Are you an experienced HR professional with at least five years' HR experience, or an HR graduate with at least two years' HR experience?
Do you want to take your career to the next level and be recognised as a Certified HR Practitioner?
If so, the AHRI Practising Certification Program (APC) is ideal for you.
CIPD’s Peter Cheese shares how more and more employers are now seeking HR Certified Practitioners – those that have dedicated themselves to the life-long learning approach to human capital management.
Achieve the industry standard for the HR profession, demonstrate your impact in the workplace on key business objectives and take your career to the next level.
Advance your HR career
Become a partner to your business by enrolling in the AHRI Practising Certification Program. This program is equivalent to an AQF Level 8 postgraduate certificate level and offers you advanced entry into Masters of HR or MBA qualifications.
You will develop the professional HR capabilities and leadership behaviours to:
- Apply HR thought leadership and insight to foster a productive and sustainable culture that drives individual and organisational objectives,
- Build organisational capability and influence organisational objectives, and
- Increase your profile in your organisation and win that promotion.
- A successfully completed unit of study will earn a member 32 CPD points. To learn more about CPD, click here for more information.
Upon graduation, you will be recognised as a Certified HR Practitioner (CPHR).
Globally benchmarked
The APC Program is underpinned by the globally benchmarked AHRI Model of Excellence. With this program, AHRI leads the way in ensuring that HR certification recognises HR capability as a combination of:
- What you know and
- How you apply this knowledge in practice.
The APC Program is one of four pathways to attaining HR certification in Australia.
Work-integrated with real impact
This work-integrated program examines in depth the key functions of HR management competencies and how you can apply them to real problems in the business environment.
The final capstone unit 4 consists of a work-based project where the real business impact of your HR initiative is measured and assessed. Access to a workplace is essential for you to complete this final unit and meet all requirements for professional HR certification.

"Certification played a huge role in my career progression as it accelerated it by five years. Had I not completed the program I wouldn't be where I am today, or have achieved what I have."
Jessica Kaaden CPHR, HR Business Partner, Office of Public Prosecutions, Victoria, and double AHRI Award winner 2016
Learn more about APC

Stepping stone to your Masters degree
Earn credits towards Masters of HRM and non-HR streamed business degree MBAs

What employers say
Read how APC graduates and other Certified HR Practitioners are making an impact in there organisations
Dr Kim Schofield DBA, FCPHR, FCIPD, one of the course facilitators at AHRI’s Practising Certification Program (APC), shares insights into the benefits of enrolling in the program.
Other HR certification pathways
Senior Leaders Pathway
Senior to Executive HR practioners/consultants
CIPD Reciprocity Pathway
CIPD Chartered Members and Academics (UK)
IHRP Mutual Recognition
IHRP Certified Professionals (Singapore)
Academic Pathway
Mid to senior-level academics in HR research and/or teaching