The Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification is earned by those with at least two years of experience in human resource management and administration who pass an exam administered by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The exam covers six general areas of study and candidates have several options for preparation, including self-study, classroom instruction, and SHRM’s three-day course. Successful candidates are authorized to use the PHR designation on their business cards, stationery, resumes, and other materials.
Professionals in most fields are certified in their competence and mastery of material pertinent to their occupation. In the United States, a professional in the field of human resource administration and management aspires, often as a career boost, to obtain certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR). This certification is earned by persons with at least two years of professional experience in human resource management and administration who successfully complete an exhaustive exam and emdash; the PHR test & emdash administered by the testing arm of the professional organization of human resource workers & emdash; Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
The PHR test is made up of 255 multiple-choice questions, and candidates have four hours in one sitting to complete it. Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates are certified as Human Resource Professionals and are authorized to wear the PHR insignia and use the PHR designation on their business cards, stationery, resumes and other materials.
SHRM awards three levels of certification: the PHR, for frontline and hands-on professionals who are often responsible for another HR professional at work; the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources), for those at director and vice president levels; and the GPHR (Global Professional in Human Resources), for professionals employed in global companies. The PHR and SPHR tests cover the same material but have different emphases, with the PHR test focusing more on functional application and the SPHR test focusing more on strategic planning and general issues. The PHR test assesses practical knowledge in six general areas: strategic management, human resource development, risk management, workforce planning and employment, employee-worker relations, and total rewards.
A highly detailed explanation of the six areas of study is provided by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). While this material does not provide the answers to the questions that may be encountered on the PHR test, it does go into great detail about the subject that the test covers. Any competent preparation regimen will include this material at a minimum. One thing to keep in mind is that the HRCI reveals the emphasis placed on each subject area. Emphases change from year to year to reflect changes in the field, but a good rule of thumb is that nearly half of the test will be devoted to questions on just two topics: workforce planning and employment, and employee-worker relations. These two topics include much of the applicable law covering human resources.
In addition to the three certifications mentioned, HRCI, in recognition of the complexity of regulation in California, offers additional certifications for those who work or practice in California and are already certified as PHR and SPHR: the PHR-CA and SPHR-CA. The material covered on the exams for these certifications is unique to California and does not duplicate the material covered on the core exams.
After reviewing the list of subjects provided by the HRCI, candidates have several options to choose from in preparing for the PHR test. Some of the choices are best made based on understanding yourself; some candidates learn better on their own, studying books and other prepared materials, while others do better in a classroom, where they can ask questions about topics they are unlikely to understand. SHRM itself offers a three-day course to prepare for the PHR test, available at various locations across the country. Other organizations, sanctioned and not, provide instruction and classroom instruction for the PHR test. Many SHRM chapters across the country also offer exam preparation courses and seminars, and some certified professionals will offer private tutoring.
Candidates who choose to study on their own are advised to obtain a test preparation book from SHRM. In addition, they should take the provided sample exams and evaluate their responses to determine where they are strongest and where they are weakest. While it may sound monotonous, it is this repetitive process of studying and testing that is most effective in learning, whether classroom or self-directed.
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