I passed my certification exam! I took a group study course in early 2010 when I finally decided to sit for this exam, and managed to pass a year later after studying for only two weekends. Maybe that wasn’t the best approach, but whatever.
The Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) exam is a three-hour 200-question exam for HR professionals with at least seven years in the industry who:
- designs and plans, rather than implements, HR policy
- focuses on the “big picture”
- has ultimate accountability in the HR department
- typically has six to eight years of progressive and increasingly complicated HR experience
- has breadth and depth of knowledge in all HR disciplines
- uses judgment gained with time and knowledge application
- understands the business beyond the HR function and influences the overall organization
The SPHR exam is divided into six functional areas:
- Business Management and Strategy (30%)
- Workforce Planning and Employment (17%)
- Human Resource Development (19%)
- Compensation and Benefits (13%)
- Employee and Labor Relations (14%)
- Risk Management (7%)
