From the course: Introduction to the PHR Certification Exam
PHR exam outline
From the course: Introduction to the PHR Certification Exam
PHR exam outline
- There are several HR certifications out there so it might be hard to know which one is right for you. The Professional in Human Resources, or PHR exam, is one of a suite of certification exams offered by the HR Certification Institute. For many years, HR practitioners considered HRCI and the Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM, to be one and the same. This was mostly due to the fact that SHRM sold a very popular learning system for HRCI certification prep. In 2014, SHRM decided to begin offering their own HR certifications. This meant they no longer offered a learning system designed to prep for the PHR, which left HR pros looking for more options for PHR certification prep. My goal is to help you prepare for the PHR exam by providing you with a full understanding of how the exam is structured as well as an overview of the HR Body of Knowledge content. The PHR exam tests your understanding of HR operations and your ability to apply US laws to various business dilemmas. To qualify for the exam, you must meet some prerequisite criteria. You'll need to have a master's degree and at least one year of HR experience or a bachelor's degree and at least two years of HR experience or a high school diploma and four years of HR experience. You can see how the HR Certification Institute defines HR experience on their website at hrci.org. Once you've determined that you meet the eligibility criteria, you'll need to apply to take the test at the HRCI website. You'll be asked to submit evidence of professional-level HR experience at that time. The PHR exam is a three-hour test with 175 questions that covers five functional areas identified by the HR Body of Knowledge. They are Business Management, Talent Planning and Acquisition, Learning and Development, Total Rewards, and Employee and Labor Relations. Take a look at the exercise file named PHR Exam Weighting for the percentage breakdown of each area. There are many approaches to preparing for the PHR exam. The best piece of advice I got years ago was not to rely on any one source for preparation and take as many full-length practice exams as you can. I did exactly that, and I gave myself four full months to study and passed my PHR exam the first time. I recommend you use this course to provide you with the foundation of the topics you'll need to review in-depth to be prepared. First, take the PHR Practice Test included in the exercise files. Then I'll take you through each functional area and provide you with a high-level overview of the important topics you need to explore to prepare for the exam. You can also access free resources like the Department of Labor website to familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations that impact the HR practice. You've decided to make a valuable investment in your career. Certification signals to an employer that you have a certain level of mastery. It also shows that you take the HR profession seriously enough to stay current and invest in your ongoing practice development. So let's jump right in and start exploring the topics on the PHR certification exam.
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