From the course: Certification Prep: Professional in Human Resources (PHR)®

What you should know

From the course: Certification Prep: Professional in Human Resources (PHR)®

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What you should know

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- Are you ready to take your HR career to the next level? Well, deciding to pursue HR certification is a smart step in that direction. In a joint 2016 research study conducted by the Human Resources Certification Institute and Top Employers Institute, it was found that companies with five or more HRCI certified professionals showed better business results than their counterparts, who didn't have HRCI professionals on staff. Also, companies with more than five practitioners holding HRCI certification outperformed similar companies by 57% over a five-year period. Wow, that's significant growth for those companies. In the words of David Plink, CEO of Top Employers Institute, the 2016 research study revealed a clear message that exceptional human resource management can demonstrably and positively contribute to the bottom line. Now, that's a compelling argument for getting your PHR credential added to your professional name. But before you begin on your certification journey, there are a few things you should know. Earning the PHR certification demonstrates your HR competency by awarding you a professionally relevant, fully accredited credential. My goal is to help you prepare for the PHR exam by providing an in-depth exploration of the exam content and how the exam is structured. Different from a certificate program, the PHR certification requires a combination of experience and education to sit for the exam, and continuing education credits to keep your credentials current. 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 HRCI defines HR experience on their web site at hrci.org. The PHR exam is a three-hour test with 175 questions that cover 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 a percentage breakdown of each area. So, if you're ready, let's start on this PHR journey together.

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