May 13, 2014 Press Release from the HR Certification Institute:

You may have seen the recent announcement regarding the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) board approval for a new HR certification.

 We wanted to let you know that this announcement will have no impact on any of the HR Certification Institute's (HRCI) portfolio of certifications. We will continue to develop and administer the PHR®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHR/SPHR-CA®, HRBP® and HRMP® and our other high-quality certification products to meet the needs of the HR profession.
 
We are the world’s most widely recognized independent certifying body for the HR profession and offer a comprehensive global product portfolio that counts almost 140,000 HR professionals certified with one or more of our credentials. HRCI is the world’s largest HR certifying body to offer National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited credentials. The exams we develop and administer are competency-based and derived with input from thousands of practicing HR professionals. Our certifications are not connected to this new certification or any organization.
 
HRCI is not and was not involved with the development of this certification. We are confident that the range of certifications offered by HRCI will continue to be regarded as the highest mark of professional distinction among HR practitioners. 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us at +1-866-898-4724 (U.S. Toll Free) or +1 (703) 535-6000 (international) or with any questions or comments. 
 
Best,
HR Certification Institute

HRCP will continue to offer a comprehensive set of study materials for the PHR, SPHR, HRBP, and HRMP certification exams.