What the SHRM BASK is, and why it matters
The SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (BASK) defines what HR professionals need to know and do. It is also the framework SHRM's item writers use to build SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP questions.
SHRM's own guidance is to review the BASK first, paying attention to the exam specifications and the proficiency indicators that separate the two exams. For the SCP, that means the indicators for all HR professionals plus the ones for advanced HR professionals. The BASK is free to download from SHRM.
What changed in the 2026 BASK
- Nine competencies became eightInclusion & Diversity and Global Mindset were merged into one competency, Inclusive Mindset, which now sits in the Leadership cluster.
- AI is woven throughoutSub-competencies, proficiency indicators, and examples now reference AI in areas such as Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Technology Management, and Analytical Aptitude.
- The structure stayed familiarThere are still three behavioral clusters and three HR knowledge domains containing 14 functional areas.
Older study materials may still teach nine competencies and treat global and inclusion topics separately. Make sure your resources reflect the 2026 BASK, and expect scenarios on fair and ethical use of AI in HR decisions.
Explore the six scored areas
Select an area to see what it covers and roughly how many questions it represents. Weights come from the 2026 SHRM Certification Handbook.
Dark bars are behavioral competency clusters. Light bars are HR knowledge domains.
The 14 HR functional areas
The HR Expertise side of the BASK is organized into three knowledge domains. HR-specific knowledge items, half the exam, are written from these areas.
| Domain | Functional areas |
|---|---|
| People | HR Strategy, Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement & Retention, Learning & Development, Total Rewards |
| Organization | Structure of the HR Function, Organizational Effectiveness & Development, Workforce Management, Employee & Labor Relations, Technology Management |
| Workplace | Managing a Global Workforce, Risk Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, U.S. Employment Law & Regulations |
And the eight behavioral competencies
Leadership: Leadership & Navigation, Ethical Practice, Inclusive Mindset. Interpersonal: Relationship Management, Communication. Business: Business Acumen, Consultation, Analytical Aptitude.
Turn the weights into a study budget
Enter the total hours you plan to study. The calculator splits them by official weight. Adjust afterward for your weak areas.
| Area | Weight | Your hours |
|---|
A practical rule: start from these numbers, then move 10 to 20 percent of the total toward your two weakest areas once you have diagnostic results.
How the BASK separates SCP from CP
SHRM says the item distribution by content and type is the same for both exams. What differs is the proficiency standard. The SCP adds indicators for advanced HR professionals, which describe work like setting policy, directing an HR enterprise, and aligning HR strategy with organizational goals.
When you read a proficiency indicator, ask two questions: would a CHRO or an HR generalist make this decision, and what business outcome does it serve? That habit carries straight into the exam.
Frequently asked questions
The main changes are the merger of Inclusion & Diversity and Global Mindset into a single competency called Inclusive Mindset, bringing the total to eight behavioral competencies, and expanded AI content across the framework.
According to the 2026 SHRM Certification Handbook: Leadership 19%, Business 17.5%, Interpersonal 13.5%, People 19%, Organization 18%, and Workplace 13%.
Fourteen, grouped into three knowledge domains: People (5), Organization (5), and Workplace (4).
Both exams are built on the same BASK with the same content distribution. The SCP adds proficiency indicators for advanced HR professionals, so questions are judged at a strategic level.
SHRM offers the BASK as a free download on its certification exam preparation page.
Exam facts on this page come from SHRM's published exam details, the 2026 SHRM Certification Handbook, and the 2026 SHRM BASK. Fees, dates and policies can change, so confirm them at shrm.org before you apply. Practice questions here are original and are not actual exam content.