If you need help studying for the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free SPHR practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
How to Register
Exam Scores
Retaking the Exam
SPHR Online Course
FAQs
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the SPHR exam, you need to meet at least ONE of the following requirements:
- You need a master’s degree and at least four years of experience in a professional HR position.
- You need a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in a professional HR position.
- You need at least seven years of experience in a professional HR position.
If you meet one these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 140 questions total, but only 115 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 2.5 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
The exam is split into the following five sections:
1. LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY
33% of the exam
- Contribute to the development of the organizational strategy and planning
- Develop, execute, and lead HR strategies that are aligned to the organization’s strategic plan
- Analyze and assess internal and external factors that impact operations and people management to decide on the best available risk management strategy
- Interpret and use business metrics to assess and drive achievement of strategic goals and objectives
- Use credible and relevant information to make decisions and recommendations
- Develop and manage workplace practices that are aligned with the organization’s vision, mission, values, sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), ethics, and anti-corruption, to shape and reinforce organizational culture
- Develop and evaluate strategies and workplace practices to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
- Identify and analyze HR metrics to inform strategic actions within the organization
- Design, implement, and facilitate effective change strategies to align organizational performance with the organization’s strategic goals
- Advise and influence organizational behavior and outcomes through effective relationships with key stakeholders
- Ensure alignment of HR strategies across the organization
- Evaluate the applicability of US federal laws and regulations to organizational strategy and/or complex HR strategies and make recommendations based on findings
2. WORKFORCE PLANNING AND TALENT ACQUISITION
17% of the exam
- Evaluate and forecast organizational needs throughout business cycles to develop or revise workforce plans
- Develop, monitor, and assess recruitment strategies to attract talent
- Develop and evaluate strategies for onboarding new employees and managing cultural integrations
3. TALENT MANAGEMENT
23% of the exam
- Evaluate the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace culture and make recommendations based on findings
- Design, implement, and evaluate programs or processes in order to develop the workforce
- Analyze business needs to develop a succession plan for key roles to promote business continuity
- Design and evaluate strategies for employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention
- Align team and individual performance goals to organizational measures of success
- Design and evaluate strategies and processes for performance management
- Identify and implement strategies and processes for leadership development
- Develop and evaluate employee career and growth opportunities
- Design policies and processes for the return of employees to the organization
- Create and evaluate labor strategies
- Design and assess offboarding strategies, processes, and trends
4. TOTAL REWARDS
17% of the exam
- Design the total rewards philosophy and communications strategy that balances the organizational and individual needs
- Create and evaluate compensation strategies that attract, reward, and retain talent
- Create and evaluate benefit strategies that attract, reward, and retain talent
- Design and develop employee recognition programs
5. HR INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, SAFETY, AND SECURITY
10% of the exam
- Align HR data privacy and security processes to organizational data protection strategies
- Evaluate employee safety and security strategies
- Lead, implement, and evaluate HR digitalization initiatives
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam.
To get started, you’ll need to fill out and submit an application via the HRCI website. The application includes a $100 application fee.
When your application is approved, you’ll be given instructions on how to register for the exam and set up a testing appointment. You’ll need to pay the $495 exam fee during the registration process.
SPHR Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The exam is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
A passing score is a scaled score of at least 500.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the exam is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test after a mandatory 90-day waiting period.
Online SPHR Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online SPHR prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The SPHR course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 550+ SPHR Practice Questions
- More than 300 Digital Flashcards
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The SPHR prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their SPHR exam. Click below to check it out!
FAQs
How many questions are on the SPHR exam?
The exam contains 140 questions.
What is the time limit for the SPHR exam?
The exam is timed at 2.5 hours.
How difficult is the SPHR exam?
The PHR exam is considered to be difficult but straightforward. The pass rate is currently 55%.
How long does it take to get SPHR exam results?
You should receive official results within 48 hours of testing.
How much does the SPHR exam cost?
The combined application fee and exam fee is $595.
