In 2015 AHRI introduced a program that facilitates formal certification for HR professionals in Australia. The program has been updated and refreshed in 2024 and involves a robust validation of the knowledge, skills and behaviours of HR practitioners in addition to the confirmation of their commitment to continuous professional development (CPD).

A key outcome of the role and deliverables of the National Certification Council (NCC), is AHRI’s ability to more actively promote the benefits of HR to the wider business community.

The standards for certification are underpinned by Australian HR Capability Framework (AHRCF) which draws from current research and industry benchmarks. The AHRI Certification Program has

been developed to support the formal certification process and is aligned to this framework

Pathway 1: Certification Assessment 

Certification Assessment pathway is designed for HR practitioners that meet the eligibility criteria to go straight to Certification Assessment. Those that do not meet this eligibility criteria must undertake Pathway 2. 

Certification Assessment involves three assessment stages before being reviewed by the NCC.

Stage 1 is a 90-minute timed AHRCF Multiple-Choice Questions test that must be undertaken in one sitting. On completion of Stage 1, participants are provided with access to Stage 2 where they choose to submit a report on either an AHRI Hypothetical Scenario or their own Workplace Project. Participants are then required to attend a Professional Discussion with an AHRI certified assessor as part of Stage 3 where they will discuss their submission, HR experience and be assessed against the Emerging leader level skills, capabilities and behaviours of the AHRCF.

On completion of the three stage assessment process, the candidate’s NCC report, completed by their certified assessor, will be presented for endorsement at the next available NCC meeting.

Pathway 2: AHRCF Micro-Credentials

AHRCF Micro-Credentials provide practitioners with opportunities to practically apply their underpinning knowledge and learn from professional experts and peers, across all skill and knowledge areas and behaviours defined in the AHRCF. Micro-Credentials are designed for HR practitioners with at least two years of experience in an HR role and/or those who do not meet the eligibility criteria to go straight to Certification Assessment.

Following successful completion of each AHRCF Micro-Credential that is assessed by an AHRI Certified Assessor, practitioners are issued with a digital credential badge, signifying their capability and credibility in that AHRCF Micro-Credential. At the completion of all five AHRCF Micro-Credentials, participants may undertake the Certification Assessment to become a Certified Practitioner (CPHR).

Certified members from other HR industry certification bodies will be awarded CPHR or FCPHR in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed in the relevant mutual partnership agreement, under the authority of the NCC.

Certification Standards

The NCC oversees the HR standards, administration and decision making that results in the credentialing of eligible candidates seeking HR certification.

The NCC, delegated by the Board is the awarding body of the professional certification post-nominal: CPHR, and/or FCPHR. The NCC is responsible for overseeing the mechanisms available to members with respect to member application processes for certification and continuous professional development (CPD) audits, including management of appeals.

The members of the NCC come from a broad range of representative stakeholder groups that are capable of overseeing the key areas of academic knowledge and the application of practical skills that in their judgement amount to evidence of professional competence at the AHRI Certified membership level or above.

The NCC certification will operate in accordance with the following principles:

a) AHRI Ltd Board shall delegate to a National Certification Council (NCC) established for this purpose the task of overseeing the mechanisms available to members wishing to apply for and maintain their professional certification status as outlined in the relevant sections of By-Law 3.

b) The NCC will operate as an independent body with authority to report on the certification outcomes to the AHRI Board and General Manager, HR Standards & Capability, including those members who have:

1. been awarded the CPHR, or FCPHR post-nominal;

2. not been successful in their application;

3. not been successful in maintaining their professional standing as a result of the CPD audit; or

4. applied to have their certification status reinstated after lapsed membership.

c) The NCC will oversee the outcomes of the CPD audits including management of appeals.

d) The AHRI Board will seek to appoint members to the NCC, in accordance with the following categories which are designed to represent the key stakeholder groups:

1. NCC Chair, nominated and/or held by the AHRI National President

2. NCC Deputy Chair, as required

3. AHRI Non-Executive Director

4. Private Sector

5. Public Sector

6. Not for Profit Sector

7. Academia (HR Specialisation)

8. Global HR Rep/HR thought leader/Life Fellow

9. CSP Representative/Councillor/Past Board Member/Past CSP

10. Reciprocity Agreement Representative (CIPD)

e) The term of service for NCC members is for a period of 3 years. NCC members can be invited to undertake continuous terms of service.

f) In a non-voting capacity, the NCC will be supported by AHRI Management Representatives

1. Certification eligibility and pathways

A member is eligible to apply for professional certification where the member has a current AHRI Membership (MAHRI) and has been deemed to have met one of the following pre-requisites:

1. Professional AHRI membership status at MAHRI level or higher, more than 2 years’ experience in an HR role, and has completed all AHRCF Micro-Credentials, or

2. Professional AHRI membership status at MAHRI level or higher, 5+ years’ experience in an HR leadership role, completed a formal qualification (degree or postgraduate diploma in any discipline).

3. Chartered MCIPD or Chartered FCIPD, Academic MCIPD, Academic Fellow (Academic FCIPD) members who have achieved their CIPD membership via an equivalent certification process through the CIPD under the auspice of the AHRI/CIPD reciprocity agreement. As the reciprocity agreement has been approved by the NCC and the AHRI Ltd Board, Certification will be automatically granted on application with updates provided to the NCC as part of the meeting agenda.

4. IHRP certified members who have successfully completed the appropriate bridging arrangements under the AHRI/IHRP mutual partnership agreement.

2. Certification Approval process

1. Certification Assessment candidates will undergo a Professional Discussion held with an AHRI certified assessor and reports will be reviewed by the NCC for endorsement. Grades for the Certification Assessment will not be confirmed to candidates until final review by the NCC.

2. All members will be required to complete a declaration of potential impediments with reference to AHRI’s code of ethics and Professional conduct (By-Law 1) and acknowledge the requirement for Continuing Professional Development prior to being certified or presented to the NCC for review.

3. Four levels of decisions are available to the NCC

i. Approved – member is advised of successful completion of the application

ii. Pending – member is advised of the deficiencies within the application and has 28 days to submit additional information as requested. 

iii. Deferred – member is advised to resubmit their application when data is available to substantiate their submission. 

iv. Application not approved – member is advised that the application has not been successful and advised of areas within the application which must be strengthened, e.g., additional CPD. 

3. Notification of decisions

a. Those members who successfully complete the certification pathway will be formally notified in writing on behalf the Chair of the NCC that they are entitled to use the post-nominal CPHR. 

b. AHRI will profile in its publications the names of those members who are awarded with the certification post-nominals.

c. Those members who have not been successful in either receiving and/or maintaining their certification designation will be notified in writing and advised of their right to appeal and alternate strategies for their pathway towards certification.

4. Appeals processes

a. A system is available for a member to lodge an appeal to the NCC. Such appeal must be made in writing to the Chair of the NCC at the registered office of the Institute within 28 days of the date of the notification of an NCC decision.

b. The Chair of the NCC will convene an appeals panel, which will consist of the Chair of the NCC and two other NCC members.

c. The Chair will circulate the relevant documents to all parties before the appeals hearing. The decision of the appeals panel will be final and by a simple majority; where no such majority is obtained, the appeal fails and the original decision stands.

d. The member concerned will be informed in writing within 14 days of a decision of the appeals panel.

5. Meeting schedule

The NCC will convene at least four times each calendar year to review applications. Any conflicts of interest must be declared with the Chair to decide the procedures for proceeding.