Learn About HR Certification

Learn Popup Banner Image

Learn

HR certification is a career-long commitment. It shows your peers, your employees and your organization that you have mastered the core HR principles and are committed to your profession. Certified HR professionals around the world have received job offers, promotions and respect from their peers.

Choose the Right Certification for You

Choose Popup Banner Image

Choose

Deciding which HR certification is best for you is an important decision. To help you determine which certification exam is right for you we suggest that you

  •  become familiar with the exam content
  •  take the FREE HR knowledge quizzes  
  •  purchase an Online Assessment Exam  

Renew Your Certification

Renew Popup Banner Image

Recertification shows that you

  • keep current on changing HR laws, best practices and innovative labor strategies
  • ensure that your organization and its employees work at peak performance
  • remain a strategic business partner in your organization’s success

By recertifying your PHR, SPHR, GPHR or California credentials you show that you are committed to being the best you can be in your profession.

Assessments & Preparation

AEP Banner Image

Managing Exam Stress



Taking exams can cause stress for some people. To help you avoid or manage stress, consider the following tips: 

 The months before the exam

  • if you have never taken a computer-based exam, practice using our Online Assessment Exams
  • use your nervous energy productively: Study regularly and well
  • practice relaxation techniques such as exercise, adequate sleep and hobbies to balance study time
  • review your Authorization To Test (ATT) letter found in your Online Profile to ensure your first and last name on the ATT letter match your name on your government-issued photo ID

The week before the exam

  • get directions to the exam site, and make sure you understand them
  • consider following the directions at the same time of day you will leave for the exam, and note the time and mileage of the trip

The day before the exam

  • relax and get a good night’s sleep
  • do not study
  • visualize success

On exam day

  • bring your government-issued photo ID 
  • bring directions, money and tickets or fare cards for tolls or mass-transportation
  • leave ample time for transportation delays 

During the exam

  • pace yourself, spending an average of one minute per question
  • after you answer all the questions that you can, return to any unanswered questions and to any answers you were not sure of
  • if you are not sure of an answer it's better to guess than to leave a question blank
  • take all the time you're given; you get no points for finishing early