Over 2,000 candidates sit CHRP, CBET and Diploma exams nationwide
More than 2,000 candidates began sitting the Certified Human Resource Professionals (CHRP), Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) and Diploma examinations on Wednesday as the Human Resource Management Professionals Examinations Board (HRMPEB) recorded a surge in enrolment driven by government policy, digital transformation and expanded partnerships with technical institutions.
The examinations, which started on August 5, are being administered across examination centres in Kenya and Rwanda, with the board saying the growing numbers reflect rising demand for professional qualifications in the human resource sector.
HRMPEB Chief Executive Officer Margaret Nguu said the CHRP qualification has become the country’s leading professional certification for human resource practitioners, particularly following the government’s requirement that HR officers serving in the public service obtain CHRP certification to facilitate career progression and continued service.
She said the policy has significantly increased demand for the qualification as more professionals seek to comply with the new standards while strengthening their professional credentials.
Nguu also attributed the growing enrolment to the board’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which has transformed student registration, examination booking and other services into a fully digitised self-service platform.
According to the CEO, the online system has simplified access to HRMPEB services, improved efficiency and encouraged more candidates, including private learners, to pursue professional certification through flexible and blended learning programmes.
The board has also expanded its examination calendar from two to three examination series annually to accommodate the increasing number of candidates enrolling for CHRP, CBET and Diploma programmes.
“The additional examination series has enabled us to respond to the growing demand while ensuring candidates have more opportunities to complete their professional qualifications,” she said.
National polytechnics have also emerged as key partners in administering CBET and Diploma examinations, reinforcing the government’s drive to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions as centres of excellence.
HRMPEB said the collaboration has enabled the board to expand its network of affiliated institutions, making human resource training and certification more accessible across the country.
The board noted that the growing adoption of CBET and Diploma programmes by national polytechnics has contributed to the sharp increase in enrolment witnessed in the current examination cycle.
As more institutions integrate HRMPEB programmes into their academic offerings, the board expects the reach of professional human resource training to continue expanding, helping produce a workforce equipped with the practical competencies required to meet the evolving needs of employers in both the public and private sectors.
