What does PHR stand for?

PHR® stands for Professional in Human Resources, which is a credential that shows off your deep knowledge of the technical and operational aspects of human resources management. This also includes your knowledge and understanding of U.S. regulations and laws.


How do you qualify for PHR?

To be eligible for the PHR you must meet one of the following conditions for education and/or experience: Have at least one year of experience in a professional-level HR position and a Master's degree or higher, Have at least two years of experience in a professional-level HR position and a Bachelor's degree, OR Have ...

Is a PHR certification worth it?

The PHR certification is usually mentioned as a preferred qualification. Candidates with a certification assure employers that a particular level of knowledge and skills has been attained. Studies have determined that pay levels could be up to 3% higher for HR employees with the PHR certification.


What does PHR mean in HR?

The Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®) and Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®) are some of the most widely held certifications among HR professionals in North America. Eligibility for the PHR and SPHR are both based on professional level and educational requirements.

How long does it take to get your PHR?

The PHR exam is 3 hours long and there are 175 questions of which 150 are scored. The remaining 25 are pretest questions that are being assessed for use on future exams. HRCI uses pretest questions to measure the difficulty and quality of questions before including them on the actual test.


PHR or SPHR: Which should you take?



Is the PHR exam difficult?

The Professional in Human Resources (PHR) is one of the most popular certifications. But it's also notoriously difficult.

Is the PHR or SHRM certification better?

PHR certifications are better than SHRM certifications in two ways. They cover more in the way of legality, compliance, and technical details. SHRM tends to test more soft skills and the application of management techniques, where PHR are generally more concerned with specific knowledge and compliance.

What is a passing score for PHR?

Receiving Your Score for the PHR Certification Exam

For most PHR certification exams, possible scores range from 100-700, with 500 being the minimum passing score.


What are the benefits of PHR certification?

PHR Certification increases your value as an HR candidate; it highlights your commitment and your credentials; it adds to your repository of knowledge and improves your skills, and it boosts on-job performances through constant learning.

Do employers prefer PHR or SHRM?

Many of the employers simply posted “HR Certification preferred (PHR or SHRM-CP)” so they did not indicate a preference. Over on LinkedIn's job boards, we found 221 jobs that requested PHR certification and 1,216 requesting SHRM-CP certification from candidates.

Which HR certification pays most?

Pay Increases as Certification Level Increases
  • SHRM-CP. Median pay – $70,000.
  • SHRM-SCP. Median pay – $107,800.
  • PHR. Median pay – $72,000.
  • SPHR. Median pay – $108,000.


Which HR certification is easiest?

If you have a bachelor's degree and have had difficulty finding employment, you may want to consider earning the aPHR to bolster your resume and improve your job prospects. The aPHR is also the easiest credential to obtain, with a pass rate of 84% on the certification exam.

How many questions are on the PHR exam?

The PHR® exam is a two hour exam, with 90 scored questions—most of which are multiple choice—and 25 pretest questions. The test can be taken via computer at a Pearson VUE testing center or at your home/office with OnVUE.

What is the hardest HR certification?

SPHR is the highest level of certification offered by HRCI for U.S.-focused professionals. Requiring at least four years of HR experience, this is a great certification option for senior HR professionals or those in HR management hoping to become a director, vice president, or even a CHRO.


Can you use calculator on PHR exam?

A: Outside scratch paper and calculators are not allowed. Calculator is built into the test driver for use during testing.

How many times can you take the PHR?

For those who do not pass the PHR, you may schedule to retake the exam after a 90-day waiting period. You will be required to reapply and submit another fee as well. No more than three exam attempts can be made with a 365-day period.

Is PHR all multiple choice?

The PHR exam contains 115 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are unscored, and you will be given 2 hours to complete the exam.


What are the levels of HR certifications?

Depending on your work history and education, you can apply for three certification levels: Associate Professional in Human Resources - International (aPHRi), Professional in Human Resources - International (PHRi) and Senior Professional in Human Resources - International (SPHRi).

Do certifications increase salary?

Although many people find themselves working from home, or with reduced hours of employment, it could be the ideal time to acquire a professional certification that helps increase salary and expand professional possibilities. Here are four certifications that can turbo-charge your earnings potential.

Can you take the PHR exam online?

*Online exam delivery is currently available for residents of the United States and Canada for the following certification exams: Associate Professional in Human Resources® (aPHR®), Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®), Professional in Human Resources – California® (PHRca®), Senior Professional in Human Resources® ( ...


What kind of questions are on the PHR exam?

There are five categories covered by the PHR certificaiton exam: Business Management, Talent Planning and Acquisition, Learning and Development, Total Rewards and Employee and Labor Relations. The exams have 175 multiple choice questions, of which 25 are unscored.

What is the lowest level HR job?

Entry Level Positions
  • HR Intern – The intern is the bottom rung of the HR ladder, the paid or unpaid assistant who does everything from fetching coffee to set up meetings. ...
  • HR Assistant – The HR Assistant role is very similar to the intern role, except they're paid, and they're long-term.


How do I break into HR with no experience?

If you don't have any professional HR experience, highlight transferable skills that you've gained and sharpened at previous jobs. HR is a people-focused profession, so showcase skills like collaboration, leadership skills and the ability to work well in diverse groups of people.


What is the highest qualification in HR?

It notes that most HR managers hold a bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field, such as finance, business management, education or information technology, but higher positions require a master's degree in human resources, labor relations or business administration.