You passed your HR exam! Now what?

The hard part is over! You put in the work, sat through countless study sessions, learned more than you ever thought you'd need to know about unions, and answered countless practice questions. It has all led to this moment. Your heart is beating out of your chest. You talk yourself out of going back and changing your answer to that tricky question, and hit submit on the screen. YOU DID IT! All of that hard work has paid off.

But now what? 

First, reintroduce yourself to your family and friends. It's probably been a while since they've seen this relaxed version of you. 

Next, CELEBRATE. You earned it! 

After you calm down from all the well-deserved excitement, you might notice that the results you've received offer a "preliminary pass" result.   One of the questions I often get is, "Can the preliminary pass be rescinded?" Rest assured. It is ok to celebrate! The results board's preliminary result will likely remain the same. In fact, I've never heard of even one incident of the PASS being rescinded. SHRM and HRCI have a meticulous scoring system. They work extremely hard to ensure the exam environment and scoring are reliable. Still, some professionals don't feel comfortable sharing their result until it is confirmed. An official score report will be available within 2-6 weeks and emailed to you. Once you receive this official score, you can find your name in the credentialing agency's directory. Use this link  Directory of Certified HR Professionals - HRCI (https://www.hrci.org/community/directory-of-certified-hr-professionals) to access the HRCI directory and this link Certified Directory (shrm.org) (https://portal.shrm.org/public/directory.aspx) to access the SHRM directory. 

Another frequently asked question is, "Where do I display my new credentials?" The short answer is EVERYWHERE! You've worked hard, and everyone should know it. Add your new letters to your name on your LinkedIn profile, email signature, desk name plate, and anywhere people will see it. You are now a credentialed professional! Then, share your new achievement with your organization. Displaying your credentials can be helpful in conversations about promotions or salary increases. This new credential marks you as an authority in human resources. Share your newfound knowledge. Position yourself as a subject matter expert and introduce new initiatives and changes to your organization. After all, that is why you've worked so hard!! 

Thank you for reading my blog post on what to do after passing your HR exam. If you found this information helpful, please share this article or my entire course or mini-course with friends or family who are considering becoming certified HR professionals. With my extensive experience and a track record of helping 900+ students pass their exams, they'll be in excellent hands as they work toward achieving their goals. Take advantage of this opportunity to help others learn from my expertise and further develop their knowledge in the dynamic world of human resources. Together, we can empower more HR professionals to succeed and make a difference in their organizations. Share the knowledge and spread the word today! (link)