HRCI Approved Provider Courses: What to Look For Before You Enroll
You need recertification credits. You start searching for courses. Within five minutes, you’re staring at dozens of providers all claiming to offer “HRCI-approved” content — but the pricing, formats, and credit coverage vary wildly. Some charge $50 per course. Others charge $250 for a full year.
So how do you tell which HRCI approved provider courses are actually worth your time and money?
This guide covers what the “Approved Provider” designation means, how to evaluate providers, what red flags to watch for, and how to choose the right platform for your PHR, SPHR, GPHR, or aPHR recertification.
What Does “HRCI Approved Provider” Actually Mean?
HRCI (the HR Certification Institute) runs a formal Approved Provider Program that vets organizations offering continuing education for HR professionals. When a provider earns this designation, HRCI has reviewed their course content, instructional design, and assessment methods and confirmed they meet HRCI’s standards.
The critical benefit: credits from an approved provider are pre-approved. When you complete a course, those credits are automatically accepted toward your recertification. No documentation explaining why the course qualifies. No arguing your case. Complete the course, report the credits, move on.
Pre-approved credits from an HRCI Approved Provider are automatically accepted toward PHR, SPHR, GPHR, and aPHR recertification — no additional justification required.
Compare that to self-submitted activities — where you claim credits for non-approved conferences, teaching, or publishing and wait for HRCI to review (and potentially reject) your submission. Self-submitted activities require you to provide evidence, explain relevance to the HRCI Exam Content Outline, and accept the risk that HRCI may not approve them.
For most HR professionals, building the bulk of your recertification around HRCI approved provider courses is the smarter strategy. Use self-submitted activities to supplement, not as your primary credit source. For more on the full process, check out our complete guide to HRCI recertification.
What to Look for in an HRCI Approved Provider
Not all approved providers are created equal. The designation tells you HRCI has vetted the content, but it doesn’t tell you whether the provider fits your needs. Here’s what to evaluate.
1. Credit Type Coverage
This is the single most important factor. HRCI recertification requires 60 credits over three years, but certain credentials have specific credit type requirements. SPHR holders need at least 15 Business credits — and Business credits are notoriously hard to find. Many providers focus on General HR credits and offer only a handful of Business-focused courses.
Before committing, check how many credits they offer in each category:
- General (HR) — Core HR functions: compliance, talent management, employee relations
- Business — Strategy, finance, analytics, leadership, organizational development
- Ethics — Required by some credentials and always valuable
- Global — International HR practices, essential for GPHR holders
- California — State-specific credits for California HR professionals
A provider covering only one or two credit types forces you to find additional sources. For reference, RecertifyHR’s catalog of 68 courses covers 42.75 General credits, 15 Business credits, 22.25 Global credits, and 20.5 California credits — totaling 100.5 HRCI credit hours across every major category.
2. Course Format and Flexibility
You have a full workload. The last thing you need is a recertification program that demands you show up at specific times or block out entire afternoons for live sessions.
Look for providers offering:
- Self-paced, on-demand courses — learn when your schedule allows, not when the provider decides
- Mobile-friendly delivery — complete courses during commutes, travel, or lunch breaks
- Varied course lengths — a mix of short (30-60 minute) and longer (2-3 hour) courses gives you flexibility
- Immediate access — no waiting for cohorts to start or enrollment periods to open
Self-paced, on-demand content gives you the most control over when and how you earn your credits.
3. Pricing Model
How a provider structures pricing determines your total cost over a three-year cycle:
- Per-course pricing: $20–$100 per course. A full 60-credit cycle costs $500–$2,000+.
- Annual subscription (unlimited access): Flat annual fee for the full catalog. RecertifyHR offers unlimited access at $250/year, so you could earn all 60 credits for $250 in a single year.
- Bundled or tiered pricing: Credit bundles (e.g., “20 credits for $150”). Decent value but less flexible than true unlimited access.
Always calculate cost per credit across your full cycle. A $30-per-credit provider costs $1,800 for 60 credits. A $250/year subscription with 100+ credits available costs $250–$750 total.
4. Certificate of Completion
Every course should come with a certificate including your name, course title, completion date, credits earned, credit type, and the provider’s HRCI Approved Provider number. HRCI can audit your credits, and proper documentation protects you.
5. Dual Approval (HRCI + SHRM)
Many HR professionals hold certifications from both HRCI and SHRM. Providers approved by both organizations let you satisfy two sets of requirements with a single course. RecertifyHR is both an HRCI and SHRM approved provider, so all 68 courses earn dual credits — something 2,800+ HR professionals are already taking advantage of.
6. Content Quality and Relevance
Recertification credits should do more than check a box. The best HRCI approved provider courses teach you something genuinely useful — updated compliance requirements, emerging HR technology, new legal frameworks, or practical skills you can apply immediately.
Before enrolling, check whether the provider:
- Updates courses regularly to reflect current laws and best practices
- Covers topics aligned with HRCI’s Exam Content Outline
- Uses instructors or content developers with real HR experience
- Includes assessments or knowledge checks (not just passive video watching)
If a provider’s catalog looks untouched since 2019, that’s a strong signal to look elsewhere.
Comparing HRCI Approved Provider Types
All-Access Subscription Platforms
Flat annual fee, unlimited access to the full catalog. Designed for HR professionals earning recertification credits efficiently.
- RecertifyHR — $250/year for 68 courses and 100.5 HRCI credit hours across all credit types. Both HRCI and SHRM approved. Try a free Change Management course before subscribing.
- HRJetpack — $299/year for unlimited access, focusing primarily on General and Business credits.
Individual Course Platforms
Courses sold individually or in bundles, often across multiple professional disciplines:
- my-CPE — Individual HRCI-approved courses alongside content for accountants and lawyers. Variable pricing.
- HR.com — Mix of free and paid webinars with HRCI credits. Free content is limited in scope; you’ll likely need paid supplements to reach 60 credits.
These work best as supplements rather than your primary source. For more options, see our guide to the best HR recertification courses online in 2026.
Conferences and Events
Major conferences (SHRM Annual, HRCI events, state chapter meetings) offer 15–30 credits per event but cost $1,000–$3,000+ when you include registration, travel, and lodging. Valuable for networking, but the most expensive recertification path — and you still won’t earn all 60 credits at a single event.
Free Resources
Free HRCI-approved webinars exist, but they’re typically 1–2 credits each, scheduled at fixed times, and heavily skewed toward General credits. The time you spend hunting for and attending dozens of free sessions often exceeds the cost of an affordable subscription.
Red Flags When Choosing a Provider
Watch for these warning signs before you spend money:
- “HRCI-eligible” vs. “HRCI-approved” — Not the same thing. “Eligible” is a meaningless marketing term. Look for the official seal and a valid provider number.
- No provider number listed — Every approved provider has a unique number. No number? Verify independently on HRCI’s website.
- Vague credit type descriptions — “HRCI credits” without specifying General, Business, Ethics, or Global gives you no way to plan your credit mix.
- No certificate of completion — Without proper certificates, you’re exposed during an audit.
- Outdated content — Courses referencing pre-COVID policies or outdated regulations are a problem.
- No refund policy or content preview — Quality providers stand behind their courses.
How to Verify a Provider’s HRCI Approval Status
Before spending money on any HRCI approved provider courses, verify the provider directly:
- Go to hrci.org
- Navigate to the Approved Provider directory
- Search for the provider by name
- Confirm their approval status is current (not expired)
- Note their provider number — it should match their website and certificates
If a provider doesn’t appear in HRCI’s directory, their courses won’t be pre-approved. You might submit the activity for self-submitted credit, but that’s a gamble with a higher rejection rate than most people expect.
Why Credit Type Coverage Matters More Than Course Count
Some providers advertise hundreds of courses. That sounds impressive until you realize 90% fall into a single credit category. A provider with 500 General credit courses and 3 Business credit courses is less useful than one with 68 courses spread across every credit type.
Balanced coverage looks like this (using RecertifyHR as an example):
- 42.75 General credits — compliance, talent management, employee relations, workforce planning
- 15 Business credits — enough to satisfy the full SPHR Business credit requirement
- 22.25 Global credits — critical for GPHR holders
- 20.5 California credits — state-specific content
- 100.5 total HRCI credit hours across 68 courses
That distribution means a PHR holder, SPHR holder, GPHR holder, and California HR professional can all complete their full recertification from one catalog. No supplemental providers needed.
If you’re still deciding which credential to pursue, our guide on how to choose the right HR certification for your career path can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an HRCI Approved Provider?
An HRCI Approved Provider is an organization vetted and authorized by the HR Certification Institute to offer continuing education that counts toward recertification. Credits from an approved provider are pre-approved, meaning they’re automatically accepted when you submit your recertification application. Verify any provider’s status through the directory on hrci.org.
How do I know if a course counts toward my HRCI recertification?
Take courses from an HRCI Approved Provider, which guarantees pre-approved credits. Each course should state how many credits it offers and the credit type (General, Business, Ethics, Global, or California). If a course doesn’t list a credit type or the provider lacks a valid HRCI provider number, the credits may not be accepted.
Can I use the same courses for both HRCI and SHRM recertification?
Yes, if the provider is approved by both HRCI and SHRM. Dual-approved providers issue credits counting toward both HRCI recertification and SHRM PDCs. RecertifyHR is approved by both HRCI and SHRM, so all 68 courses earn dual credits.
How many HRCI credits do I need to recertify?
All HRCI credential holders (PHR, SPHR, GPHR, aPHR) need 60 recertification credits over a three-year cycle. SPHR holders must earn at least 15 Business credits, and GPHR holders need global-focused credits. When choosing a provider, confirm they cover the specific credit types your credential requires.
What’s the difference between pre-approved and self-submitted HRCI credits?
Pre-approved credits come from HRCI Approved Providers and are automatically accepted — no review required. Self-submitted credits come from non-approved activities and must be individually reviewed by HRCI, which may reject them. Pre-approved credits are faster, more reliable, and carry zero rejection risk.
Are free HRCI-approved courses worth it?
Free courses and webinars can supplement your plan, but they’re rarely sufficient as your primary source. They tend to offer 1–2 credits each, focus on General credits, and require attendance at fixed times. A practical approach: use free courses for a few extra credits while relying on an all-access provider like RecertifyHR ($250/year for unlimited access) for the bulk of your requirement.
Choosing Your Provider: Coverage, Cost, and Convenience
The best HRCI approved provider courses share three traits: they cover all the credit types you need, they cost a fraction of alternatives like conferences, and they let you learn on your own schedule.
Before enrolling anywhere, verify the provider’s HRCI approval status, check their credit type breakdown against your requirements, and calculate the true cost per credit over your three-year cycle. Skip providers hiding behind vague “HRCI-eligible” claims and choose one with transparent pricing, clear credit categorization, and proper completion certificates.
A quick cost comparison helps put this in perspective. An HR conference plus individual courses can cost $2,500+ for a single recertification cycle. A per-course platform runs $1,500–$3,000 for 60 credits. An all-access subscription like RecertifyHR covers all 60 credits (and then some) for $250 in a single year — roughly one-tenth the conference route.
If you want to see what a quality approved provider looks like from the inside, start with RecertifyHR’s free Change Management course. It earns you real HRCI and SHRM credits and gives you a clear picture of the platform before you commit to a subscription. Over 2,800 HR professionals have already made RecertifyHR their recertification home.