PHR Study Guide-6 PHR Body of Knowledge A Must to Master

Straightforward! If there’s anything an examinee should master in order to pass the PHR SPHR certification exam, these are the six HR body of knowledge (BOK).

Based on the above table, in terms of exam coverage, we can deduce that PHR concentration is on Workforce Planning and Employment, Total Rewards, and Employee and Labor Relations while SPHR focus more on Strategic Management. Both have the same weight though in terms of Human Resource Development (HRD).

I am wondering if both PHR and SPHR exams have the same question entries: questions are identical as it appear on the exam. How about the order of appearance? Only those who will take both exams or have taken the exams can exactly tell. I hope they could share their experience in the forum afterwards (even just a hint as there is a privacy and confidentiality agreement given on the exam day).

HRCI also indicate the CORE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY HR PROFESSIONALS. These are:

a) Needs assessment and analysis

b) Third-party contract negotiation and management, including development of requests for proposals (RFPs)

c) Communication skills and strategies (for example, presentation, collaboration, influencing, diplomacy, sensitivity)

d) Organizational documentation requirements to meet federal and state requirements

e) Adult learning processes

f) Motivation concepts and applications

g) Training techniques (for example, computer based, classroom, on-the-job)

h) Leadership concepts and applications

i) Project management concepts and applications

j) Diversity concepts and applications

k) Human relations concepts and applications (for example, interpersonal and organizational behavior)

l) HR ethics and professional standards

m) Technology to support HR activities (for example, HRIS, employee self-service, e-learning, ATS)

n) Qualitative and quantitative methods and tools for analysis, interpretation, and decision-making purposes (for example, metrics and measurements, cost/benefit analysis, financial statement analysis) o) Change management methods

p) Job analysis and job description methods

q) Employee records management (for example, electronic/paper, retention, disposal)

r) The interrelationships among HR activities and programs across functional areas

s) Types of organizational structures (for example, matrix, hierarchy)

t) Environmental scanning concepts and applications.

u) Methods for assessing employee attitudes, opinions, and satisfaction (for example, opinion surveys, attitude surveys, focus groups/panels)

v) Basic budgeting and accounting concepts

w) Risk management techniques

I am wondering what would be the ideal time frame needed to prepare for the exam. Are three months enough to digest all these stuff or you need more time? Whatever your answer may be, I hope you are ready when you take the PHR SPHR exam. For sure, others will rely on their test taking abilities plus luck. If luck is true, hope all heavens will give you one on your exam day.

On the side, detailed scope and coverage, knowledge and responsibilities in each HR Body of Knowledge (BOK) can be found in HRCI website.