The Real Cost of HRCI Recertification (and How to Cut It)
Every three years, the clock resets. If you hold a PHR, SPHR, GPHR, or aPHR, you need to earn recertification credits to keep your HRCI certification active. And every three years, the same question comes up: how much is this going to cost me?
The answer ranges from zero to several thousand dollars, depending on how you approach it. Multi-day HR conferences can run $1,000 to $2,500+ once you factor in registration, travel, and hotel. Individual courses from some providers cost $50 to $100 per credit hour. Over a full cycle, many HR professionals spend $500 to $1,500 without thinking much about it.
But there are legitimate, HRCI-accepted methods to earn free HRCI credits — and when you combine those with affordable e-learning, you can complete your entire recertification for a fraction of the typical cost.
This guide covers every method available to earn free HRCI recertification credits, the limitations you should know about, and how to build a realistic plan that keeps your certification active without draining your budget.
HRCI Recertification Requirements: A Quick Refresher
Before we get into the free options, here is what HRCI requires:
- PHR, SPHR, GPHR: 60 recertification credit hours over a 3-year cycle
- aPHR: 45 recertification credit hours over a 3-year cycle
- Ethics requirement: At least 1 ethics credit per cycle (all credentials)
- Deadline: Credits must be earned within your specific recertification window
One credit hour equals one hour of qualifying activity. For PHR/SPHR/GPHR holders, that works out to roughly 20 hours per year — less than 2 hours per month. Manageable by any standard. For a full walkthrough of the recertification process, see our complete HRCI recertification guide.
7 Ways to Earn Free HRCI Credits
These methods are all recognized by HRCI as qualifying recertification activities. Some are pre-approved, while others fall under self-reported categories you document yourself.
1. HRCI Webinars and Events
HRCI offers free webinars throughout the year that carry pre-approved recertification credits — typically one-hour sessions covering workforce trends, compliance updates, and occasionally ethics-focused content. Check the HRCI website’s events section or sign up for their email list to stay current.
Realistic yield: 5-10 credits per year. The limitation is that topics are chosen by HRCI, not you, and live schedules may not align with yours.
2. HR Vendor and Association Webinars
HR technology vendors like BambooHR, Paychex, and ADP, along with SHRM chapters and consulting firms, regularly host free HRCI pre-approved webinars as lead-generation or member-engagement tools. Content quality varies — some are genuinely educational sessions led by experienced practitioners, others are thinly veiled product demos with a credit attached. You will need to evaluate each one individually.
Realistic yield: 10-20 credits per year if you actively seek them out. The trade-off is real time spent searching, registering, and attending live sessions that may or may not be worth your hour. Most require live attendance for the credit, so you cannot just watch a recording later.
3. Reading HR Books
HRCI allows you to earn credits by reading books relevant to HR practice (1 credit per hour of reading). Books do not need individual pre-approval but must directly relate to your HR competencies. Keep a log of titles, authors, and how the content connects to your work.
Realistic yield: 5-15 credits per cycle. These are self-reported, so maintain documentation in case of an audit.
4. Volunteer HR Work
Providing HR services on a volunteer basis to nonprofits or community organizations counts toward recertification under HRCI’s “professional achievement” category. Examples include developing an employee handbook for a charity, advising a community organization on hiring practices, conducting training for a volunteer board, or reviewing HR policies for a local nonprofit.
Many HR professionals are already doing this type of work without realizing it counts toward their HRCI credits free of charge. If you sit on a nonprofit board and help with any people-management decisions, that likely qualifies.
Realistic yield: 10-20 credits per cycle. The work must involve actual HR functions — serving meals at a food bank does not count, but reviewing their employee policies does. You need documentation from the organization confirming your hours and the nature of your contribution.
5. Professional Membership Activities
Active participation in HR organizations earns credits — serving on committees, leading chapter meetings, mentoring, or contributing to research. Passive membership (just paying dues) does not count.
Realistic yield: 5-15 credits per cycle for active members.
6. On-the-Job Activities
Certain work activities qualify under HRCI’s “Research/Publishing” and “Leadership” categories:
- Publishing articles, white papers, or blog posts on HR topics
- Speaking at conferences, workshops, or internal training sessions
- Developing new HR training programs or course materials
- Conducting original HR research
Realistic yield: 0-20+ credits depending on your role. Senior professionals who regularly speak or publish benefit most here.
7. Podcasts and Self-Study
HR-focused podcasts — some with HRCI pre-approval, others claimable as self-study — can contribute to your credits. Document the podcast name, episode, topic, and how it applies to your HR development.
Realistic yield: 5-10 credits per year. Keep thorough records, as self-study credits are among the most likely to be questioned during an audit.
The Free HRCI Ethics Credit Question
Every HRCI credential holder needs at least 1 ethics credit per cycle, so earning a free HRCI ethics credit deserves specific attention.
HRCI occasionally offers free ethics webinars, and some approved providers run promotional free HRCI ethics course sessions. But these are not available on a predictable schedule. If you are counting on finding one at the last minute, you may end up scrambling.
The smarter approach is to handle your ethics credit early through a reliable source. For a deeper dive on what qualifies, see our guide on PHR recertification requirements.
Pro tip: RecertifyHR includes ethics-designated courses in its catalog as part of the $250/year unlimited access plan. Your ethics credit is covered alongside everything else at no extra cost.
Can You Complete All 60 Credits for Free?
Technically, yes. Combine all seven methods above, and it is mathematically possible to reach 60 credits without spending a dollar.
Practically, it is much harder. Each free method has friction — hunting down webinars, registering individually, attending at specific times, documenting everything, tracking credits manually. You are cobbling together credits from a dozen different places over three years. Most HR professionals who try the all-free route end up spending significantly more time than the credits justify.
A more realistic strategy is to use free methods for a portion of your credits and supplement with an affordable e-learning platform for the rest. That way, you get the cost savings where they are easy to capture without the logistical headache of relying on free methods alone.
One important advantage working in your favor: HRCI places no limit on the number of credits you can earn through e-learning. Unlike some continuing education frameworks that cap online learning at a percentage of your total, HRCI allows you to complete all 60 credits (or 45 for aPHR) through online courses. This makes e-learning the most flexible recertification path available.
Cost Comparison: Free vs. Paid Options
Here is how the options stack up for completing a full 60-credit cycle:
- Conferences only: $2,000-$5,000+ over three years
- Individual courses (various providers): $1,500-$6,000 over three years
- Free methods only: $0, but 80-120+ hours of searching and scheduling with no guarantee you will reach 60
- Unlimited e-learning (RecertifyHR): $250/year — $250 to $750 total depending on how many years you need
- HRJetpack: $299/year
The $250/year unlimited access model gives you 68+ HRCI and SHRM-approved courses covering 100.5 total credit hours across General, Business, Global, and California categories. That is more than enough to complete your entire recertification cycle without hunting for free webinars or spending thousands on conferences. Over 2,800+ HR professionals use RecertifyHR for exactly this reason.
A Practical Strategy That Actually Works
The most effective approach is a hybrid. Use free methods where convenient, and lean on structured e-learning for the bulk of your credits:
- Year 1: Complete 15-20 credits through on-demand courses. Knock out your ethics credit early. Attend 3-5 free webinars that genuinely interest you.
- Year 2: Complete another 15-20 credits through e-learning. Claim credits for books you read, presentations you gave, or volunteer HR work.
- Year 3: Finish remaining credits through a mix of courses and free activities. Submit your application well before your deadline.
This gives you full control over your timeline. Free activities supplement your plan; they do not form the foundation of it. For a detailed breakdown of cost-saving strategies, see our guide on the cheapest way to recertify your PHR or SPHR.
Want to see the quality before you commit? RecertifyHR offers a free Change Management course that carries HRCI-approved credit. Complete it, earn a real credit, and decide if the platform works for your learning style — no credit card required.
Mistakes to Avoid with Free HRCI Credits
If you plan to use free methods for some or all of your credits, watch out for these pitfalls:
- Not verifying pre-approval status. Just because a webinar mentions HR topics does not mean it carries HRCI credit. Always confirm pre-approval before you invest your time.
- Poor record-keeping. Free credits from webinars, books, and self-study all require documentation. Save confirmation emails, certificates of completion, and notes on what you learned. If HRCI audits your application, vague recollections will not hold up.
- Waiting until the final year. Trying to earn 60 credits in your last year is stressful and risky. Free webinars may not be available on your schedule. Start early and spread credits across the full three-year cycle.
- Forgetting the ethics credit. It is only one credit, but it must carry the specific ethics designation from HRCI. A general webinar that touches on ethical topics does not count unless it has that designation.
- Confusing SHRM and HRCI credits. A webinar approved for SHRM PDCs is not automatically approved for HRCI credits. The two organizations have separate approval processes. Always check which certification body the credit applies to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free HRCI Credits
Are free HRCI credits legitimate?
Yes. Credits earned through HRCI-hosted webinars, pre-approved vendor webinars, volunteer work, professional association activities, publishing, and self-study are all accepted by HRCI. The activity must meet HRCI’s criteria for qualifying recertification activity, and you must maintain proper documentation. Free does not mean less valid.
How do I find free HRCI-approved webinars?
Start with HRCI’s own website, where they list upcoming events. Then check major HR technology vendors (BambooHR, Paychex, ADP, Paylocity) and consulting firms, which frequently host free webinars with HRCI pre-approval. Local SHRM chapters also run qualifying events. Setting up Google Alerts for “free HRCI webinar” helps you catch opportunities as they arise.
Can I earn free HRCI ethics credits?
You can, but options are limited and unpredictable. HRCI occasionally hosts free ethics webinars, and some providers offer promotional free HRCI ethics course sessions. If you cannot find one when you need it, platforms like RecertifyHR include ethics-designated courses within their $250/year subscription.
Is there a limit on credits earned through online courses?
No. HRCI does not cap e-learning credits. You can complete all 60 credits (or 45 for aPHR) entirely through online courses, making e-learning the most flexible option available.
What if I cannot earn enough free credits before my deadline?
You can purchase individual courses, sign up for an unlimited platform like RecertifyHR, or — as a last resort — retake your certification exam. The exam option is risky: if you fail, you lose your credential. The safest approach is to not rely exclusively on free credits and have a backup plan well before your deadline.
Do free credits count the same as paid credits?
Absolutely. HRCI does not differentiate between free and paid credits on your recertification application. A credit from a free webinar carries the same weight as one from a $2,000 conference. What matters is that the activity qualifies and you have documentation.
Build Your Recertification Plan Now
Earning free HRCI recertification credits is absolutely possible, and the methods above are all legitimate paths to maintaining your certification. The smartest HR professionals use a combination of free opportunities and affordable structured learning to stay on track without stress.
Start with RecertifyHR’s free Change Management course — a real HRCI-approved credit with no strings attached. From there, decide whether the $250/year unlimited plan makes sense for the rest of your cycle. Your certification is too valuable to risk on a last-minute scramble.