This is not yet a professional registration, but the first step towards one. The purpose of the two-year candidateship programme is to focus and structure the development of candidates for registration. The practical experience gained by the individual is evaluated by the Approved Mentor against the registration requirements set by the Board. A Guide to the Candidateship is supplied with registration as a Candidate.


A minimum requirement for registration as a candidate is human resource-related employment in an organisation where human resources are sufficiently developed for meaningful experience to be gained.

A person who is in possession of relevant and completed qualifications, but with no experience in the HR field, may register as an HR Candidate. After registration with the Board the candidate must then approach one of the approved Mentors of the Board (list with contact numbers will be supplied). Once a Mentor is found, a programme is agreed by Mentor and Candidate.

A person who is in the process of obtaining relevant qualifications on a part-time or correspondence basis, and does have HR related employment, may register as a candidate.


It is the candidate's responsibility to find a suitable Mentor from the Board's list of approved mentors after having registered as a Candidate. Alternatively, the candidate may submit for the Board's approval the name of a senior registered practitioner who is able and willing to mentor him or her.

Although the duration of a candidateship is normally two years, it may be extended until studies are completed, or shortened to take previous experience gained into account. Candidates who gain exposure in only one of the various HR specialist areas, such as Training, Industrial Relations or Manning, may be eligible for registration in a Specialist category only.