HRIA has a variety of membership types depending on your HR responsibilities and needs.  Scroll down this page for details on each one.  Contact us if you are unsure of the most appropriate membership level that best suits your needs.

Certified Member

Members who have met all the criteria for certification, achieved their Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation, remain in good standing with their Provincial HR Association and continue to meet the requirements for certification renewal.

Note: CHRPs must keep their membership active (in good standing) with their provincial HR association in order to keep their CHRP active.

Click for details on the CHRP Designation

Associate Member

Associate Members are the only members who are eligible to write the National Knowledge Exam. If you would like to obtain your CHRP, you must first be approved as an Associate Member of the HRIA.

As an Associate Member, you must meet one of the following criteria:

Route 1

At least three years of professional HR experience gained within the past five years. Eighty percent of your work day must be spent performing Professional Human Resources Functional Capabilities.  Pursuing a recognized post secondary degree.

Route 2

Completion of an HR related certificate or diploma, and at least one year of professional HR experience gained within the past three years. Eighty percent of your work day must be spent performing Professional Human Resources Functional Capabilities.  Pursuing a recognized post secondary degree.

Route 3

Completion of a degree from a recognized degree granting institution. Official transcripts are required for proof of degrees.  For transcripts to be considered official, they must come directly from the school to the HRIA office via mail or courier. 

A recognized degree granting institution is any provincially approved university within Canada; or in the case of foreign degrees, any degree approved by Alberta Advanced Education’s International Qualification Assessment Service.  A copy of your IQAS must be sent directly to the HRIA office from the Government of Alberta IQAS to be used as proof.

Professional HR experience refers to experience gained through intermediate and senior level positions of influence involving independence of action and decision making, depth of analysis and interpretations, and responsibility and accountability for outcomes. Professional does not simply mean supervisory or managerial. Human resources positions performing administrative functions are not considered to be professional level; time spent in these positions will not be credited against the experience assessed in your Application for Membership.

CHRP Candidate

Members who have successfully passed the National Knowledge Exam ® (NKE) and remain in good standing with their Provincial HR Association. Upon successful completion of the National Professional Practice Assessment ®(NPPA) Associate members are granted the CHRP designation and moved to the Certified membership category.

Note: CHRP candidates have 5 years from the time they pass the NKE to the time they successfully complete the NPPA. CHRP Candidates must keep their membership active (in good standing) with their provincial HR association in order to keep their CHRP Candidate Status active.

Click for details on the CHRP Designation

Student Member

A Student member is a full-time or part-time student taking courses in Human Resources Management post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree program at an accredited educational institution. Proof of registration will be required. The Student member must move to General or Associate upon completion of education. Student members are not eligible to write the National Knowledge Exam ® (NKE).

General Member

A General Member is a lawyer, specialist, consultant, retiree, academic, line manager, or other, who is involved in human resources and who does not qualify for other categories. General members are NOT ELIGIBLE to write the National Knowledge Exam ® (NKE).

• Apply for Membership