stakeholders.
• Leading the organization through adversity with
resilience and tenacity.

Behavioral Competency #2: Ethical Practice
Definition: Ethical Practice is defined as the ability to integrate core values, integrity, and accountability
throughout all organizational and business practices.
As it is for all employees, it is important that HR Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Ethical
professionals to be ethical by considering the core Practice for advanced HR professionals include:
values of their organization and acting with integrity. • Empowering senior leaders to maintain internal
Beyond adhering to rigorous ethical standards controls and create an ethical environment to
themselves, HR professionals are often tasked prevent conflicts of interest.
with creating ethical HR systems or reinforcing an • Maintaining contemporary knowledge of ethics,
organization’s ethical climate. These efforts serve laws, standards, legislation, and emerging trends
several purposes. Most notably, implementing a strong that may affect organizational HR practice.
ethical climate can help protect an organization from • Establishing oneself as a credible and trustworthy
adverse employee behavior. Ethical HR systems are resource to whom employees may voice concerns.
essential to organizations because they are associated • Challenging other executives and senior leaders
with higher levels of organizational performance (Lado when potential conflicts of interest arise.
& Wilson, 1994). • Withstanding politically motivated pressure when
developing strategy.
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Ethical • Setting the standard as a role model of ethical
Practice for all HR professionals include: behavior by consistently conforming to the highest
• Maintaining confidentiality. ethical standards and practices.
• Acting with personal, professional, and behavioral • Balancing organizational success and employee
integrity. advocacy when creating strategy.
• Responding immediately to all reports of unethical • Developing HR policies and internal controls
behavior or conflicts of interest. to minimize organizational risk from unethical
practice.
• Empowering all employees to report unethical
behavior or conflicts of interest without fear of • Creating HR strategy that holds employees
reprisal. accountable for their actions.
• Showing consistency between espoused and • Making difficult decisions that align with
enacted values. organizational strategies and values.
• Acknowledging mistakes. • Communicating the vision for an organizational
culture in which espoused and enacted values align.
• Driving the corporate ethical environment.
• Maintaining a culture that requires all employees to
• Applying power or authority appropriately.
report unethical practices and behavior.
• Recognizing one’s personal bias and the tendencies
• Aligning all HR practices with ethics, laws, and
of others toward bias, and taking measures to
standards.
mitigate the influence of bias in business decisions.
• Maintaining appropriate levels of transparency in
organizational practices.
• Ensuring that all stakeholder voices are heard.
• Managing political and social pressures when
making decisions.

Behavioral Competency #3: Business Acumen
Definition: Business Acumen is defined as the ability to understand and apply information with which to
contribute to the organization’s strategic plan.
HR professionals often serve in a consultative role • Using organizational metrics to make decisions.
for other organizational members and business units, • Leveraging technology to solve business problems.
developing and carrying out HRM practices that support
and are aligned with business strategies and goals. In Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Business
other words, successful HR professionals develop HR Acumen for advanced HR professionals include:
systems that positively contribute to organizational • Ensuring that the ROIs for all HR initiatives add to
success (Becker & Huselid, 2006).To do this effectively, organizational value.
HR professionals need a well-developed proficiency in • Assessing risks/SWOT (strengths, weaknesses,
Business Acumen. This includes understanding business opportunities, and threats) of business initiatives
operations and core functions, how HRM practices as they pertain to human capital, ROI, and
contribute to them, and the organization’s external shareholder accountability.
environment. It also means recognizing how internal • Aligning HR strategy, goals, and objectives to
and external factors interact to influence organizational overall business strategy and objectives.
performance (e.g., the external competitive environment, • Demonstrating fluency in the language of business
internal personnel resources). Last, it requires being administration as used by senior leaders.
able to make the case for HR management to other • Developing solutions with analysis of impact on
business professionals—that is, marketing HR within the ROI, utility, revenue, profit and loss estimates, and
organization, showing how it can have a direct impact other business indicators.
on organizational performance. • Examining all organizational problems in terms of
integrating HR solutions to maximize ROI, profit,
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Business revenue, and strategic effectiveness.
Acumen for all HR professionals include: • Evaluating all proposed business cases for HR
• Understanding the strategic relationship between projects and initiatives.
effective HRM and core business functions. • Benchmarking the competition and other relevant
• Being capable of understanding the business comparison groups.
operations and functions within the organization. • Communicating direction on local and global labor
• Using organizational resources to learn the business market and their relation to organizational success.
and operational functions. • Maintaining expert knowledge of business lines
• Understanding the industry and the business/ and products/services, as well as the competitive
competitive environment within which the market.
organization operates. • Developing HR business strategies to drive key
• Making the business case for HR management business results.
in terms of efficient and effective organizational • Maintaining expert knowledge of economic factors
functioning. and the impact of the economic environment on
• Marketing HR both internally (e.g., return-on- industry and organization operations.
investment/ROI for HR initiatives) and externally • Evaluating critical activities in terms of value added,
(e.g., employment branding). impact, and utility derived from a cost-benefit analysis.
• Understanding organizational metrics and their • Maintaining expert knowledge of key industry
correlation to business success. and organization metrics — that is, ‘knowing the
business.’
• Setting HR and business technology strategy to

solve business problems and needs.
• Serving as a strategic contributor to organizational
decision-making regarding fiscal, product/service
lines, operations, human capital, and technological
areas.
• Influencing government policy and proposed
regulations.
• Developing business strategy with top leaders of
the organization.
• Defining strategy for managing talent within the
confines of the labor market.

Behavioral Competency #4: Relationship Management
Definition: Relationship Management is defined as the ability to manage interactions to provide service and to
support the organization.
Because HR professionals regularly interact with • Ensuring alignment with HR strategy for delivering
clients and stakeholders, job success is a function of services and information to the organization.
an HR professional’s abilities to maintain productive • Providing customer service to organizational
interpersonal relationships and to help others do stakeholders.
the same—to display competency in managing • Promoting successful relationships with stakeholders.
relationships. Research has documented positive • Managing internal and external relationships in
outcomes associated with productive and healthy ways that promote the best interests of all parties.
interpersonal relationships in the work environment • Championing the view that organizational
(Reich & Hershcovis, 2011). Positive formal effectiveness benefits all stakeholders.
relationships (e.g., between employee and supervisor) are • Serving as an advocate when appropriate.
associated with such beneficial outcomes for employees
• Fostering effective teambuilding among stakeholders.
as improved feelings of belonging and inclusion in
the workplace (Alvesson & Sveningsson, 2003), more • Demonstrating the ability to effectively build a
network of contacts at all levels within HR and the
salary, increased promotions, greater career mobility,
community, internally and externally.
and other rewards (Allen, Eby, Poteet, Lentz, & Lima
2004). Positive informal relationships are associated
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Relationship
with greater job satisfaction, involvement, performance,
Management for advanced HR professionals include:
team cohesion, and organizational commitment, positive
• Designing strategies for improving performance
work atmosphere, and lessened turnover intentions
metrics for relationship management.
(Berman, West, & Richter, 2002).
• Networking with and influencing legislative bodies,
union heads, and external HR leaders.
Employees who have better interpersonal relationships
with coworkers and supervisors also may perceive the • Championing organizational customer service
strategies and models.
organization as more supportive (Wallace, Edwards,
Arnold, Frazier, & Finch, 2009), may be more • Negotiating with internal and external stakeholders
committed to the organization, and may experience to advance the interests of the organization.
increased perceptions of fitting in with the organization • Designing strategies to ensure a strong customer
(Kristof-Brown, Zimmerman, & Johnson, 2005). service culture in the HR function.
In sum, healthy interpersonal relationships at an • Creating conflict resolution strategies and processes
organization contribute positively to both employee throughout the organization.
and organizational success. • Overseeing HR decision-making processes to
ensure consistency with HR and business strategy.
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Relationship • Developing strategic relationships with internal and
Management for all HR professionals include: external stakeholders.
• Establishing credibility in all interactions. • Fostering a culture that supports intra-
organizational relationships (e.g., silo-busting).
• Treating all stakeholders with respect and dignity.
• Designing strategic opportunities and venues for
• Building engaging relationships with all
building employee networks and relationships.
organizational stakeholders through trust,
teamwork, and direct communication. • Proactively developing relationships with peers,
clients, suppliers, board members, and senior
• Demonstrating approachability and openness.
leaders.
Behavioral Competency #5: Consultation
Definition: Consultation is defined as the ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders.
HR professionals often act as internal consultants Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Consultation
or experts on human capital issues within their for advanced HR professionals include:
organizations. In this role, HR professionals can • Creating talent management strategies by utilizing
help business units address such challenging issues innovative business solutions that align with and
as staffing, training and development, employee drive business strategy.
performance, and employee relations (Combs, Liu, • Listening to business leaders’ challenges.
Hall, & Ketchen, 2006). To be a successful human • Developing visions for critical solutions to
capital expert, HR professionals must possess requisite organizational human capital challenges.
knowledge about HRM practices and have the ability • Identifying opportunities to provide HR and
to guide internal stakeholders. The most effective business solutions that maximize ROI for the
HR professionals use a process of engagement and organization.
interaction to translate complicated information • Using appropriate analytical tools enabling other
into actionable recommendations for end users. leaders to provide input on strategic decisions.
HR professionals must be able to analyze business • Identifying creative solutions for the organization
challenges, generate creative solutions, and provide and its business units.
accurate, timely guidance based on best practices and
• Supervising HR investigations together with legal
research that account for the organization’s unique counsel.
internal and external environments.
• Recognizing excessive HR liabilities and providing
proactive strategic guidance for remediation.
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Consultation
• Coaching executives on people-management issues
for all HR professionals include:
• Designing strategic HR and business solutions.
• Applying creative problem-solving to address
business needs and issues.
• Serving as an in-house expert on workforce and
people management.
• Analyzing specific business challenges involving
the workforce and offering solutions based on best
practices or research.
• Generating specific organizational interventions (e.g.,
change management, culture change, restructuring,
training) to support organizational objectives.
• Developing consultative and coaching skills.
• Guiding employees as to specific career situations.

Behavioral Competency #6: Critical Evaluation
Definition: Critical Evaluation is defined as the ability to interpret information with which to make business
decisions and recommendations.
HR can enhance the effectiveness and usefulness of Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Critical
human capital programs by using appropriate data to Evaluation for advanced HR professionals include:
inform their development and monitor their success. • Maintaining expert knowledge in the use of data,
One example of this data is human capital metrics, evidence-based research, benchmarks, and HR and
which quantify such items as the time to fill a position business metrics to make critical decisions.
and the cost per hire. HR functions that collect and • Maintaining expert knowledge and ability to
properly utilize HR metrics to inform HR activity not interpret data and make recommendations.
only add value to the role of HR in organizations, they • Making decisions with confidence based on analysis
are seen as more reliable strategic partners (Lawler, of available information to drive business success.
Levenson, & Boudreau, 2004). The rise of data-based • Setting the direction of HR and the organization
HRM practices (such as the increasingly frequent use of through evaluation of risks and economic and
“big data” by HR departments) is clearly evident. HR environmental factors.
professionals are currently being asked to inform their • Seeking information in a strategic, systematic
decisions with data, and this trend is likely to continue manner for use in decision-making.
and expand in the coming years. • Analyzing information necessary for evaluating
and using data and additional information to make
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Critical effective decisions.
Evaluation for all HR professionals include: • Sponsoring initiatives for process improvement
• Making sound decisions based on evaluation of using evidence-based solutions.
available information. • Communicating the impact on organizational
• Assessing the impact on organizational HRM strategy of relevant and important findings from
functions of changes in the law. data analysis.
• Transferring knowledge and best practices from • Applying findings to build effective and creative
one situation to the next. polices within an organizational context.
• Applying critical thinking to information received • Utilizing one’s awareness and experience of
from organizational stakeholders, and evaluating external/environmental factors in decision-making.
what can be used for organizational success. • Challenging assumptions and critically examining
• Gathering critical information. all initiatives and programs.
• Analyzing data with a keen sense for what is useful. • Providing a strategic view to direct and prioritize
decision-making.
• Analyzing information to identify evidence-based
best practices.
• Delineating a clear set of best practices based on
experience, evidence from industry literature,
published peer-reviewed research, publicly available
web-based information, and other sources.
• Identifying leading indicators of outcomes.
• Analyzing large quantities of information from
research and practice.

Behavioral Competency #7: Global & Cultural Effectiveness
Definition: Global & Cultural Effectiveness is defined as the ability to value and to consider the perspectives
and backgrounds of all parties in global business.
Diversity within a team or organization can facilitate • Operating with a fundamental trust in other human
success by fostering creativity, promoting healthy beings.
working relationships, and equipping the organization • Taking the responsibility to ensure inclusion by
with an opportunity to connect with a wider audience teaching others about the differences and benefits
(Jayne & Dipboye, 2004). In light of the proactive that multiple cultures bring to the organization.
attempts of many organizations to increase the diversity • Incorporating global business and economic trends
of their own workforces in the conext of today’s into business decisions.
increasingly global workforce, HR professionals
must be able to effectively and respectfully interact Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Global &
with colleagues, customers, and clients of varying Cultural Effectiveness for advanced HR professionals
backgrounds and cultures. include:
• Setting the strategy to leverage global competencies
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in Global & for competitive HR advantages.
Cultural Effectiveness for all HR professionals include: • Using a global economic outlook to determine
• Having a strong set of core values while adapting to impacts on the organization’s human capital
particular conditions, situations, and people. strategy.
• Maintaining openness to others’ ideas and making • Maintaining expert global and cultural knowledge/
decisions based on experience, data, facts, and experience.
reasoned judgment. • Maintaining expert knowledge of global economic
• Demonstrating nonjudgmental respect for others’ trends.
perspectives. • Understanding global labor markets and associated
• Working effectively with diverse cultures and legal environments.
populations. • Fostering the organization’s cultural norms.
• Conducting business with understanding and • Proving the ROI of a diverse workforce.
respect for the differences in rules, customs, laws, • Managing contradictory or paradoxical practices,
regulations, and business operations between one’s policies, and cultural norms to ensure cross-cultural
own culture and all cultures. harmony and organizational success.
• Appreciating the commonalities, values, and • Integrating perspectives on cultural differences and
individual uniqueness of all human beings. their impact on the success of the organization.
• Possessing self-awareness and humility, to learn • Setting the vision that defines the strategic
from others. connection between employee diversity and
• Embracing inclusion. inclusiveness practices and organizational success.
• Adapting one’s perspectives and behaviors to meet • Building cross-cultural relationships and
the cultural context. partnerships.
• Navigating the differences between commonly
accepted practices and laws when conducting
business in other nations.
• Operating with a global, open mindset while being
sensitive to local cultural issues and needs.

Behavioral Competency #8: Communication
Definition: Communication is defined as the ability to effectively exchange information with stakeholders.
Effective communication is one of the building blocks • Welcoming the opportunity to discuss competing
of personal and career success (Showry & Manasa, points of view.
2012). This is particularly true for HR professionals. • Helping others consider new perspectives.
HR professionals at junior career levels may need to • Leading meetings effectively and efficiently.
field employee grievances, conduct investigations, • Helping managers communicate on issues other
and intervene to resolve employee interpersonal than HR.
challenges. Senior-level HR professionals are often
required to interact with a variety of stakeholders—to Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in
develop, interpret, and distribute policy and initiative Communication for advanced HR professionals include:
information to employees, and to collaborate with other • Articulating the alignment between organizational
organizational units in addressing business challenges HR initiatives and organizational strategy.
from a human capital perspective. Especially at senior
• Communicating the corporate mission and vision
and executive career levels, effective communication to other stakeholders.
is essential for describing the leader’s vision, the
• Creating strategy to develop a culture that fosters
organization’s mission, new initiatives, goal-setting, and efficient and effective interactions and decision-
progress. When HR information is communicated well, making.
employees better understand the purpose and value of
• Crafting messages to be delivered to stakeholders
policies and practices. For example, employees whose on high-visibility organizational issues.
managers effectively communicate HR practices and
• Negotiating with stakeholders to reach the best
policies to them perceive the organization’s HRM to be possible outcomes.
more effective, which in turn positively affects employee
• Soliciting feedback and buy-in from executive-level
satisfaction and business unit performance (Den Hartog,
stakeholders.
Boon, Verburg, & Croon, 2013).
• Developing strategy for organizational
communication systems.
Key behaviors indicative of proficiency in
Communication for all HR professionals include: • Delivering strategic messages supporting HR and
business.
• Providing clear, concise information to others in
verbal, written, electronic, and other communication • Building support through clear communications.
formats for public and organizational consumption. • Communicating HR vision, practices, and policies
• Listening actively and empathetically to the views to other stakeholders.
of others. • Comfortably communicating with audiences of all sizes.
• Delivering critical information to all stakeholders.
• Seeking further information to clarify ambiguity.
• Providing constructive feedback effectively, treating
it as a developmental opportunity.
• Communicating proactively.
• Ensuring effective communication throughout the
organization.
• Providing proactive communications.
• Demonstrating an understanding of the audience’s
perspective.
SECTION 2: HR Expertise
(HR Knowledge)
Today’s employers require HR professionals to competencies in the SHRM Competency Model, this
demonstrate competency in HR behaviors, as outlined Competency was developed and validated through
in Section 1, as well as knowledge of HR topics, which extensive research with HR professionals. This section
are outlined here in Section 2. The need for practical is focused on describing the Knowledge Domains and
as well as technical expertise is a business reality for the HR Functional Areas that comprise the HR Expertise
modern practice of HR that is reflected in the SHRM (HR Knowledge) Competency.
BoCK by the Technical Competency HR Expertise
(HR Knowledge). As with the eight Behavioral
What Are HR Functional Areas of Knowledge?

In the SHRM BoCK, HR Expertise (HR Knowledge) of experience). While the latter responsibilities
has been grouped by common themes into four broad are generally more strategic in nature, advanced
Knowledge Domains: People, Organization, Workplace, HR professionals should be familiar, at a strategic
level, with the concepts related to all responsibility
and Strategy. These four Domains are associated with
statements.
HR Functional Areas of knowledge: the knowledge
• Sample Application of Competencies: Examples
required to perform a specific HR activity (e.g., Talent
of the behavioral and technical KSAs that are
Acquisition & Retention, Employee Relations). relevant to the Functional Area, and are closely
associated with professionals who demonstrate
There are 15 HR Functional Areas of knowledge— proficiency in that Area. All Competencies are
what HR professionals need to know to perform their relevant to each Functional Area. While every
job responsibilities. (see Figure 5.) The HR Functional Functional Area requires the Technical Competency
Area of Business & HR Strategy forms its own of HR Expertise (HR Knowledge), effective
practice also requires the application of Behavioral
Knowledge Domain of Strategy; the remaining 14 HR
Competencies. The same Competency may be
Functional Areas form the remaining three Knowledge
required in multiple HR Functional Areas, but will
Domains of People, Organization, and Workplace. manifest itself differently in each Area through the
distinctive application of KSAs.
This part of the SHRM BoCK outlines the specific • Knowledge Topics: The information required to
content of each Functional Area listed above. Each perform the responsibilities in the Functional Area.
subsection contains a four-part description of the The same topic may appear in multiple Areas. (For
Functional Area under discussion (all of which will be example, the knowledge topic “metrics” is listed
tested on the certification exam): in almost every Functional Area.) More specific
topics are relevant only to certain Areas. (For
• Definition: The types of activities associated with
example, expertise in the Behavioral Competency
the Functional Area, and how they add value to the
of Communication covers knowledge topics as
organization.
diverse as “coaching and counseling,” listed in
• Responsibility Statements: The specific actions the Employee Engagement Functional Area, and
indicative of proficiency in that Functional Area. “social media usage,” listed in the Corporate Social
This includes responsibilities applicable to all HR Responsibility Functional Area.)
professionals, and responsibilities applicable only
to advanced HR professionals (six or more years

SECTION 2: HR EXPERTISE (HR KNOWLEDGE)
FIGURE 5: KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS AND HR FUNCTIONAL AREAS
PEOPLE WORKPLACE
Talent Acquisition & Retention HR in the Global Context

Employee Engagement Diversity & Inclusion
Learning & Development Risk Management
Total Rewards Corporate Social Responsibility
U.S. Employment Law & Regulations
(applicable only to examinees testing within the U.S.)
ORGANIZATION STRATEGY
Structure of the HR Function Business & HR Strategy

Organizational Effectiveness & Development
Workforce Management
Employee Relations
Technology & Data

DOMAIN 1: People
Functional Area #1: Talent Acquisition & Retention
Definition: Talent Acquisition & Retention encompasses the activities involved in building and maintaining a
workforce. HR demonstrates value by developing, implementing, and measuring the individual and organizational
success of activities and programs for sourcing, recruiting, hiring, onboarding, orientation, and retention.
Responsibility Statements: Sample Application of Competencies:

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Business Acumen—The ability to understand the
• Identifying and selecting appropriate interview organization’s strategy and translate it into a robust
and selection techniques that best demonstrate a plan that attracts and retains high-performing
candidate’s technical skills, organizational fit, and individuals.
competency alignment. • Critical Evaluation—The ability to interpret
• Seeking and utilizing a wide variety of talent staffing plans, market data and other external PEST
sources to recruit, screen, and evaluate applicants. (political, economic, social, and technological)
data, and make sound business decisions and
• Implementing and utilizing technology to support
recommendations at the initial phases of the
effective and efficient approaches to sourcing,
employee lifecycle.
recruitment, evaluation, and selection.
• Consultation—The ability to provide guidance on
• Conducting effective background investigations.
planning and structuring the workforce, based on
• Understanding sponsorship and visa requirements current and future needs of the organization and
for foreign nationals. key stakeholders.
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals Knowledge Topics:

include: • Employee lifecycle phases
• Developing strategies for acquiring and retaining • Employee retention techniques
a high-performing workforce, using internal and
• Employer value proposition techniques
external resources.
• Employment branding approaches
• Analyzing staffing levels to make decisions as to
workforce allocation. • External labor market PEST factors
• External and internal recruitment approaches
• Assessing workforce readiness against organizational
needs. • Evaluation techniques
• Designing job descriptions to meet organizational • Formal assessment methods and tools
resource needs and to attract qualified candidates. • Identification of bona fide occupational
qualifications (BFOQs)
• Establishing an employer value proposition and
employment brand that supports organizational • Interviewing techniques
success. • Job analysis, evaluation, and design of job
descriptions
• Designing and implementing strategies for sourcing,
recruiting, candidate evaluation, and retention. • Job offer contingencies
• Metrics (e.g., cost per hire, days to fill)
• Recruitment approaches
• Selection approaches
• Sourcing approaches
• Staffing projection approaches

Functional Area #2: Employee Engagement
Definition: Employee Engagement solidifies the connection among employee, manager, and the organization’s
mission, vision, values, and goals. HR demonstrates value by understanding and leveraging the employer-
employee relationship from both individual and organizational perspectives, developing effective strategies to
address appropriate expectations for performance and behavior from employees at all levels.
Responsibility Statements: Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: include:
• Developing and implementing employee and • Evaluating and influencing workplace cultures and
workplace policies. norms that allow for collaboration and effectiveness.
• Investigating workplace harassment and • Identifying appropriate conduct and behaviors that
misconduct. support organization cultural success.
• Understanding requests for • Establishing strategies to address workplace
workplace accommodations and engaging key retaliation and violence.
stakeholders to determine appropriate responses. • Developing strategies to determine the effectiveness
• Conducting due diligence when consulting on of performance management systems.
workplace disputes. • Applying best practices for workplace flexibility to
• Designing and implementing workplace policies, improve organizational effectiveness.
handbooks, and codes of conduct. • Developing infrastructure to support cultural
• Consulting on satisfactory employee performance norms and values.
and on approaches to performance management.
• Designing and implementing appreciation and Sample Application of Competencies:
recognition programs. • Communication—The ability to ensure effective
• Consulting on important workplace issues with key communication between the employee and the
stakeholders. organization, using a variety of methods and
• Managing employee onboarding and assimilation approaches.
processes. • Relationship Management—The ability to engage
• Designing, conducting, and analyzing employee and retain employees through positive interactions
surveys. that support the mission, vision, values, and goals
of the organization.
• Consulting with managers on how to supervise
difficult employees, handle disruptive behaviors, • Consultation—The ability to effectively provide
and respond with an appropriate level of corrective guidance and influence decisions that balance
action. organizational with individual needs.
• Participating in the resolution of workplace

disputes.
• Identifying and using appropriate alternative
dispute resolution techniques.

Knowledge Topics:
• Alternative dispute resolution techniques
• Analysis of organizational culture and climate
• Coaching and counseling
• Cognitive biases (e.g., halo bias, similar-to-me bias)
• Complaint resolution procedures
• Conflict management theory and approaches
• Disciplinary procedures and approaches
• Employee lifecycle phases
• Employee recordkeeping and retention
• Investigation techniques
• Management of people
• Metrics
• Motivational theories
• Organizational culture influences
• Organizational change management
• Performance management systems
• Principles of effective performance appraisal
techniques (e.g., goal-setting, giving feedback)
• Principles of survey creation, administration, and
evaluation
• Recognition approaches
• Retaliation prevention approaches
• Workplace flexibility

Functional Area #3: Learning & Development
Definition: Learning & Development aligns organizational business needs with employees’ competencies,
knowledge, and skills, effectively closing the gap between them. HR demonstrates value by identifying and
creating learning opportunities that increase employee capability and organizational knowledge.

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Business Acumen—The ability to understand how
• Developing staff capabilities using state-of-the-art measures of organizational success are positively
learning and development strategies. influenced by the retention of and increase in
individual knowledge, skills, and competencies.
• Planning for internal or external resources to
deliver appropriate development interventions to • Critical Evaluation—The ability to analyze
target internal audience. organizational and training needs assessments, so
as to determine the most effective learning and
• Creating a forum of internal social networks for
development solutions supporting achievement of
effective sharing of knowledge among employees.
individual and organizational goals and objectives.
• Developing programs to promote the transfer of
• Relationship Management—The ability to
knowledge to and from experienced and junior
manage relationships to determine appropriate
employees.
learning and development interventions supporting
• Advancing organizational learning and the achievement of organizational goals and
development, knowledge management, and the objectives.
exchange of information about practices and
innovations.
Knowledge Topics:
• Consulting and providing resources and processes • Career development techniques
to facilitate experiential learning and development.
• Career management philosophies
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals • Change management approaches
include: • Coaching styles and approaches
• Consulting on and guiding the identification and • Competency models
development of critical competencies. • Employee lifecycle phases
• Designing approaches for resolving competency • Knowledge-sharing techniques
deficiencies in current and emerging leaders. • Learning evaluation approaches
• Creating long-term strategies to develop • Mentoring options
organizational talent. • Metrics
• Creating strategies to ensure the retention of • Organizational intervention design and
organizational knowledge. implementation approaches
• Leadership development techniques
• Learning theories
• Needs assessment techniques (e.g., organizational,
training)
• Skill and competency development approaches
• Training design and implementation (e.g., ADDIE
model)
• Training and development techniques and solutions

Functional Area #4: Total Rewards
Definition: Total Rewards encompasses direct and indirect remuneration approaches that employers use to
attract, recognize, and retain workers. HR demonstrates value by designing and administering systems and
programs (e.g., base pay, benefits, incentive pay, leave, perquisites, retirement) that support recruitment and
retention efforts.
Responsibility Statements: Knowledge Topics:

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Accounting practices and principles
• Designing and implementing appropriate pay, • Benefits (e.g., disability insurance, domestic
benefit, incentive, and separation/severance partners, education, employee assistance
systems and programs. programs, families, life insurance, retirement plans,
unemployment insurance, wellness programs,
• Complying with compensation and benefits workers’ compensation)
practices, laws, and regulations.
• Employee lifecycle phases
• Performing accurate job analyses and evaluations.
• External labor markets PEST factors
• Differentiating between government-mandated, • Fiduciary responsibilities
government-provided, and voluntary benefit
approaches. • Income replacement programs
• Job analysis, job design, job descriptions
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals • Metrics
include: • Perquisites
• Designing organizational compensation and • Pay practices, policies, approaches, systems,
benefits strategies and plans that align with the and issues (e.g., base pay, minimum wage
organization’s mission, vision, and values. determinations, pay compression, pay equity, pay
increases, pay levels and banding), and special
• Designing and implementing executive provisions (e.g., overtime)
compensation approaches that directly connect
• Remuneration data analysis (collecting, analyzing,
individual performance to organizational success. making recommendations)
• Time-off plans and approaches (e.g., paid and
Sample Application of Competencies: unpaid leave, vacation/holiday)
• Business Acumen—The ability to understand
organizational strategy and, in turn, create the best
balance of monetary and non-monetary payment
and rewards offered to employees.
• Critical Evaluation—The ability to interpret
remuneration surveys, market data, and other
external PEST data, in order to make sound
business decisions and recommendations about
the design, delivery, and success of a total rewards
program.

DOMAIN 2: Organization
Functional Area #5: Structure of the HR Function
Definition: Structure of the HR Function encompasses the people-related processes, theories, and activities
used to deliver HR services that create and drive organizational effectiveness. HR demonstrates value by
selecting the appropriate delivery model (e.g. Center of Excellence/COE, generalist, shared services) with an
understanding of stakeholder needs and the impact of decisions on the overall workforce.

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Business Acumen—The ability to understand
• Understanding business lines and products/services and apply organizational strategy, mission, vision,
(including revenue generation, profitability, and the and values in developing and implementing an HR
competitive market). strategy and tactical plan.
• Implementing solutions based on analysis and • Critical Evaluation—The ability to interpret
understanding of the impact on the organization of workforce and employee information and data to
leading and lagging financial, customer, operations, drive recommendations and decisions concerning
and learning indicators. people and business.
• Designing and implementing the appropriate • Consultation— The ability to provide balanced
servicing model (centralized versus decentralized). and thoughtful guidance to organizational
stakeholders on matters related to people and
• Demonstrating partnership capabilities with
business.
non-HR business leaders to capitalize on
organizational success or to solve organizational
issues. Knowledge Topics:
• Serving as the HR point-of-service contact for key • Balanced scorecard philosophy
stakeholders within a division or group. • Centralization versus decentralization
• Providing workforce consultation to all levels of • Defined approaches to roles and functions for
leadership and management. generalists and specialists
• Delivering HR services and support that • Due diligence methodologies
demonstrate one’s business knowledge and acumen • HR organizational structure and design
contributing to organizational success.
• HR functional integration approaches
• Analyzing data and performance indicators to
• Negotiation and influence techniques
ensure the effectiveness of the HR organization.
• Stakeholder analysis techniques
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals • Strategy design and implementation
include: • Structural model approaches to HR (e.g., Center
• Supporting the communication, understanding, of Excellence/COE, HR business partner, shared
and implementation of the organization’s mission, services)
vision, values, and strategy.
• Designing and implementing the HR operational
structure to ensure efficient and effective delivery
of services.
• Developing appropriate measures and metrics (e.g.,
balanced scorecard) to demonstrate the value of
HR activities in supporting organizational success.

Functional Area #6: Organizational Effectiveness & Development
Definition: Organizational Effectiveness & Development deals with the overall structure and functionality of the
organization — that is, measuring the effectiveness and growth of people and processes from long- and short-
term perspectives, and leading necessary organizational change initiatives. HR demonstrates value by aligning
the organization’s vision, mission, and goals with day-to-day operational activities, including organizational
design, development, performance measures, and standards.
Responsibility Statements: Knowledge Topics:

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Business solution and performance analysis
• Ensuring that workforce activities are accurately • Change and culture metrics
reflected in job descriptions and other key • Change management theories and approaches
documents (e.g., applicant tracking systems, job
postings, performance management systems). • Consulting techniques
• Design approaches for a motivational work
• Creating and monitoring metrics to assess
environment
organizational development and effectiveness
• Design approaches for work activity
• Recognizing and eliminating barriers to
organizational development and effectiveness. • Group dynamics
• Planning for internal or external resources to • How employees learn culture
deliver appropriate short-term development • How organizational cultures are created
interventions and activities. • Influence techniques
• Knowledge management approaches (e.g.,
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals organizational storytelling techniques)
include: • Labor supply and demand analysis
• Consulting on, planning, and designing • Motivational theories
organizational structures that align with the • Organizational behavior theories
effective delivery of activities in support of the
• Organizational culture versus national culture
achievement of organizational strategy.
• Organizational design structures and approaches
• Assessing organizational needs to identify critical (e.g., customer, functional, geographic, matrix,
competencies for operational effectiveness. program)
• Consulting on, developing, and designing • Organizational learning approaches
performance standards and assessment metrics. • Organizational needs analysis techniques
• Performance management theories, structures, and
Sample Application of Competencies: approaches
• Business Acumen—The ability to understand • Project management approaches
organizational strategies and apply this knowledge
• Roles and responsibilities (e.g., chain of command,
to create a plan for effective growth. span of control)
• Critical Evaluation—The ability to interpret • Strategic-tactical alignment
organizational information and performance data
to ensure the implementation of effective and • Types of cultures (e.g., authoritarian, dominant
efficient business solutions. cultures, mechanistic, participative, subcultures)
• Relationship Management—The ability to • Understanding individual differences and
manage interactions with key stakeholders and perceptions
provide appropriate recommendations and
solutions based on in-depth organizational
knowledge and expertise.
Functional Area #7: Workforce Management
Definition: Workforce Management enables the organization to meet its talent needs and close critical skill
gaps using data-driven processes (e.g., workforce planning, succession planning) that inform HR initiatives. HR
demonstrates value by facilitating financial and operational growth, continuity, or stability.

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Business Acumen—The ability to understand the
• Implementing approaches (e.g., “buy or build”) organization’s evolutionary stage (introduction,
to ensure that appropriate workforce levels exist to growth, maturity, or decline) and ensure that the
deliver on organizational goals and objectives. strategic plan addresses the unique needs of each
stage, in terms of size and structure.
• Planning short-term strategies to build individual
skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies that • Critical Evaluation—The ability to interpret
support organizational bench strength. growth or retraction patterns and data, in order
to make decisions and recommendations as to
• Implementing strategies for restructuring the
organizational size, structure, and reporting
organization (e.g., acquisition, downsizing).
relationships, as well as the acquisition (internally
• Implementing succession plans for optimizing developed or externally obtained) of competencies,
organizational growth and effectiveness. knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Designing and implementing programs and • Relationship Management—The ability to
solutions for management and retention of manage interactions with key stakeholders
organizational knowledge. and provide appropriate recommendations
and solutions that address current and future
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals organizational gaps.
include:
• Consulting on and initiating strategies to create a Knowledge Topics:
robust workforce plan that addresses current and • Communication techniques
future organizational needs, including workforce • Employee development techniques and approaches
size and structure.
• Knowledge management, retention, and transfer
• Initiating and designing strategies (e.g., leadership techniques
development, succession planning, training) to • Learning theories and philosophies
address organizational gaps between current and
• Needs assessment techniques (e.g., organizational,
future employees’ competencies, knowledge, skills,
training)
and abilities.
• Restructuring approaches
• Designing and implementing strategies to retain
organizational knowledge. • Succession planning techniques
• Workforce planning techniques and analyses (e.g.,
• Designing strategies for restructuring the gap and solution, implementation and evaluation,
organization (e.g., acquisition, downsizing). supply and demand, workforce profile)

Functional Area #8: Employee Relations
Definition: Employee Relations refers to any dealings between the organization and its employees regarding
the terms and conditions of employment. HR demonstrates value by ensuring that the appropriate framework,
mindset, and practices are in place to embrace or react or respond to the employment relationship, including
relationships with employee representatives.

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Ethical Practice—The ability to maintain
• Managing union/employee representative interactions. confidentiality and appropriate levels of
transparency in ways that balance the needs of
• Engaging in appropriate and lawful union-
employees and the organization.
management practices.
• Representing the organization’s interests in union-
manage interactions that balance organizational
management activities.
and employee needs.
• Managing the collective bargaining process, when
appropriate.
labor activity information and data for making
• Resolving workplace labor disputes internally. appropriate decisions about the organization’s
• Managing arbitration and mediation processes. response to employee concerns or third-party
representation.
• Participating in or facilitating alternate dispute
resolution processes.
Knowledge Topics:
• Understanding and making recommendations to
respond to other types of employee representation • Alternative dispute resolution techniques
(e.g. government, legal). • Causes of strikes, boycotts, and work stoppages
• Child labor
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals:
• Collective bargaining process
• Consulting on and developing an effective labor
• Communication approaches
strategy (i.e., avoidance or acceptance) with the
desired impact on the organization and its workforce. • Contract administration techniques
• Educating employees, managers, and leaders at all • Contract negotiation approaches
levels about the organization’s labor strategy (i.e., • Disciplinary techniques
avoidance or acceptance) and its impact on the
• Standard workday
achievement of goals and objectives.
• Employee engagement approaches
• Governmental labor parties and party relations by
nation
• Grievance, complaint, and conflict resolution
techniques
• Industrial relations
• International Labor Organization (ILO) core labor
standards
• International labor practices
• Labor economics

• Labor environments (e.g., pluralism, radicalism,

unitarianism)
• Labor rights
• Living and fair wage concepts
• People-management techniques
• Positive union/management relations approaches
• Recognition approaches
• Service award approaches
• Social movement unionism, new unionism
proletariat
• Socialism, syndicalism, anarcho-syndicalism
• Strike actions, secondary actions, general strikes,
sit-down strikes, work-to-rule
• Survey techniques
• Trade unions by nation
• Trade union federations
• Unfair labor practices
• Union acceptance and avoidance approaches
• Union attractiveness
• Union membership
• Union structures
• Unionized labor history
• Works councils structures and approaches
• World Trade Organization

Functional Area #9: Technology & Data
Definition: Technology & Data deals with the use of tools, technologies, and systems that support the
gathering, analysis, and reporting of workforce information, as well as effective and efficient collaboration
and communication throughout the organization. HR demonstrates value by developing knowledge about
technology uses, trends, and innovations applicable to HR’s strategic goals.

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Human Resource Expertise—The ability to
• Consulting on effective policies and approaches maintain up-to-date knowledge about core business
to address technology use in the workplace (e.g., and HR technologies to solve business challenges.
collaboration, communication, networking, social • Business Acumen—The ability to understand
media). and apply technology solutions that support
• Identifying, analyzing, and implementing achievement of the organization’s strategic plan.
appropriate technology solutions for the delivery of • Critical Evaluation—The ability to efficiently
effective HR services. access information and data in order to make
• Implementing appropriate HR information systems business decisions and recommendations.
(HRIS) that integrate with enterprise systems • Communication—The ability to develop
to provide efficient and effective reporting and technology solutions that promote the effective
metrics. exchange of information among key stakeholders,
• Accessing appropriate data and information to regardless of location.
analyze specific business challenges and recommend
solutions. Knowledge Topics:
• Leveraging technology to gain efficiencies within • Business process integration approaches
the HR function.
• Data analytic techniques
• Data management protection approaches
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals
include: • Electronic recordkeeping approaches
• Identifying and implementing technology solutions • Electronic signature acceptance
that support achievement of organizational • HR information systems and sources
strategies, goals, and objectives.
• HR management and information system design
• Using technology for data analytics that optimize
• Information management theory
each HR Functional Area.
• Procurement approaches
• Developing and implementing a technology-
driven self-service approach enabling managers • Product development
and employees to perform basic people-related • Project management theories
transactions (e.g. benefit enrollment, compensation
• Social media practices and usage
administration, information changes, scheduling,
timekeeping). • Systems integration approaches
• Technology use policies and practices

DOMAIN 3: Workplace
Functional Area #10: HR in the Global Context
Definition: HR in the Global Context focuses on organizational growth and workforce-related issues and
impacts, viewed from domestic, multinational, transnational, and global perspectives. HR demonstrates value
by understanding how global PEST factors influence business decisions, and by applying this knowledge to
day-to-day HR activities, policy creation, and business solution recommendations.
Responsibility Statements: • Consultation—The ability to provide guidance

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: on global matters to internal and external
organizational stakeholders.
• Recognizing and responding to global issues that
influence domestic business practices.
Knowledge Topics:
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of PEST, HR,
and legal trends in global terms. • Creating a global organizational culture
• Developing expert knowledge of global trends and • Cross-border HR management techniques

best practices. • Cultural models (e.g., Hall, Hofstede, Schein,
• Balancing the organizational desire for Trompenaars)
standardization with localization through a • Global discrimination prevention practices
“glocalized” approach to decision-making. • Global legal systems (e.g., different nations’
• Building cross-cultural relationships and approaches to government-mandated, government-
partnerships with global stakeholders. provided, and voluntary benefits, extra-territoriality
• Implementing and conducting audits of global HR of laws and legislation)
practices. • Global mindset techniques (e.g., communication
barrier removal, cultural awareness training and
Key responsibilities for advanced HR professionals assimilation, understanding PEST factors)
include: • Global trends in benefits, compensation, diversity
• Developing and implementing a comprehensive and inclusion, employment laws, ethics and
strategy to address issues affecting business, people, sustainability, labor markets, labor relations, safety
and the workforce on a global basis. and security, staffing management
• Consulting on and developing strategies to define • Managing international assignments (e.g.,

global competencies. approaches and trends, effective performance,
compensation adjustments, employee repatriation)
• Consulting on labor and economic trends, cultural
implications, and the legal environment for • Moving work (e.g., co-sourcing, near-shoring,
business decisions and risks. offshoring, on-shoring)
• Taxation approaches
Sample Application of Competencies: • Totalization agreements
• Communication—The ability to effectively • Visa and work permit considerations
exchange information with stakeholders to ensure
that a global perspective is considered in decision-
making.
• Global & Cultural Effectiveness—The ability to
value and consider all parties’ perspectives and
backgrounds.

Functional Area #11: Diversity & Inclusion
Definition: Diversity & Inclusion encompasses the qualities, life experiences, personalities, education, skills,
competencies, and collaboration of the many different types of people who are necessary to propel an
organization to success. HR demonstrates value by creating opportunities that leverage the human experience
to address organizational needs or solve issues on a global basis.

Key responsibilities for all HR professionals include: • Ethical Practice—The ability to recognize and
• Consulting on the difference between issues of mitigate the influence of bias in business decisions.
performance and those of culture or personal style. • Relationship Management—The ability to
• Developing expert knowledge of global trends and manage interactions that provide service to and
best practices in diversity and inclusion. support the organization from a global perspective.
• Maintaining expert global and cultural knowledge. • Communication—The ability to effectively
exchange information with global stakeholders.
• Facilitating an organizational culture that promotes
a global mindset for diversity and inclusion through • Global & Cultural Effectiveness—The ability
development activities and experiences. to value and consider the perspectives and
backgrounds of all parties.
• Championing diversity and inclusion programs with
external stakeholders (e.g., diverse suppliers).
Knowledge Topics:
• Providing mentoring, training, guidance, and
coaching on cultural trends and practices to • Approaches to a multi-generational workforce
employees at all levels of the organization. • Developing cross-cultural relationships
• Implementing audit practices to ensure cultural • Effective approaches to building trust and
awareness on a global basis. relationships
• Demonstrating nonjudgmental respect for others’ • Emotional intelligence
perspectives.
• Glass-ceiling prevention
• High- and low-context cultures
include: • Inclusive leadership
• In conjunction with other business leaders, • Influence of the 4 T’s (travel, training, transfers,
developing, implementing, and overseeing and teams)
programs, practices, and policies that make the • Intercultural wisdom
strategic connection between a global mindset and
• Issues related to disability, ethnicity, gender,
organizational success.
language, race, sexual orientation
• Ensuring that equitability for all internal and
• Level of global acceptance of diversity (e.g.,
external stakeholders is considered when designing
disability, ethnicity, gender, language, race, religion,
programs, policies, and practices.
sexual orientation)
• Taking diversity into account when planning and
• Mindful communication
implementing programs, policies, and practices.
• Religious influences and accommodation
• Fostering and influencing an inclusive
organizational culture. • Techniques for cultural awareness and respect
• Fostering an environment that embraces and
encourages global mobility, which allows for
diverse experiences.

Functional Area #12: Risk Management
Definition: Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO
31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives), followed by the coordinated and economical application
of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to
maximize the realization of opportunities.

• Directly or indirectly developing, implementing maintain current and up-to-date knowledge about
and overseeing the execution of programs, the role of HR in risk management.
practices, and policies that mitigate risk and support • Business Acumen—The ability to understand and
organizational success (e.g., appropriate use of apply information to develop the organization’s risk
technology, fiduciary responsibility, fraud, theft, management strategy.
workplace safety and security, workplace violence).
• Maintaining accountability for recording and internal and external information and data to make
reporting workplace safety compliance. risk-based business decisions and recommendations
• Developing crisis management and contingency that align with the organization’s level of risk
plans for the HR function and the organization. tolerance.
• Designing and implementing continuity plans for • Communication—The ability to effectively
the HR function and the organization. exchange information with stakeholders that
increases their understanding of approaches to
• Communicating critical information about risk
mitigate risk exposure.
mitigation to all stakeholders.
• Communicating information about workplace
manage interactions that provide risk-based service
safety and security issues to all levels of employees.
and support to the organization.
• Auditing risk management activities.
Knowledge Topics:
• Business recovery planning
include:
• Continuity of operations planning
• In conjunction with other leaders, developing and
implementing a comprehensive strategy to address • Corporate espionage and sabotage prevention
and mitigate risk on a global basis. • Data integrity mechanisms and practices
• Leveraging technologies (e.g., communication • Data management protection and disclosure
systems, computer security, contingency systems, approaches
records backup, social media) to manage and • Drug prevention
protect workforce and organizational data.
• Duty of care
• Examining and providing guidance on potential
threats to the organization. • Emergency/incident response plans
• In conjunction with other leaders, developing • Health and safety practices and procedures
strategies to ensure the sustainability of the • Information management theory
enterprise.
• Kidnapping and ransom prevention
• Evaluating labor market trends and industry
• Natural disaster and severe weather emergency
standards for their impacts on business.
preparation
• Designing standards-based systems for mitigating risk.
• Occupational injury and illness prevention,
• Leading after-action debriefs. compensation, and accommodations
• Public health preparedness and response

• Safety auditing techniques
• Terrorism prevention and responses
• Theft and fraud prevention approaches
• Whistleblower protection approaches
• Workplace incident investigations
• Workplace safety risks and hazards
• Workplace violence prevention techniques

Functional Area #13: Corporate Social Responsibility
Definition: Corporate Social Responsibility represents the organization’s commitment to operate its business in
an ethical and sustainable manner. HR demonstrates value by understanding the societal impacts to business
decisions and using this insight to improve the quality of life for the community—people, organization, and
planet—through philanthropy, ethics and governance, and environmentally sound practices, respectively.

• Acting with personal, professional, and behavioral • Consulting on, developing, and implementing
integrity, in conformance with an HR code of the organization’s corporate social responsibility
ethical conduct. strategy.
• Investigating, evaluating, and responding to all • Consulting on, developing, and implementing an
reports of unethical behavior, conflicts of interest, organizational culture that supports responsible
and associated levels of organizational risk. and ethical decision-making.
• Advising executives on any reports of unethical • Leveraging the organization’s corporate social
behavior or conflicts of interest that increase risk responsibility programs to enhance the employee
tolerance or risk of liability. value proposition.
• Designing mechanisms for employees to report • Consulting on, developing, and implementing a
unethical behavior or conflicts of interest without code of conduct that reflects the appropriate level
fear of reprisal. of corporate self-governance.
• Demonstrating the highest ethical standards and
practices and organizational values—espoused as Sample Application of Competencies:
well as enacted. • Consultation—The ability to provide balanced
• Consulting on and demonstrating the appropriate guidance to stakeholders that will have a positive
level of transparency in organizational practices. impact on the organization’s reputation, internally
• Understanding PEST factors and how they affect and externally.
organizational and workforce decisions. • Relationship Management—The ability to
• Establishing the HR team as a credible and manage interactions with external stakeholders that
trustworthy organizational resource for internal demonstrate corporate citizenship.
and external stakeholders.
Knowledge Topics:
• Consulting on management decisions related to
ethics, governance, and social involvement. • Anti-bribery approaches
• Aligning HR’s decisions with the organization’s • Caux principles
strategies and values. • Charitable/community giving approaches
• Developing and implementing organizational • Code of conduct development
standards for the confidentiality of workforce and
• Community inclusion approaches
organizational data.
• Compliance program evaluation
• Confidentiality measures and approaches
• Conflicts-of-interest avoidance
• Corporate citizenship and governance programs
and legislation
• Corporate philanthropy approaches
• Corporate social responsibility best practices
• Economic trend analysis

• Ethical decision-making in a global context
• Ethical employee management practices
• ISO standards
• Key performance indicators
• PEST factors
• Privacy concerns
• Social auditing techniques
• Social media usage
• Transparent decision making
• Volunteer programming

Functional Area #14: U.S. Employment Law & Regulations
Important Note: This Area is applicable only to examinees testing within the United States; examinees outside the
U.S. will not be tested on it.
Definition: U.S. Employment Law & Regulations deals with the knowledge and application of all relevant
laws and regulations in the United States relating to employment. These provisions set the parameters and
limitations for each HR Functional Area and for organizations overall. HR demonstrates value by ensuring the
organization’s compliance with laws and regulations domestically and globally (including extraterritorially).

• Maintaining a current working knowledge of remain current on relevant laws, regulations, and
relevant employment laws, domestic and/or global. legal rulings.
• Establishing criteria for organizational compliance. • Ethical Practice—The ability to immediately
respond to reports of unethical or illegal behavior.
• Educating and advising the executive team on legal
compliance relating to HR issues as a factor in • Critical Evaluation—The ability to interpret legal
decision-making. compliance information and data to make business
decisions and recommendations.
• Promoting broad-based HR knowledge to ensure
compliance with laws and regulations. • Leadership & Navigation—The ability to direct
and contribute to legal compliance processes within
• Ensuring the alignment of HR policies and
the organization.
procedures with laws and regulations.
• Communication—The ability to exchange
• Overseeing and consulting on HR issues involving
information on legal compliance with internal
legal and financial risk to the organization.
stakeholders.
• Brokering internal or external legal services for the
• Consultation—The ability to provide knowledge of
interpretation of employment laws.
legal compliance to internal stakeholders.
• Establishing or positioning HR technology
approaches for compliance and reporting.
manage interactions that provide service and
support to the organization.

Knowledge Topics: Listed below are six broad

categories of U.S. laws, regulations, and cases relating
to employment, together with examples. (This is not
an exhaustive list of categories or examples.) Local laws
and regulations, such as those on the state or municipal
level, are not included.
• Compensation
»» Examples: Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA; Wage-Hour
Bill; Wagner-Connery Wages and Hours Act)
and amendments; Equal Pay Act of 1963
(amending FLSA); Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
of 2009; Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Co. (2007).
• Employee relations
»» Examples: Labor Management Relations Act
of 1947 (LMRA; Taft-Hartley Act); National
Labor Relations Act of 1935 (NLRA; Wagner
Act; Wagner-Connery Labor Relations Act);
NLRB v. Weingarten (1975); Lechmere, Inc. v.
NLRB (1992).
• Equal employment opportunity
»» Examples: Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967 (ADEA) and amendments;
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
and ADA Amendments Act of 2008; Civil
Rights Acts; Equal Employment Opportunity
Act of 1972 (amending Civil Rights Act);
Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection
Procedures (1978) (29 CFR Part 1607); Griggs
v. Duke Power Co. (1971); Phillips v. Martin
Marietta Corp. (1971).
• Job safety and health
»» Examples: Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988;
Guidelines on Sexual Harassment; Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970.
• Leave and benefits
»» Examples: Family and Medical Leave Act of
1993 (FMLA; expanded 2008, 2010); Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA;
ACA; “Obamacare”); National Federation of
Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012).
• Miscellaneous protection laws
»» Examples: Employee Polygraph Protection
Act of 1988; Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA).

DOMAIN 4: Strategy
Functional Area #15: Business & HR Strategy
Definition: Business & HR Strategy involves organizational planning to achieve success and create value
for stakeholders. HR demonstrates value by contributing its perspective and expertise to development of
the enterprise strategy, and by developing, implementing, and evaluating an HR strategy aligned with the
organization’s goals, values, and tactics, as defined in the enterprise strategy.

• Developing results-oriented metrics and scorecards • In conjunction with other leaders, developing a
that contribute to organizational success. business strategy aligned to the organization’s goals
• Using knowledge of business and metrics to make and objectives.
workforce and business decisions. • Aligning HR strategy, goals, and objectives with
• Ensuring that all HR initiatives demonstrate overall business strategy and objectives, to drive
measurable value to the organization. business results.
• Demonstrating a working knowledge of the labor • Developing and evaluating business cases proposed
market and its relation to organizational success. for HR and other functional projects and initiatives.
• Benchmarking the competition and other relevant • Developing strategies for employment branding
comparison groups, to better understand market and marketing communications that will reach
position and competitive advantage. internal and external audiences.
• Creating an action plan for managing talent within • Identifying key talent requirements to successfully
the confines of the labor market. execute the business strategy.
• Maintaining advanced knowledge of key industry • Developing and implementing an action plan for
metrics and how the organization compares to the capturing, developing, and managing the talent
standard. needed to execute the business strategy, including
the effective management of a global workforce.
• In conjunction with other leaders, establishing
measurable goals and objectives that create a
culture of accountability, and regularly monitoring Sample Application of Competencies:
results against goals in support of business strategy. • Business Acumen—The ability to understand and
• Evaluating critical activities in terms of value apply information to develop the organization’s
added, impact, and utility derived from cost-benefit strategic plan.
analyses, revenue, profit-and-loss estimates, and • Critical Evaluation—The ability to interpret
other leading or lagging indicators. information and data to make business decisions
• Applying consistently to internal HR processes and recommendations.
and policies the principles of finance, marketing, • Leadership & Navigation—The ability to direct
economics, sales, technology, and business systems. and contribute to initiatives and processes within
• Maintaining a systems-wide perspective when the organization.
making business decisions. • Consultation—The ability to provide guidance to
organizational stakeholders.
• Communication—The ability to effectively
exchange information with stakeholders.
manage interactions to provide service and support
to the organization.
Knowledge Topics:
• Approaches for linking organizational and HR
strategies
• Balanced scorecard utilization
• Business intelligence factors
• Change management techniques
• Competitive analysis techniques
• Conflict management techniques
• Due diligence techniques
• Effective communication techniques
• Ethical decision-making framework
• Goal-setting approaches
• HR systems integration approaches
• Labor market analysis
• Leadership theories, approaches, and evaluation
• Leading and lagging indicators
• Mission, vision, and values creation
• Organizational growth strategies, evolution stages,
and success factors
• Project management methods
• Quality assurance techniques
• Strategic management considerations
• Strategic planning stages (i.e., strategy formulation,
development, implementation, and evaluation)
• PEST factors
• SWOT and environmental scanning techniques

Section 3: Exam Overview

The SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams are based on particular subject areas. Situational judgment
on the SHRM BoCK and its two major aspects of items assess candidates’ KSAs and decision-making
modern HR practice, Competencies and Knowledge. skills, which are not easily measured using traditional
Accordingly, the exams contain two types of questions: knowledge-based questions. Examinees are presented
• Knowledge items, which cover the four Knowledge with realistic work-related scenarios and asked to
Domains (People, Organization, Workplace, and choose the best of several possible strategies to resolve
Strategy) associated with the SHRM BoCK’s or address them.
Technical Knowledge competency; and • The SHRM-CP exam contains 160 items: 130
• Situational judgment items, which cover the scored questions (90 knowledge items and 40
knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated situational judgment items) and up to 30 unscored
with the SHRM BoCK’s Behavioral Competencies. field test questions.
In addition, both exams contain “field test” items (see • The SHRM-SCP exam contains 180 items: 150
below), the answers for which will not be scored. scored questions (90 knowledge items and 60
situational judgment items) and up to 30 unscored
Knowledge items assess candidates’ understanding of field test questions.
factual information. Examinees are asked questions
“Field Test” Questions

The field test items on the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP Field-testing gathers data on a question’s effectiveness
exams will be interspersed randomly in the exams before it can be included on future exams as a scored
so that candidates will not know which they are. item. This process facilitates SHRM’s efforts to
Examinees’ answers to field test questions will not continuously assess and improve all aspects of its
count toward any part of their final exam scores. certification program.
Figure 6 provides an overview of the score weighting

for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams.
FIGURE 6: SCORE WEIGHTING FOR EACH SUBJECT AREA
Subject Area SHRM-CP (160 items) SHRM-SCP (180 items)
Behavioral Competencies 35% 50%
Technical Knowledge
• People 20% 10%
• Organization 20% 10%
• Workplace 15% 10%
• Strategy 10% 20%

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WHAT IS SHRM?
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management. Representing more than 275,000
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The SHRM Body

This document describes the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge™

Introduction to the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge.................................................................. 1

Section 1: Behavioral Competencies.................................................................................................................6

Section 2: HR Expertise (HR Knowledge)........................................................................................................16

Section 3: Exam Overview................................................................................................................................39

Additional Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 41

Introduction to the SHRM Body of

The SHRM Competency Model is fundamental

THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE 1

FIGURE 1: SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY & KNOWLEDGE (SHRM BoCK)

SHRM Body of Competency

Business Ethical Relationship

HR Expertise (HR Knowledge Domains)

• Talent Acquisition • Structure of the • HR in the • Business

*Applicable only to examinees testing within the U.S.

2 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Development of the SHRM BoCK

FIGURE 2: DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHRM COMPETENCY MODEL

MODEL DEVELOPMENT CONTENT VALIDATION CRITERION VALIDATION

FIGURE 3: KNOWLEDGE SPECIFICATION PROCESS

THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE 3

What Are Competencies?

FIGURE 4: COMPETENCY DEFINITIONS

Consultation The ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders.

Communication The ability to effectively exchange information with stakeholders.

The knowledge of principles, practices, and functions of effective human resource

4 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Organization of the SHRM BoCK Document

Section 1 – Behavioral Competencies:

Section 2 – HR Expertise (HR Knowledge):

Section 3 – Exam Overview:

This section outlines the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP

THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE 5

6 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Behavioral Competency #1: Leadership & Navigation

Effective leadership is associated with numerous • Promoting consensus among organizational

THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE 7

Behavioral Competency #2: Ethical Practice

8 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Behavioral Competency #3: Business Acumen

• Setting HR and business technology strategy to

10 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Behavioral Competency #4: Relationship Management

Behavioral Competency #5: Consultation

Definition: Consultation is defined as the ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders.

12 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Behavioral Competency #6: Critical Evaluation

THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE 13

Behavioral Competency #7: Global & Cultural Effectiveness

14 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

Behavioral Competency #8: Communication

What Are HR Functional Areas of Knowledge?

16 THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE

FIGURE 5: KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS AND HR FUNCTIONAL AREAS

Talent Acquisition & Retention HR in the Global Context

Structure of the HR Function Business & HR Strategy

THE SHRM BODY OF COMPETENCY AND KNOWLEDGE 17

Functional Area #1: Talent Acquisition & Retention

Responsibility Statements: Sample Application of Competencies: