IPMA-HR Certified Professional

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED The IPMA-CP is easy to maintain, ensuring your HR skills stay up to date and relevant in today's marketplace. Obtaining an IPMA-CP is convenient and inexpensive.

"Attaining the IPMA-CP designation validated my knowledge and skills in the HR field and my commitment to staying current with developments that may impact our workplace and employees."

- Renee Augustine, IPMA-CP, Human Resource Professional

ARE YOU BEYOND THE ENTRY- OR MID-LEVEL? Please consider applying for the IPMA-SCP.

"A desire to learn, stay current, and advance in my career motivated me to become IPMA-CP certified. I also wanted to demonstrate my commitment to the Human Resource Management Profession. My boss and colleagues recommended the certification to me. In fact, the departments I work with noticed my certification and my employer celebrated my accomplishment along with me."

- Anita Badrock, IPMA-CP, Human Resource Development Consultant, Town of Chapel Hill, NC

(PLEASE NOTE: As we transition to our new brand, we will be making a number of updates, including to our certifications. For the time being, we will continue to award the IPMA designations/certifications as they are.)

Take Your Career to the Next Level

Register for Public Sector HR Essentials

*The Public Sector HR Essentials Course is mandatory for IPMA-CP certification.

If you possess the skills and knowledge required for successful performance in public sector human resources, then attaining the IPMA-HR Certified Professional (IPMA-CP) credential is the next logical step in your career plan. Attaining the IPMA-CP gives you the edge that will help you to stand out among your peers while demonstrating your personal commitment to the profession.

Designed specifically for entry- or mid-level career public sector HR professionals, the IPMA-CP is an internationally recognized designation that demonstrates superior knowledge in all facets of HR.

Young female public sector HR professional

Holding the IPMA-CP credential opens the door to an array of career benefits that can’t be obtained with other advancement techniques and shows that you’ve gone the extra mile to make yourself the best you can be at your job. Certification is concrete, indisputable proof to employers and colleagues that you are a capable and qualified public sector HR professional.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level?

The Certification Process

All public sector HR professionals in an entry- or mid-level position (human resources specialist, generalist, and managers) are eligible for this certification; there are no prerequisites.

There are four steps to attaining (and maintaining) your IPMA-CP.

Complete the Public Sector HR Essentials course.
Sit for the IPMA-CP exam. There is no additional charge for the exam; it is included with your Public Sector Essentials course registration fee. Note: We now have an IPMA-CP Certification Study Guide to help you prepare.
Once you pass the exam, you’re certified! We will automatically send your certification credentials to you. Included in this packet will also be a form that provides you with the opportunity to have your supervisor and other leaders in your organization notified of your accomplishment.
To retain your certification, you will need to recertify every three years (additional fee is required).

Register for Public Sector HR Essentials

Please review IPMA-HR's Cancellation Policy.

Please contact us (certification@ipma-hr.org) if you have any questions about certification.