PHR/SPHR (HR Certification) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the PHR/SPHR (HR Certification), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$395-$595
Provider
HRCI
Validity
3 years
Available
USA/Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- PHR eligibility, one of three routes: at least one year of professional-level HR experience plus a master's degree or higher; at least two years plus a bachelor's degree; or at least four years of professional-level HR experience with no degree requirement.
- SPHR eligibility, one of three routes: at least four years of professional-level HR experience plus a master's degree or higher; at least five years plus a bachelor's degree; or at least seven years of professional-level HR experience.
- HRCI's definition of professional-level experience: the ability to use independent judgment and discretion, some authority for decision-making, in-depth work such as data gathering and interpretation, interaction with people at multiple levels including decision-makers, and individual accountability for results.
- An HR-themed degree is not required. HRCI states this explicitly in the Certification Policies and Procedures Handbook.
- Experience does not have to be current or sequential, though HRCI notes the most recent experience is the most helpful to eligibility.
- A submitted online application, an accepted HRCI Candidate Agreement, and payment in US dollars. HRCI cannot begin reviewing an application until payment clears.
- Fees: PHR 395 dollars plus a 100 dollar application fee, total 495 dollars. SPHR 495 dollars plus 100, total 595 dollars. The application fee is nonrefundable.
- A valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID whose name matches the legal name on your application.
- There is no prerequisite certification. You do not need the aPHR or the PHR before sitting the SPHR.
Number of Questions
PHR: 90 scored questions plus 25 pretest questions, 115 items in total. SPHR: 115 scored questions plus 25 pretest questions, 140 items in total. Pretest items are not identified and are scattered throughout.
Duration
PHR: 2 hours of testing time plus 30 minutes of administration time. SPHR: 2 hours 30 minutes of testing time plus 30 minutes of administration time. There are no scheduled breaks in either exam, and any unscheduled break comes out of your testing time.
Question Format
Traditional multiple choice: a stem plus four answer choices with exactly one correct answer, Multiple choice, multiple response: two or more correct answers, with the item telling you how many to select, Fill in the blank: you supply a numeral, word or phrase, Drag and drop: you click pieces of information and drag them into the correct position, Scenarios: an HR situation followed by a series of items that require you to integrate facts across functional areas
Passing Requirement
500. HRCI sets the same pass point on all its exams, so a 499 fails the PHR and the SPHR alike.
How It Is Delivered
Computer-based, delivered by Pearson VUE either at a physical test centre or at home or in the office through OnVUE online proctoring. HRCI tests year-round.
Languages Offered
English. HRCI does not list translated versions of the PHR or SPHR on its certification pages, and the Certification Policies and Procedures Handbook notes that score reports are issued only in English even where an exam has been translated.
Visit the official HRCI certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
100 to 700 scaled score, identical across every exam in the HRCI portfolio.
Score You Need
500. HRCI sets the same pass point on all its exams, so a 499 fails the PHR and the SPHR alike.
How It Is Calculated
HRCI transforms the raw count of correct scored answers to a common 100 to 700 scale so that scores stay comparable across the multiple exam forms it maintains for security. The cut score comes from a modified Angoff standard setting: subject matter experts define the minimally competent candidate, rate each item for the percentage of such candidates who would answer it correctly, then reconcile ratings over one or two discussion rounds. Scoring is compensatory across functional areas; there is no per-area minimum. Wrong answers cost nothing beyond the mark, and the 25 pretest items on each exam are not scored at all.
When You Get Results
Test centre candidates get a printed results report before leaving the centre and a Pearson VUE notification within 1 to 2 business days that the official result is online. OnVUE candidates get no printed report and no immediate on-screen result, but can log in to their HRCI account roughly one hour after the session ends, with a Pearson VUE email following within 24 to 48 hours. HRCI asks candidates who have heard nothing within a week to contact [email protected].
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the PHR/SPHR (HR Certification)?
PHR eligibility, one of three routes: at least one year of professional-level HR experience plus a master's degree or higher; at least two years plus a bachelor's degree; or at least four years of professional-level HR experience with no degree requirement.. SPHR eligibility, one of three routes: at least four years of professional-level HR experience plus a master's degree or higher; at least five years plus a bachelor's degree; or at least seven years of professional-level HR experience.. HRCI's definition of professional-level experience: the ability to use independent judgment and discretion, some authority for decision-making, in-depth work such as data gathering and interpretation, interaction with people at multiple levels including decision-makers, and individual accountability for results.. An HR-themed degree is not required. HRCI states this explicitly in the Certification Policies and Procedures Handbook.. Experience does not have to be current or sequential, though HRCI notes the most recent experience is the most helpful to eligibility.. A submitted online application, an accepted HRCI Candidate Agreement, and payment in US dollars. HRCI cannot begin reviewing an application until payment clears.. Fees: PHR 395 dollars plus a 100 dollar application fee, total 495 dollars. SPHR 495 dollars plus 100, total 595 dollars. The application fee is nonrefundable.. A valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID whose name matches the legal name on your application.. There is no prerequisite certification. You do not need the aPHR or the PHR before sitting the SPHR..
How much does the PHR/SPHR (HR Certification) cost?
The PHR/SPHR (HR Certification) exam costs $395-$595. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the PHR/SPHR (HR Certification)?
Visit the official HRCI certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the PHR/SPHR (HR Certification)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for PHR/SPHR (HR Certification)?
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