By Alexandra Stang

Human resources professionals from around the world came together September 27th through 29th for the 2010 World Congress in Montreal. The Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations (CCHRA) proudly hosted the event, organized by the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, welcoming approximately 3,500 delegates from all over the globe, including HR professionals from as far away as Russia, Japan, Brazil and Africa.

This was the first time the World Congress was held in Canada, which gave the CCHRA the opportunity to showcase the human resources profession in Canada to the international HR community.

Delegates listened to keynote speeches from top management experts and attended workshops.  They also had a chance to participate in breakfast discussion sessions on HR topics ranging from organizational effectiveness to labour relations. CCHRA and Provincial member association board members and staff were also active in facilitating several sessions and discussions. When delegates weren’t widening the scope of their human resources knowledge, they had a chance to visit the tradeshow in the Exhibitor’s Hall.

The CCHRA booth was set up in the centre of Exhibitor’s Hall. Many people stopped by the booth to learn about the Council, but most were curious about the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.

The CHRP may be Canada’s premier human resources designation, but Canadians weren’t the only ones looking for more information about the certification process. Members of the international community who visited the CCHRA booth were excited to learn that there is no citizenship requirement to obtain a CHRP designation, and it can be pursued from anywhere in the world.

The process for pursuing the CHRP designation abroad, whether or not you are Canadian, is the same as in Canada. The first step is to become a member of a provincial, CHRP designation-granting association including meeting any eligibility requirements they may have. Internationally educated professionals should contact their association to find out how best to determine the equivalency of their qualifications. The next step is to write the National Knowledge Exam® (NKE), followed by the National Professional Practice Assessment® (NPPA), where applicable.

In 2010, there were over 20 individuals writing the exams leading to the designation outside of Canada, including locations as far away as the United Arab Emirates.

The interest in the CHRP designation from the international HR community marks a significant moment for the CCHRA.  The Council was founded in 1994, making it a relatively young organization compared to its international counterparts, which boast impressive numbers of certified members from outside their national boundaries. For example, the Human Resources Certification Institute, an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the United States, certified approximately 1,000 international members in 2008 alone.

“The Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations is dedicated to ensuring the Certified Human Resources Professional designation is the designation of choice for HR practitioners in Canada,” says Debbie Bennett, Chair of the CCHRA. “To know that the CHRP is generating interest beyond our borders is a sign that it is maturing to point where the rest of the world can see its value.”

The added interest in the CHRP comes at a time when the CCHRA is in the midst of its busiest year for the designation exams. Over 4,000 individuals registered to write the NKE in October 2010, compared to just over 3,000 registrants for the October 2009 exam session.

The NPPA saw a spike in writers at the May 2010 session with close to 1,800 individuals writing the exam. That is an increase of 600 writers compared to the May 2009 session.

The increase in the number of exam writers can be attributed to a couple of factors. The degree requirement will come into effect at the end of this year, motivating several individuals without degrees to successfully complete the NPPA and obtain their CHRP before January 1, 2011.

As well, the May 2010 exam session was the last chance for CHRP Candidates in Ontario to write the NPPA to obtain the designation. While the NKE is still a mandatory step on the path to the CHRP designation in that province, the NPPA is no longer offered.

We should not overlook this clear indication that the CHRP designation is gaining popularity. If you’re an HR practitioner – whether you’re a Canadian living in Canada, a Canadian living abroad, or a non-Canadian living anywhere in the world – it might just be the right designation for you.
To learn more about the CHRP designation, please visit www.chrp.ca.

Alexandra Stang is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations (CCHRA).

(PeopleTalk: Winter 2010)