HRCI's item writing and item review processes are designed not just to reflect the "best practice" for item writing and review in the certification industry, but to ensure that the items developed are written by HR practitioners for HR practitioners. To be sure, HR academicians are represented on the panels — they are, after all, a vital part of the HR profession. HRCI strives, however, to ensure that the majority of panel members at any given time are practicing professionals.

Panel members must write at least 25 items between each meeting. PHR and SPHR panels meet twice a year; the GPHR and California panels currently meet once a year. Panel members submit their items for review before each meeting and must provide documented source material to validate the answer to the question. During the panel meetings, items are reviewed, discussed, coded to the test specifications, validated for accuracy of content, edited and, when needed, returned to the author for further research or refinement. Items may also be discarded if determined to simply not be relevant at the time. Questions that have been coded and accepted as reflective of the body of knowledge are sent on to an item-review team.

Pre-testing items is critical for continuous additions to the item banks and ensures continued growth. A testament to the hard work done by the volunteers on the item-writing and item review-panels: Approximately 70 percent of the items that make it through those panels are found to be statistically valid in the pre-test phase and are entered into the item bank as a new test question. Items that are not found to be statistically valid go back to the item review panel or are thrown out altogether.