The PHR and SPHR are generalist exams and assess knowledge of the entire domestic HR field. If you have never been an HR generalist or do not plan to become one, please evaluate whether these exams are right for you. The GPHR exam is intended for HR professionals who develop and implement global HR strategies, oversee international assignment management and manage HR operations overseas.

PHR, SPHR and GPHR certification is intended for professionals who have at least two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience.

HRCI does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability. To be eligible to take any of the exams, candidates must demonstrate that:

• At least 51 percent of their daily activities are within the human resource function.
• Those activities are at the exempt (professional) level (described below).

The exams reflect today’s HR practices. Although the two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience need not be current or sequential, more recent experience is more likely to coincide with the exam’s content.

Eligibility is determined by the information found in the work experience section of the application and, if necessary, on the completed supporting documentation form and any accompanying documentation. If a candidate is found ineligible, there is no appeal process. It is in a candidate’s best interest to ensure that supporting documentation clearly demonstrates two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience.

HRCI also offers a special student/recent graduate category. For more information about taking the exam as a student/recent graduate, please see “Student/Recent Graduate Eligibility Requirements” in this handbook.

Documenting Work Experience

With the exception of students, recent graduates and recertification-by-examination ­candidates, all candidates must complete the work experience section of the application to document eligibility. All applications are reviewed to determine eligibility. Because of the volume of applications received, HRCI cannot preapprove applications for eligibility. Ineligible candidates will be refunded the exam fee. Application and optional fees are nonrefundable.

Supporting Documentation

Candidates who cannot find an exact match for a job title on the position code list (found in Appendix C) must list that job title as “other” or “999” on their applications; submit a completed supporting documentation form (found in Appendix D) and attach a job description or similar document to show that the position was at an exempt level (professional) and that at least 51 percent of the daily activities were HR focused. Candidates who do not provide this information will be ineligible to take the exam or will be assessed a resubmission fee.

To avoid a resubmission fee (see “Resubmission Fees” in this handbook), online applicants who must mail or fax additional information have five business days from the date they submit their applications to forward that information to PES. Candidates who submit paper applications must enclose all required supporting documentation with their applications to avoid having to pay a resubmission fee.

Exempt-Level (Professional) Work Experience

Candidates must demonstrate exempt-level (professional) HR work experience. In the United States, “exempt” is defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its amendments. All managers and supervisors have some HR responsibilities as part of their jobs but it is generally not the dominant work function on a daily basis and therefore would not make them eligible to take the exam.

To learn more about exempt versus nonexempt work experience, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Web site at www.dol.gov/elaws/flsa.htm.

In the HR field, exempt-level positions are categorized as:

• HR practitioners (those whose job duties are normally found in the typical HR function).
• HR educators (those whose principal areas of instruction are in the HR field at an accredited institution of higher learning).
• HR researchers (those whose research activities are restricted primarily to the HR field).
• HR consultants (those whose consulting activities are primarily in the HR field).

For those working outside of the United States, the equivalent of exempt-level work is considered to be work done at a “professional” level. For purposes of eligibility for HRCI exams, professional experience includes supervisory responsibility and/or creative or original work requiring advanced HR knowledge.

PHR or SPHR? Choosing the Appropriate Exam

Candidates should choose the exam that best represents their mastery of the HR body of knowledge. HRCI has found that appropriate exempt-level HR work experience and educational background contribute significantly to success on the exams.

With this in mind, HRCI strongly recommends that PHR candidates have two to four years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience and SPHR candidates have six to eight years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience.

Profile of a Candidate

An honest assessment of skills, knowledge and responsibilities within the HR function is critical when deciding whether to seek certification as a PHR, SPHR or GPHR. The following profiles of typical PHR, SPHR and GPHR candidates may help you determine which exam is appropriate for you. Because of the nature of the exams and their common body of knowledge, the PHR and SPHR designations cannot be held concurrently. However, you may hold either a PHR or SPHR certification in conjunction with a GPHR designation.

PHR Candidate:

• Focuses on program implementation.
• Has tactical/logistical orientation.
• Has accountability to another HR professional within the organization.
• Has two to four years of exempt-level generalist HR work experience, but because of career length may lack the breadth and depth of a more senior-level generalist.
• Has not had progressive HR work experience by virtue of career length.
• Focuses his or her impact on the organization within the HR department rather than organizationwide.
• Commands respect through the credibility of knowledge and the use of policies and guidelines to make decisions.

SPHR Candidate:

• Designs and plans rather than implements.
• Focuses on the “big picture.”
• Has ultimate accountability in the HR department.
• Has six to eight years of progressive HR experience.
• Has breadth and depth of HR generalist knowledge.
• Uses judgment obtained with time and application of knowledge.
• Has generalist role within organization.
• Understands the effect of decisions made within and outside of the organization.
• Understands the business, not just the HR function.
• Manages relationships; has influence within overall organization.
• Commands credibility within organization, community and field by experience.
• Possesses excellent negotiation skills.

GPHR Candidate:

• Establishes HR policies and initiatives that support the organization’s global growth and reputation as an employer.
• Designs organizational structures, programs and processes to achieve worldwide business needs.
• Oversees international assignment strategies and policies.
• Develops, implements and evaluates programs, processes and tools to ensure that they align with competitive practice, the organization’s objectives and legal requirements.
• Oversees the processes and practices that ensure favorable employment conditions balancing employer needs with employee rights and needs.
• Has core knowledge of the organization’s international HR activities.

• Students and recent graduates enrolled in a bachelor’s or graduate degree program may take the PHR and GPHR exams at an initial registration rate of U.S.$120. Passing students and recent graduates must pay the balance of the exam fee once they have graduated and documented two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience. They have five years from the date of passing the exam to obtain the two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience. Student/recent graduate candidates are not eligible to take the SPHR certification exam.
• Student/recent graduates who meet the two-year exempt-level (professional) HR work experience requirement must apply as an HR professional and pay the full exam fee.
• Student/recent graduate candidates must take the exam no earlier than 12 months before their graduation date and no later than 12 months after graduation from a bachelor’s or graduate degree program.
• See Appendix E for information about taking the exam outside of the United States, U.S. territories or Canada.

Completing the Student/Recent Graduate Verification Form

To determine eligibility, students/recent graduates must submit a completed Student/Recent Graduate Verification form in lieu of completing the work experience section of the application.

Students should complete the top portion of the Student/Recent Graduate Verification form and have it signed by a college or university official.

Recent graduates should sign the Student/Recent Graduate Verification form and attach a copy of their diploma or a transcript showing that the degree was granted. The date the degree was granted must appear on the diploma or transcript. Official transcripts are preferred.

Candidates who have changed their names since graduation should indicate their former name on the Student/Recent Graduate Verification form and follow the instructions in the “Name Changes” section in this handbook.

Students who obtain a degree from a college or university outside of the United States or Canada must provide an equivalency certificate in order to take the exam as a student/recent graduate. For a list of organizations that offer this service, please go to www.hrci.org.

Completed Student/Recent Graduate Verification forms should be mailed with the completed scannable application or a copy of the summary page from the online application to PES. To avoid a resubmission fee (see “Resubmission Fees” in this handbook), students/recent graduates who apply online must mail or fax a completed form and any other required supporting documentation to PES within five business days from the date they submit the online application to PES.

Submitting Proof of Work Experience

Students/recent graduates have five years from passing the exam to obtain two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience. The PHR and GPHR certification is awarded after students/recent graduate candidates:

• Obtain and document two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience;
• Provide proof of graduation (an official transcript or a copy of the diploma); and
• Pay the balance of the exam fee.

Passing students will receive more information about how to submit this information when they receive their score report.

For more information about completing the application form as a student/recent graduate, please see “Completing the Application” in Appendix C.

Student Use of the PHR and/or GPHR Designation

Passing students/recent graduates cannot use the PHR and/or GPHR designation until they obtain the required work experience, provide proof of graduation and pay the balance of the exam fee.

Students and recent graduates can let prospective employers know they passed the exam and will become certified once they obtain the work experience.

The vast majority of certified professionals prefer to recertify by documenting professional development activities. For more information about recertification using this method, please visit the HRCI Web site at www.hrci.org/recertification.

Some certified professionals prefer to recertify by retaking the exam.

Recertification-by-examination candidates must:

• Take the exam before their certification cycle expires.
• Recertify only at their current certification level.
• Wait at least one year from their beginning certification date before taking the test.

Recertification-by-examination candidates are subject to the same exam fees as outlined in this handbook and are subject to all optional service fees, if applicable.

Apply and schedule early. HRCI shares Thomson Prometric test centers with many other certification and licensure programs. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application will be reviewed for eligibility and the sooner you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter (if eligible) so you can schedule the exam for the date, time and location of your convenience.

Candidates who attempt to schedule their exams after the opening of the testing window may not be able to schedule at the time and test location of their choice. In rare instances, candidates who attempt to schedule or reschedule their exam late into the testing window may find that they are unable to schedule an exam, date and location. If this occurs, candidates may withdraw from the exam and apply for a 50 percent refund (see the “Withdrawals” and “Refunds” section in this handbook).

Testing Windows and Deadlines

Two testing windows are offered annually. The chart below outlines the testing windows for each exam and the registration deadlines. ATT letters will be mailed to eligible candidates within two weeks of receipt of a completed application. This letter will provide candidates with the information needed to schedule an exam. Applications that require additional documentation (such as a student/recent graduate verification form) are considered incomplete until the information is received and processed. Incomplete applications are subject to a resubmission fee.

PHR AND SPHR TESTING WINDOWS AND DEADLINES

* A U.S.$50 late fee will be assessed on applications received after the regular deadline but on or before the late deadline.

** For students/recent graduates, the balance of the PHR and/or GPHR exam fee is required upon meeting experience and graduation requirements.

International Test Center Fee —Candidates who register to take the exam outside of the United States, U.S. territories or Canada will incur a U.S.$55 international test center fee. See Appendix E for information on taking the exam outside the United States, U.S. territories or Canada.

Late-Deadline Fee

Applications postmarked after the regular deadline (11:59 p.m. ET) but postmarked on or before the late deadline will incur a U.S.$50 late fee. To be considered complete, applications must include all required supporting documentation. Applications that require additional documentation (such as a student/recent graduate verification form) are considered incomplete until the information is received and processed. Incomplete applications are subject to a resubmission fee. Scannable applications received after the late deadline date will be returned to the candidate unprocessed.

SHRM Member Rate

To receive the reduced national SHRM member rate, candidates must provide their SHRM membership number on the application at the time it is submitted.

Money Orders, Certified/Cashier’s and Organizational Checks

Candidates using the scannable application can also pay by money order, certified/cashier’s check or organizational check made payable to Professional Examination Service. Personal checks will not be accepted. Please do not send cash.

Candidates’ name and home telephone number (including area code) must appear on all payments made by money order, certified/cashier’s check or organizational check.

If fees for more than one candidate are paid by a single check or money order, a list of all candidates’ names and home telephone numbers (including area codes) must be included with the check and the application materials. Checks and money orders received without proper candidate identification may be returned to the sender unprocessed.

Optional service fees are not refundable.

VISA, MasterCard, American Express, certified/cashier’s checks, money orders or organizational checks in U.S. currency are accepted for these services. Personal checks and cash are NOT accepted.

Resubmission Fees

Candidates with incomplete applications will receive a letter from PES showing what is needed to make the application complete. To become eligible to take the exam, they must submit the required information by the date listed in the letter and pay a U.S.$20 resubmission fee. Payment instructions will be included in the incomplete letter.

To avoid paying a resubmission fee, online applicants who need to mail or fax additional information must do so no later than five business days from the date they submit the application to PES.

It is strongly advised that a traceable method (“signature required”) be used when mailing documentation. When faxing, be sure to keep the confirmation notice that the fax was successfully transmitted.

Thomson Prometric cannot comply with special accommodation requests made by candidates taking the exam outside the United States, U.S. territories or Canada where local operating conditions or local laws and customs render such requests unlawful, impossible or economically unfeasible to perform.

A special accommodation request must be made by the candidate at the time of application by marking the appropriate box on the online or scannable application form and submitting the following (completed) forms:

• Special Testing Accommodation Request form (included in Appendix D and online).
• Documentation of Disability-Related Needs by Qualified Professional form (included in Appendix D and online). This form must be completed by a professional with a license or credential appropriate to diagnose and treat the candidate’s disability. The nature of the disability, identification of the test(s) and protocols used to confirm the diagnosis, a description of past accommodations made for the disability and the specific testing accommodations requested must be included.

To avoid paying a resubmission fee, candidates applying online who must mail or fax special accommodation information have five business days from the date they submit the application to forward that information to PES.

As with all mailed information, it is strongly recommended that candidates use a traceable “signature required” delivery method. If the information is faxed, be sure to retain the transmission report as evidence of successful transmission.

Incomplete or late requests will not be honored.

Before scheduling an exam, be sure to visit the Thomson Prometric Web site at www.prometric.com/hrci to determine the latest test center information (including hours of operation). Most Thomson Prometric test centers are open Monday through Saturday. Thomson Prometric reserves the right to change test center locations as necessary.

See Appendix E for information about taking the exam outside of the United States, U.S. territories or Canada. Candidates who register to take the exam at an international test center will incur a U.S.$55 international test center fee.

Refer to Appendix C for detailed instructions on how to complete the application.

* These documents will include your 12-digit HRCI ID number.

** See Appendix E for information about taking the exam outside the United States, U.S. territories or Canada.

To register for an upcoming exam online, go to www.hrci.org. Follow the instructions and keep a printed version of the summary page when prompted.

Online applicants must print the summary page to ensure the application is completed and submitted. The inability to print this page may indicate that the application was not successfully submitted. If this occurs, do not click the back arrow. Close your browser, then reopen the browser and go to www.hrci.org. Click on the “Apply Now” icon, log in using your HRCI ID number and password and then click on the link under Action Items marked “Finish Your Exam Application.” If the problem persists, please contact PES at (866) 744-HRCI or click on the e-mail link at the bottom of the application page.

Online applicants will receive an auto-generated e-mail within 24 hours of sending the application confirming successful transmission. This confirms successful transmission only and should not be construed as confirmation of eligibility. Candidates who do not receive this auto-generated message should check the status of their application online before contacting PES. This may indicate that the application was not successfully transmitted.

HRCI ID Number

All candidates are assigned a 12-digit HRCI ID number. This number will appear on the summary page, the confirmation e-mail and the Authorization to Test (ATT) letter. The ID number is not the same as your SHRM member number, if applicable. Your HRCI ID number and a password will be required to review and modify applications online, to schedule exams and for all communication with HRCI, PES or Thomson Prometric. Once certified, this will become your ID number for any future exams as well as for recertification.

All candidates–regardless of how they apply–can review/modify their contact information online. If candidates have submitted a paper application, please allow two to three weeks from the time of submission before the information will be available in the candidate's online file.

Additional Forms

The following forms are available online and can be downloaded and completed by applicants as appropriate:

Supporting Documentation form
Student/Recent Graduate Verification form
Special Testing Accommodation Request form
Documentation of Disability-Related Needs by a Qualified Professional form

When submitting any of these forms, online applicants must include a copy of the summary page printed from their online application. Online candidates have five business days from their online application submission date to forward additional information to PES. A resubmission fee will be assessed to candidates who receive notification of a deficiency because of the lack of a timely receipt of the additional information.

Online applicants can pay by VISA, MasterCard or American Express.

Application Availability

The online application is available until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the late-deadline date.

Online applicants are expected to meet all deadlines. HRCI and PES are not responsible for system problems (web site down, etc.). Online applicants are strongly advised to apply well in advance of the regular deadline date. This will allow candidates time to confirm their registration and allow more choices in testing dates, times and locations. Candidates attempting to schedule or reschedule appointments within 30 days of the close of the testing window cannot be guaranteed that an appointment will be available.

Submitting an Application by Mail

Refer to Appendix C for detailed instructions on how to complete the application.

* These documents will include your 12-digit HRCI ID number.

** See Appendix E for information about taking the exam outside the United States, U.S. territories or Canada.

Completing the Scannable Application Form

• Candidates must use a #2 pencil to complete the scannable application. Applications completed with other types of pencils or pens cannot be scanned and will be returned.
• Photocopies, faxes, copies of the online application, previous application versions, applications submitted as e-mail attachments or applications completed using other writing devices will not be accepted.
• When completing the scannable application, print the letters in the boxes provided, one letter to a box, and fill in the corresponding oval in each column that appears below the printed letter. Do not fill in ovals for blank spaces.
• Applications–including supporting documentation, forms and payment–must be submitted in one envelope to PES. Do not fold the application. Scannable applications are read using an optical scanner. Folded applications may cause the scanner to misread vital information.
• Applications may be returned if they are incomplete or cannot be read by the optical scanner.
• Candidates who submit an incomplete application will receive a letter from PES showing what is needed to make the application complete. To become eligible, candidates must submit the required information by the date indicated in the letter and pay a U.S.$20 resubmission fee.
• Applications postmarked after the late deadline will not be accepted.
• It is strongly recommended that candidates use a traceable mailing method (e.g., certified or registered mail or expedited mail service that requires a signature) to verify delivery.

Fees for candidates using the scannable application can be paid by VISA, MasterCard or American Express, or by U.S. money order, certified/cashier’s check or organizational check.

Payments made by money order, certified/cashier’s check or organizational check must be in U.S. currency and made payable to Professional Examination Service. Candidates’ names and home telephone numbers (including area code) must appear on the check or money order to ensure accurate processing. Unidentifiable checks and money orders will be returned to the sender. Personal checks are not accepted. Please do not send cash.

For more detailed information about completing the application, including a complete list of approved position codes, please refer to Appendix C.

Mailing Application Materials

Before mailing your application, be sure to:

• Check the application carefully to ensure that all required information (testing window, e-mail address, fees, contact information) is accurate, complete and bubbled.
• Sign and date the application.
• Include all applicable forms (i.e., supporting documentation, student/recent graduate verification, special accommodation).
• Include proper payment in U.S. currency and made payable to PES, making sure names and home telephone numbers (including area codes) appear on checks or money orders and all credit card information is complete and accurate.
• Use a 9 x 12-inch envelope for mailing (do not fold the application).
• Affix sufficient postage to the envelope to ensure delivery.
• Send the completed application packet and fees to PES by some form of traceable mail.