- Identify the proper Wage Order(s) for the organization, industry and/or profession and implement the requirements
- Develop and enforce policies for the proper classification of workers
- Establish and maintain policies that ensure accurate pay, timing and documentation of earnings
- Develop and implement appropriate timekeeping policies and procedures
HRCI Certification Training Course
HRCI Professional in Human Resources California (PHRca) Certification Training Course
We'll get you ready for the HRCI PHRca exam, the credential for HR professionals who support or manage HR under California law.
Course focus: Compensation/Wage and Hour, Employment Lifecycle and Employee Relations, Leaves of Absence and Benefits, Health, Safety and Workers' Compensation, Compliance and Risk Management, mapped to the official HRCI exam content outline.
Course Overview
What the PHRca Course Covers
HRCI describes the PHRca as a professional level credential. The exam covers 5 functional areas, and Compliance and Risk Management carries the most weight at 29%, so we give it the most class time.
Our instructor-led class follows the official PHRca exam content outline area by area, with practice questions written in the scenario style HRCI uses. We also walk you through the application, the testing ID and booking with Pearson VUE.
The PHRca is HRCI's credential for HR professionals who work under California law. California has its own rules on wages, hours, leave and employee rights, and the PHRca tests how well you can apply them.
It fits HR staff at California employers and at national companies with California workers, where getting state rules wrong can be costly.
Accumentum is an independent training provider. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by HRCI, and this isn't official HRCI training. HRCI sets exam content, fees and policies, so check hrci.org before you apply.
Course Objectives
What You Will Be Able to Do
01
Cover the Whole Outline
Work through all 5 functional areas in the official PHRca exam content outline, weighted the way the exam weights them.
02
Go Deep on Compliance and Risk Management
Compliance and Risk Management is 29% of the exam per HRCI, so it gets the most class time.
03
Practice With Scenarios
HRCI exams use scenario items that ask for the best answer. We practice that style every session.
04
Be Ready for Test Day
You'll know the format cold: 90 scored questions plus 25 unscored pretest questions in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
05
Apply Employment Lifecycle and Employee Relations
Employment Lifecycle and Employee Relations is 26% of the PHRca exam per HRCI, so we work it through with practical scenarios.
06
Plan Your Application
Confirm your PHRca eligibility, file with HRCI and book Pearson VUE with confidence.
Who Should Attend
- HR professionals working in California.
- HR staff at companies with California employees.
- PHR and SPHR holders adding a California credential.
- Payroll and benefits specialists who handle California wage and leave rules.
- HR staff at multistate employers with California workers.
- Consultants who advise California businesses on HR.
Prerequisites
- HRCI requires one of these: at least 1 year in a professional level HR role plus a master's degree or higher, 2 years plus a bachelor's degree, or 4 years of professional level HR experience.
- We don't add any enrollment prerequisites of our own. You can take the class before your HRCI application is approved.
Pathway Map
PHRca Course Pathway
Every module opens with the exam domain it maps to, so you can see how the pieces fit together across the course.
Course Content
- Develop and implement compliant recruiting and pre-employment policies and practices
- Develop and manage a legally compliant employee onboarding experience
- Develop enforceable employment policies and agreements
- Implement and facilitate harassment prevention policy and training
- Develop and maintain compliant leave and benefit policies
- Advise stakeholders and designate employee leave eligibility
- Manage leave entitlement and interactions
- Manage and enforce workers’ compensation programs
- Develop policies to address health and safety requirements
- Develop and implement Cal/OSHA mandated training programs
- Respond to agency claims, appeals, and hearing processes
- Determine compliance obligations based on employer size and industry
- Develop and implement legally compliant privacy and security protocol
- Analyze the potential risks and penalties of compliance failures and recommend appropriate actions
- Monitor, display and distribute required posters and notices
Course Features
How We Teach It
Instructor-Led Classes
Live instruction with time for questions, so you aren't figuring out the hard parts alone.
Outline Mapping
Every module maps to a functional area in the official PHRca exam content outline.
Practice Questions
Scenario based practice questions with explanations for every answer.
Application Help
We help you check eligibility, apply with HRCI and book your exam with Pearson VUE.
Certification Exam
PHRca exam details
PHRca Exam Readiness
Our class maps to the official PHRca outline so you walk in knowing what to expect.
Per HRCI, the PHRca exam runs 2 hours and 15 minutes plus 30 minutes of administration time, with 90 scored questions and 25 pretest questions. It's a computer based exam taken at a Pearson VUE test center or online at home or work with OnVUE. Fees are a $100 application fee plus a $395 exam fee, $495 total, and HRCI doesn't refund an approved application. The credential is valid for three years, and you keep it by earning 45 HR and 15 California recertification credits (60 total) or retaking the exam. Source: https://www.hrci.org/certifications/individual-certifications/phrca
Exam Format
PHRca Exam at a Glance
Questions
90 scored questions plus 25 unscored pretest questions.
Time
2 hours and 15 minutes plus 30 minutes of administration time.
Delivery
Computer based, at a Pearson VUE test center or online at home or work with OnVUE.
Fees
$100 application fee plus $395 exam fee, $495 total, per HRCI.
Eligibility
HRCI requires one of these: at least 1 year in a professional level HR role plus a master's degree or higher, 2 years plus a bachelor's degree, or 4 years of professional level HR experience.
Recertification
Valid for three years. Keep it by earning 45 HR and 15 California recertification credits (60 total) or retaking the exam.
Careers
Where the PHRca Can Take You
The PHRca is valued by California employers and by multistate companies that need someone who knows state specific rules.
HR Generalist, California
Runs HR for a California site or workforce.
HR Compliance Specialist
Keeps policy aligned with California law.
Payroll and Leave Administrator
Handles California wage, hour and leave rules.
HR Manager
Oversees HR for teams with California employees.
Study Plan
How We Prepare You for the PHRca
We teach the PHRca with California scenarios, from overtime and meal breaks to leave and termination rules, and practice the best answer under state law.
You'll get a study plan by functional area, practice sets and a full practice exam before you book.
We spend extra time on the places where California rules go further than federal law, because that is where the PHRca tends to test judgment. You'll practice spotting which rule applies when state and federal requirements differ.
California Law Focus
The state rules the PHRca tests.
Wage and Hour Drills
Practice on overtime, breaks and pay rules.
Full Practice Exam
A timed run before you schedule.
Application Help
We check eligibility with you before you apply.
Funding
Paying for PHRca Training
We are an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor, so eligible service members can often use those programs toward PHRca training. Your education counselor decides what gets approved, and we help you put the paperwork together.
If you're paying yourself or through your employer, PathPay spreads tuition into monthly payments. Email info@accumentum.net and we will send a quote for the PHRca class that you can pass to a manager or training budget owner.
Army CA
Send us your request details and we will provide the course quote and documents your counselor asks for.
Air Force COOL
We are an approved vendor. We help you confirm the credential is on your COOL list before you apply.
PathPay
Monthly payments instead of one lump sum. See the PathPay page for current terms.
Employer Paid
We provide quotes and course outlines your employer can use to approve the spend.
Domain Guide
PHRca Domains in Detail
Compensation/Wage and Hour (21%)
Identify the proper Wage Order(s) for the organization, industry and/or profession and implement the requirements Develop and enforce policies for the proper classification of workers Establish and maintain policies that ensure accurate pay, timing and documentation of earnings Develop and implement appropriate timekeeping policies and procedures
Employment Lifecycle and Employee Relations (26%)
Develop and implement compliant recruiting and pre-employment policies and practices Develop and manage a legally compliant employee onboarding experience Develop enforceable employment policies and agreements Implement and facilitate harassment prevention policy and training
Leaves of Absence and Benefits (14%)
Develop and maintain compliant leave and benefit policies Advise stakeholders and designate employee leave eligibility Manage leave entitlement and interactions
Health, Safety and Workers' Compensation (10%)
Manage and enforce workers’ compensation programs Develop policies to address health and safety requirements Develop and implement Cal/OSHA mandated training programs Respond to agency claims, appeals, and hearing processes
Compliance and Risk Management (29%)
Determine compliance obligations based on employer size and industry Develop and implement legally compliant privacy and security protocol Analyze the potential risks and penalties of compliance failures and recommend appropriate actions Monitor, display and distribute required posters and notices
After the Exam
Applying, Testing and Staying Certified
You apply with HRCI first. Once your application is approved, you schedule your PHRca exam with Pearson VUE at a test center or online with OnVUE. HRCI does not refund an approved application, so we help you check eligibility before you pay.
After you pass, the PHRca is valid for three years. To keep it, you earn 45 HR and 15 California recertification credits (60 total) in that time or retake the exam. We point you to the kinds of learning that count so recertification doesn't sneak up on you.
Keep Exploring
Related Courses and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our PHRca class and the exam.
The Professional in Human Resources California (PHRca) is an HRCI credential. Details are on the official page at https://www.hrci.org/certifications/individual-certifications/phrca.
No. We're an independent training provider and we aren't an HRCI partner. Our course follows the public HRCI exam content outline. HRCI sells its own prep materials at hrci.org.
HRCI lists a $100 application fee plus a $395 exam fee, $495 total. Once an application is approved, HRCI doesn't give refunds.
HRCI requires one of these: at least 1 year in a professional level HR role plus a master's degree or higher, 2 years plus a bachelor's degree, or 4 years of professional level HR experience.
Yes. HRCI offers the exam year round at Pearson VUE test centers or online with OnVUE.
We are an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor. Email info@accumentum.net and we will help you check what your benefit covers.
HRCI lists 2 hours and 15 minutes plus 30 minutes of administration time, with 90 scored and 25 pretest questions.
HRCI requires 45 HR and 15 California recertification credits, 60 total, over three years, or you can retake the exam.
HRCI sets the eligibility rules, which are based on HR experience and education. Check hrci.org for details.
Yes. Many HR professionals add the PHRca to a PHR or SPHR.
HRCI lists 2 hours and 15 minutes plus 30 minutes of administration time, with 90 scored and 25 pretest questions.
Yes. HRCI offers it at Pearson VUE test centers or online through OnVUE.
Enrollment
Enroll in PHRca Training
Ready to start? Register on our registration page or email info@accumentum.net with questions about the PHRca class.
Start Your PHRca Prep
Questions about schedules or funding? Email info@accumentum.net.