- Interpret and apply information related to general business environment and industry best practices
- Understand the role of cross-functional stakeholders in the organization and establish relationships for effective decision making
- Identify risks and recommend best practices
- Understand metrics and interpret data to support business initiatives and recommend strategies
HRCI Certification Training Course
HRCI Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification Training Course
We'll get you ready for the HRCI PHR exam, the credential for HR professionals who run programs and day to day operations, including U.S. laws and regulations.
Course focus: Business Management, Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Total Rewards, Employee Engagement, Employee and Labor Relations, HR Information Management, mapped to the official HRCI exam content outline.
Course Overview
What the PHR Course Covers
HRCI describes the PHR as a professional level credential. The exam covers 7 functional areas, and Employee and Labor Relations carries the most weight at 20%, so we give it the most class time.
Our instructor-led class follows the official PHR 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 PHR is HRCI's core credential for working HR professionals in the United States. It covers the operational side of HR, from employee relations and talent management to compensation and U.S. employment law.
Employers often list the PHR for HR generalist and HR manager roles. It shows you can run HR programs and keep an organization compliant, not only describe them.
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 7 functional areas in the official PHR exam content outline, weighted the way the exam weights them.
02
Go Deep on Employee and Labor Relations
Employee and Labor Relations is 20% 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.
05
Apply Employee Engagement
Employee Engagement is 17% of the PHR exam per HRCI, so we work it through with practical scenarios.
06
Plan Your Application
Confirm your PHR eligibility, file with HRCI and book Pearson VUE with confidence.
Who Should Attend
- HR generalists and specialists in U.S. organizations.
- HR staff who run programs, policy and day to day operations.
- aPHR holders ready for a professional level credential.
- Practitioners who handle compliance with U.S. employment law.
- HR professionals who want a credential employers recognize.
- Military HR specialists moving into civilian 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
PHR 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
- Apply US federal laws and organizational policies to adhere to legal and ethical requirements in hiring
- Identify and implement sourcing methods and techniques to attract talent
- Manage the talent acquisition lifecycle
- Implement and evaluate career development and training programs, including providing resources and guidance on professional growth and development opportunities
- Contribute to succession planning discussions with management by understanding and providing relevant data
- Administer learning and development programs designed to achieve desired outcomes by the organization
- Manage and communicate total rewards programs to foster employee engagement and enhance employee experience
- Implement and promote awareness of non-monetary rewards
- Implement benefit programs
- Monitor and sustain US federally compliant compensation and benefit programs
- Measure and advise on functional effectiveness at each stage of the employee lifecycle and identify alternate approaches as needed
- Support the implementation and communication of organizational programs to enhance employee participation and engagement
- Support the organization’s performance management strategy by completing appropriate steps in order to achieve organizational goals and objectives
- Support performance and employment activities
- Understand and apply knowledge of programs, US federal laws, and regulations to promote outreach, inclusivity initiatives)
- Support workplace programs related to US federal health, safety, security, and privacy laws and regulations
- Provide interpretation and ensure compliance to organizational policies and procedures
- Process and support the resolution of employee complaints, concerns, or conflicts and escalate as needed
- Utilize and manage HR database content and technologies
- Assess and communicate information obtained from HR databases
- Promote and maintain security best practices
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 PHR 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
PHR exam details
PHR Exam Readiness
Our class maps to the official PHR outline so you walk in knowing what to expect.
Per HRCI, the PHR exam runs 2 hours 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 60 HR recertification credits or retaking the exam. Source: https://www.hrci.org/certifications/individual-certifications/phr
Exam Format
PHR Exam at a Glance
Questions
90 scored questions plus 25 unscored pretest questions.
Time
2 hours 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 60 HR recertification credits or retaking the exam.
Careers
Where the PHR Can Take You
The PHR is a common step for HR generalists moving toward management, and for specialists who want to show broad HR competence.
HR Generalist
Handles the full range of HR work for a business unit.
HR Manager
Runs HR programs and supervises HR staff.
Employee Relations Specialist
Investigates issues and keeps policy consistent.
Compensation and Benefits Specialist
Administers pay and benefits programs.
Study Plan
How We Prepare You for the PHR
We teach the PHR around real HR decisions. Each area includes scenarios like a leave request, a pay question or a performance issue, and we practice choosing the best response under U.S. law.
You'll get a study plan by functional area, practice sets, a full length practice exam and help with your HRCI application.
Scenario Practice
Best answer questions built on real HR situations.
U.S. Law Review
The employment laws the PHR expects you to apply.
Full Practice Exam
A timed run at the real length before you book.
Application Help
We check your eligibility with you before you apply.
Funding
Paying for PHR Training
We are an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor, so eligible service members can often use those programs toward PHR 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 PHR 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
PHR Domains in Detail
Business Management (14%)
Interpret and apply information related to general business environment and industry best practices Understand the role of cross-functional stakeholders in the organization and establish relationships for effective decision making Identify risks and recommend best practices Understand metrics and interpret data to support business initiatives and recommend strategies
Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition (14%)
Apply US federal laws and organizational policies to adhere to legal and ethical requirements in hiring Identify and implement sourcing methods and techniques to attract talent Manage the talent acquisition lifecycle
Learning and Development (10%)
Implement and evaluate career development and training programs, including providing resources and guidance on professional growth and development opportunities Contribute to succession planning discussions with management by understanding and providing relevant data Administer learning and development programs designed to achieve desired outcomes by the organization
Total Rewards (15%)
Manage and communicate total rewards programs to foster employee engagement and enhance employee experience Implement and promote awareness of non-monetary rewards Implement benefit programs Monitor and sustain US federally compliant compensation and benefit programs
Employee Engagement (17%)
Measure and advise on functional effectiveness at each stage of the employee lifecycle and identify alternate approaches as needed Support the implementation and communication of organizational programs to enhance employee participation and engagement Support the organization’s performance management strategy by completing appropriate steps in order to achieve organizational goals and objectives Support performance and employment activities
Employee and Labor Relations (20%)
Understand and apply knowledge of programs, US federal laws, and regulations to promote outreach, inclusivity initiatives) Support workplace programs related to US federal health, safety, security, and privacy laws and regulations Provide interpretation and ensure compliance to organizational policies and procedures Process and support the resolution of employee complaints, concerns, or conflicts and escalate as needed
HR Information Management (10%)
Utilize and manage HR database content and technologies Assess and communicate information obtained from HR databases Promote and maintain security best practices
After the Exam
Applying, Testing and Staying Certified
You apply with HRCI first. Once your application is approved, you schedule your PHR 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 PHR is valid for three years. To keep it, you earn 60 HR recertification credits 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 PHR class and the exam.
The Professional in Human Resources (PHR) is an HRCI credential. Details are on the official page at https://www.hrci.org/certifications/individual-certifications/phr.
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 plus 30 minutes of administration time, with 90 scored and 25 pretest questions.
HRCI requires 60 HR recertification credits over three years, or you can retake the exam.
The PHR is operational and the SPHR is strategic. Your experience and role usually decide it. Email us and we will help you choose.
Yes. HRCI built the PHR for HR in the United States, including U.S. laws and regulations.
Enrollment
Enroll in PHR Training
Ready to start? Register on our registration page or email info@accumentum.net with questions about the PHR class.
Start Your PHR Prep
Questions about schedules or funding? Email info@accumentum.net.