PHR Classes for Human Resources Certification

The PHR exam is made up of 225 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in the allotted 4 hours, and can either be the gateway to PHR certification or the bitter end to an arduous path. The exam includes questions on both the practical use of human resources training and on the theory of human resources practice, questions that even the most seasoned of HR professionals may find it difficult to answer.

The PHR is a career-making exam that is administered by HRCI (Human Resources Certification Institute), and it pulls together the entire range of Human Resources related activities in order to test a person’s understanding of the entire field of practice. For many HR personnel, a familiarity with the basic tenets is all that’s required in their job. Other HR practitioners develop a specialty within HR, such as managers, coordinators or administrators of a particular HR field.

Many who specialize find this to be a very gratifying experience. It can also go a long way towards building a successful career. Unfortunately it doesn’t do much for preparing you to take the PHR exam.

Both HRCI and SHRM (The Society for Human Resource Management) recognize that it’s not just recent HR graduates who may need a hand preparing for the PHR exam, but many long-time practitioners as well. The solution is a PHR prep course offered by HRCI called “Start Smart”, an all-encompassing review of every area of HR practice that may be covered by the PHR exam.

There are several groups that provide Start Smart courses, including state and city Human Resources organizations, colleges and universities, and locally organized study groups throughout the United States. Start Smart will provide you a deep and detailed review of each HRCI Body of Knowledge, those areas of Human Resources practice that will be tested on the PHR exam.

Those enrolled in the Start Smart course will learn the exacting standards of practice for each of the six fields that make up the HRCI Body of Knowledge. At the conclusion of the course, participants will have a much clearer view of what material they know and what they need to continue to review before taking the PHR exam.

Prep classes are critical in helping people determine how best to spend their study time and which areas they should focus on in order to pass the PHR exam. The best chance of achieving certification is to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and to work to overcome those areas where your knowledge may be deficient.

A typical PHR prep class meets once a week, usually for three to four hours each time. Most classes run for at least six weeks, and many of the groups that organize the course also include concentrated coursework, lectures and discussions led by HR instructors, workbooks as well as practice exams and review materials from the SHRM, HRCI or other dignified sources.