The best way to prepare for the Professional in Human Resources Exam is to attend to your professional responsibilities as a Human Resources (HR) professional, if you are employed as such, and methodically review the body of knowledge from which the test questions are drawn. In addition, using study guides, taking practice tests, and taking a preparation course are other methods that can help you prepare for your exam. Those who pass the exam are granted the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, making it a significant milestone in an HR career; historically, though, nearly 40% of all those who take the exam do not pass.
The Professional in Human Resources exam, a comprehensive test of 225 questions administered in one sitting over a four-hour period, is administered twice annually at locations worldwide. The window for registration is usually open for about two months, and closes at least six weeks prior to the test date. Thus, you have at least six weeks to prepare for the exam, and usually much longer if your decision to take the exam was made before the registration deadline.
The exam itself is created by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), which is part of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). HRCI prepares and sells exam preparation materials, including study guides and sample tests. In addition, HRCI publishes online a very thorough outline of the material covered by the exam. This material comprises six areas of functional knowledge, such as employee and labor relations, compensation, and strategic planning, and goes into significant detail as to the responsibilities and knowledge expected of a human resources professional in each area.
How you prepare for the Professional in Human Resources Exam is based on your own study habits and learning style. Some people learn best on their own, setting up their own study plans and working at their own pace. If this is your style, you can use the free online Exam Content outline as your study guide and develop your own curriculum. Others will find it more convenient and efficient to work from an already prepared curriculum. The material from HRCI is adequate for this purpose, and there are many other providers who've developed competing exam preparation materials.
For those who do best with face-to-face instruction, there are professional tutors and schools in most areas that provide preparation courses for the Professional in Human Resources exam, and there are online courses available as well. While the cost of these exams and the related materials they provide is greater than either of the other options, they generally give the test-taker the opportunity to ask detailed questions and request more thorough explanations of sometimes complex concepts.
In addition to the more formal instruction and studying you're involved in, your daily duties are a reflection of many of the topics found on the exam. For instance, discussions you have with department managers and executives on staffing levels and hiring are instances of strategic management, as well as workforce planning and employment. When you sit down with a new employee and explain the payroll statement, that's an exercise in employee relations, as well as in compensation.
Regardless of the method you choose, you should take advantage of the sample tests offered by HRCI. These exams are comprised of questions used in past years' exams, and should be taken in pairs — one exam before you begin your preparation, and one about a week prior to the actual exam. The first exam will analyze your answers and identify those areas that need improvement; the second will demonstrate how much you actually improved and identify any areas that might benefit from some last-minute studying.
The night before you sit for the Professional in Human Resources exam, be sure to eat well and get a full night's sleep. Before entering the examination room, eat properly and visit the restroom so that neither hunger nor discomfort bother you during the exam.
