- Contribute to the development of the organizational strategy and planning
- Develop, execute, and lead HR strategies that are aligned to the organization’s strategic plan
- Analyze and assess internal and external factors that impact operations and people management to decide on the best available risk management strategy
- Interpret and use business metrics to assess and drive achievement of strategic goals and objectives
HRCI Certification Training Course
HRCI Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification Training Course
We'll get you ready for the HRCI SPHR exam, the credential for HR leaders who shape strategy and policy and align people practices with business goals in the United States.
Course focus: Leadership and Strategy, Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Total Rewards, HR Information Management, Safety, and Security, mapped to the official HRCI exam content outline.
Course Overview
What the SPHR Course Covers
HRCI describes the SPHR as a senior level credential. The exam covers 5 functional areas, and Leadership and Strategy carries the most weight at 33%, so we give it the most class time.
Our expert-led class follows the official SPHR 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 SPHR is HRCI's senior credential for HR leaders in the United States. It moves past operations into strategy, policy and the way HR supports business results.
Leadership and Strategy carries the most weight on the exam, so we spend real time on planning, organizational effectiveness and how HR leaders influence decisions at the top.
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 SPHR exam content outline, weighted the way the exam weights them.
02
Go Deep on Leadership and Strategy
Leadership and Strategy is 33% 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: 115 scored questions plus 25 unscored pretest questions in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
05
Apply Talent Management
Talent Management is 23% of the SPHR exam per HRCI, so we work it through with practical scenarios.
06
Plan Your Application
Confirm your SPHR eligibility, file with HRCI and book Pearson VUE with confidence.
Who Should Attend
- HR managers, directors and business partners in U.S. organizations.
- Leaders who set HR strategy and policy.
- PHR holders ready for a strategic credential.
- HR professionals working toward VP of HR or CHRO roles.
- HR professionals preparing for executive roles.
- Senior military HR leaders moving into civilian roles.
Prerequisites
- HRCI requires one of these: at least 4 years in a professional level HR role plus a master's degree or higher, 5 years plus a bachelor's degree, or 7 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
SPHR 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
- Evaluate and forecast organizational needs throughout business cycles to develop or revise workforce plans
- Develop, monitor, and assess recruitment strategies to attract talent
- Develop and evaluate strategies for onboarding new employees and managing cultural integrations
- Evaluate the integration of inclusivity initiatives in the workplace culture and make recommendations based on findings
- Design, implement, and evaluate programs or processes in order to develop the workforce
- Analyze business needs to develop a succession plan for key roles
- Design and evaluate strategies for employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention
- Design the total rewards philosophy and communications strategy that balances the organizational and individual needs
- Create and evaluate compensation strategies that attract, reward, and retain talent
- Create and evaluate benefit strategies that attract, reward, and retain talent
- Design and develop employee recognition programs
- Align HR data privacy and security processes to organizational data protection strategies
- Evaluate employee safety and security strategies
- Lead, implement, and evaluate HR digitalization initiatives
Course Features
How We Teach It
Expert-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 SPHR 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
SPHR exam details
SPHR Exam Readiness
Our class maps to the official SPHR outline so you walk in knowing what to expect.
Per HRCI, the SPHR exam runs 2 hours and 30 minutes plus 30 minutes of administration time, with 115 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 $495 exam fee, $595 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 Business recertification credits (60 total) or retaking the exam. Source: https://www.hrci.org/certifications/individual-certifications/sphr
Exam Format
SPHR Exam at a Glance
Questions
115 scored questions plus 25 unscored pretest questions.
Time
2 hours and 30 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 $495 exam fee, $595 total, per HRCI.
Eligibility
HRCI requires one of these: at least 4 years in a professional level HR role plus a master's degree or higher, 5 years plus a bachelor's degree, or 7 years of professional level HR experience.
Recertification
Valid for three years. Keep it by earning 45 HR and 15 Business recertification credits (60 total) or retaking the exam.
Careers
Where the SPHR Can Take You
The SPHR supports moves into HR director, VP of HR and CHRO roles, and it is common among HR business partners who work with senior leaders.
HR Director
Leads HR strategy and the HR team.
VP of HR or CHRO
Owns people strategy at the executive level.
Senior HR Business Partner
Advises business leaders on people decisions.
Organizational Development Lead
Drives change, culture and workforce planning.
Study Plan
How We Prepare You for the SPHR
SPHR questions ask what a senior HR leader should do, often with several reasonable answers. We practice choosing the most strategic one and explaining why.
You'll get a study plan by functional area, leadership scenarios, a full practice exam and help with your HRCI application.
Strategy Scenarios
Practice choosing the most strategic answer.
Policy Review
How HR policy supports business goals.
Full Practice Exam
A timed run at full length.
Application Help
We check your eligibility with you.
Funding
Paying for SPHR Training
We are an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor, so eligible service members can often use those programs toward SPHR 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 SPHR 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
SPHR Domains in Detail
Leadership and Strategy (33%)
Contribute to the development of the organizational strategy and planning Develop, execute, and lead HR strategies that are aligned to the organization’s strategic plan Analyze and assess internal and external factors that impact operations and people management to decide on the best available risk management strategy Interpret and use business metrics to assess and drive achievement of strategic goals and objectives
Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition (17%)
Evaluate and forecast organizational needs throughout business cycles to develop or revise workforce plans Develop, monitor, and assess recruitment strategies to attract talent Develop and evaluate strategies for onboarding new employees and managing cultural integrations
Talent Management (23%)
Evaluate the integration of inclusivity initiatives in the workplace culture and make recommendations based on findings Design, implement, and evaluate programs or processes in order to develop the workforce Analyze business needs to develop a succession plan for key roles Design and evaluate strategies for employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention
Total Rewards (17%)
Design the total rewards philosophy and communications strategy that balances the organizational and individual needs Create and evaluate compensation strategies that attract, reward, and retain talent Create and evaluate benefit strategies that attract, reward, and retain talent Design and develop employee recognition programs
HR Information Management, Safety, and Security (10%)
Align HR data privacy and security processes to organizational data protection strategies Evaluate employee safety and security strategies Lead, implement, and evaluate HR digitalization initiatives
After the Exam
Applying, Testing and Staying Certified
You apply with HRCI first. Once your application is approved, you schedule your SPHR 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 SPHR is valid for three years. To keep it, you earn 45 HR and 15 Business 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 SPHR class and the exam.
The Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) is an HRCI credential. Details are on the official page at https://www.hrci.org/certifications/individual-certifications/sphr.
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 $495 exam fee, $595 total. Once an application is approved, HRCI doesn't give refunds.
HRCI requires one of these: at least 4 years in a professional level HR role plus a master's degree or higher, 5 years plus a bachelor's degree, or 7 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 30 minutes plus 30 minutes of administration time, with 115 scored and 25 pretest questions.
HRCI requires 45 HR and 15 Business recertification credits, 60 total, over three years, or you can retake the exam.
No. HRCI sets SPHR eligibility by experience and education, not by holding the PHR.
The SPHR is built for HR leaders in the United States. For roles outside the U.S., look at the SPHRi or GPHR.
Enrollment
Enroll in SPHR Training
Ready to start? Register on our registration page or email info@accumentum.net with questions about the SPHR class.
Start Your SPHR Prep
Questions about schedules or funding? Email info@accumentum.net.