How to Get PHR Certified: Eligibility, Exam, Cost and How to Prepare
Reading Time: 7 minutes - You qualify for the PHR with 1 year of professional-level HR experience and a master's degree, 2 years and a bachelor's degree, or 4 years with no degree requirement.
- The exam has 115 questions (90 scored), runs 2 hours plus 30 minutes of administration time, and costs $495 including the application fee.
- You keep the PHR by earning 60 recertification credits every three years, including 1 ethics credit.
- The SHRM-CP needs no degree or experience; the PHR rewards hands-on HR experience and knowledge of U.S. employment law.
To get PHR certified, confirm you meet HRCI’s education and experience requirements, apply and pay $495 (a $395 exam fee plus a $100 application fee), then pass a two-hour, computer-based exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online from home. The credential lasts three years and renews with 60 HRCI recertification credits.
Eligibility Exam and cost PHR vs. SHRM-CP Recertification
What is the PHR certification?
The Professional in Human Resources (PHR) is a certification from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). HRCI designed it for HR professionals who implement programs and support day-to-day operations, and the exam tests technical and operational HR knowledge, including U.S. employment laws and regulations.
That makes the PHR a practitioner credential. It fits HR generalists, HR managers at small and midsize employers, and specialists who want proof that they know the rules behind the work. The senior-level SPHR is the next step for people setting HR strategy and policy.
Am I eligible for the PHR?
HRCI accepts three combinations of education and experience. The experience has to be in a professional-level HR role, not an administrative one.
| Highest education | Professional-level HR experience required |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree or higher | At least 1 year |
| Bachelor’s degree | At least 2 years |
| No degree requirement | At least 4 years |
If you are not sure whether your role counts as professional level, HRCI publishes guidance on what qualifies. Check it before you apply, because HRCI does not refund the fees once your application is approved.
PHR exam format and cost
- Length: 2 hours of testing, plus 30 minutes of administration time.
- Questions: 90 scored questions and 25 pretest questions. The pretest items do not count toward your score, and you will not know which ones they are.
- Where: computer-based, at a Pearson VUE testing center or at home or the office through Pearson’s online proctoring (OnVUE).
- Cost: a $395 exam fee plus a $100 application fee, $495 in total. Once HRCI approves your application, there are no refunds if you withdraw.
HRCI publishes a full exam content outline that lists every functional area the exam covers and how heavily each one is weighted. Download it before you start studying and build your plan around the weights, not around the topics you already know well.
How to get PHR certified, step by step
- Confirm your eligibility against the education and experience table above.
- Choose how you will prepare: a live course, a self-study course, or your own materials. Most people decide this before applying, so the exam date lands at the end of their study plan.
- Apply through HRCI and pay the $495 in application and exam fees.
- Schedule the exam with Pearson VUE, either at a testing center or online.
- Study to the exam content outline, and take full-length practice exams under timed conditions.
- Pass the exam, then start tracking recertification credits right away. The three-year clock starts when you certify.
How to prepare for the PHR exam
The PHR rewards applied knowledge. Many questions describe a workplace situation and ask what the HR professional should do, so memorizing definitions is not enough. Three habits make the biggest difference:
- Study to the outline. Spend your time in proportion to each area’s weight on the exam.
- Practice under exam conditions. Timed, full-length practice tests show you where you lose points and build the stamina for two hours of questions.
- Learn U.S. employment law as rules you can apply. Know what each major law requires of an employer, who it covers, and what a compliant response looks like.
How you study depends on how you learn. Self-study works for people who keep a schedule on their own. A live course adds an instructor, a fixed calendar, and a cohort sitting the same exam, which is often what gets busy HR professionals to the finish line.
PHR vs. SHRM-CP: which should you take?
Both are respected, operational-level HR credentials. They come from different organizations and test in different ways.
| PHR | SHRM-CP | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | HR Certification Institute (HRCI) | Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) |
| Eligibility | 1 to 4 years of professional-level HR experience, depending on degree | No degree or prior HR experience required; working knowledge of HR is recommended |
| Exam | 115 questions (90 scored), 2 hours plus 30 minutes of administration time | 134 questions (24 unscored field-test items), 4 hours including 3 hours 40 minutes of testing |
| Question style | Technical and operational HR knowledge, including U.S. laws and regulations | Knowledge items plus scenario-based situational judgment items |
| Cost | $495 ($395 exam plus $100 application) | $350 to $499, depending on SHRM membership and when you apply |
| Recertification | 60 HRCI credits every three years, including 1 ethics credit, or retake the exam | 60 professional development credits (PDCs) every three years, or retake the exam |
A simple way to choose: if you already have the HR experience and want a credential that proves your command of the rules, the PHR is a natural fit. If you are newer to HR or want an exam built around judgment scenarios, the SHRM-CP has no experience requirement. Some employers and job postings ask for one or the other, so check the roles you are aiming for.
PHR recertification: 60 credits every three years
The PHR is valid for three years. To keep it, you earn 60 HR recertification credits during that window or retake the exam. Since January 1, 2021, at least one of those credits must be in ethics.
Credits come from HR-related learning, such as courses, conferences, webinars, and reading, and from professional achievements like implementing a new program or volunteering your HR expertise. HRCI-approved providers document credits for you, which makes the record-keeping much easier.
Catapult is an HRCI Recertification Provider and a SHRM Recertification Provider. Most of our instructor-led courses are approved for HRCI and SHRM credit, and each course page lists the credits it carries. See how to earn PHR recertification credits with Catapult.
Preparing for the PHR with Catapult
Catapult’s PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP Web-Based Certification Study Course is a ten-week, instructor-led program that meets twice a week, live online in the evening, Eastern time. It prepares you for the PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams.
- Who teaches it: the program was developed by David Siler, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP, of Distinctive Human Resources, and includes a live weekly Q&A with him.
- What you get: a printed study manual and slide booklet, David Siler’s “Seven Princes” book, more than 1,500 practice quiz questions, virtual flashcards, audio files, online practice exams, and a comprehensive final practice exam.
- Price: $1,199 for members and non-members, plus $25 to ship the printed materials.
- Schedule: See upcoming dates. The next live online cohort is coming soon.
Catapult is based in Charlotte, and the course runs live online, so HR professionals in Charlotte, across the Carolinas, and nationwide join the same evening cohort. Prefer to study on your own schedule? The PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP self-study course includes the digital and print study materials, starts whenever you do, and costs $475 plus $25 shipping. A free intro webinar on the same page shows how the program works.
HRCI does not endorse any particular preparation program, and no prep course guarantees a passing score. Buying a prep course is not required to sit for the exam.
Start the self-study course any time. The next live online cohort with an instructor is coming soon.
See PHR study options
Frequently asked questions about PHR certification
Can I get the PHR without a degree?
Yes. HRCI accepts at least four years of experience in a professional-level HR role with no degree requirement. With a bachelor’s degree you need two years, and with a master’s degree or higher you need one.
How much does the PHR exam cost?
The PHR costs $495 in total: a $395 exam fee plus a $100 application fee. HRCI does not refund the fees once your application is approved, even if you withdraw.
How long is the PHR exam, and how many questions does it have?
The exam runs 2 hours, plus 30 minutes of administration time. It has 115 questions: 90 scored questions and 25 unscored pretest questions mixed in with them.
Can I take the PHR exam online?
Yes. You can test at home or at the office through Pearson VUE’s online proctoring, called OnVUE, or in person at a Pearson VUE testing center.
How many recertification credits do I need to keep my PHR?
You need 60 HRCI recertification credits every three years, and at least one of them must be an ethics credit. You can also recertify by retaking the exam instead of earning credits.
Is the PHR or the SHRM-CP better?
Neither is better across the board. The PHR requires professional-level HR experience and emphasizes technical and operational knowledge, including U.S. law. The SHRM-CP has no experience requirement and uses scenario-based judgment questions. Pick the one that fits your experience and the roles you want.
Does Catapult’s Class Pass cover the certification study course?
No. The PHR, SPHR and SHRM certification study courses are purchased separately. Class Pass covers Catapult’s public instructor-led courses and its HR and legal conferences.
Sources
Exam requirements, fees and recertification rules change. Confirm current details with HRCI or SHRM before you apply. Current as of October 1, 2026.
- HRCI, Professional in Human Resources (PHR): eligibility, exam format and length, exam and application fees, refund policy, and recertification requirement
- HRCI, Individual Recertification: three-year cycle, ways to earn credits, and recertification by exam
- HRCI, Ethics Requirement: one ethics credit required for recertification since January 1, 2021
- SHRM, SHRM-CP certification: exam format, length and question types
- SHRM, Eligibility Criteria: SHRM-CP education and experience requirements
- SHRM, Exam Options and Fees: 2026 member and nonmember exam pricing
- SHRM, Recertification: 60 professional development credits in a three-year cycle
- Catapult, PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP Web-Based Certification Study Course: format, materials, instructors, cohort dates and pricing
Carlie Houchins, Ed.D., is Director of Learning Solutions at Catapult, where she leads learning and development strategy and program design. Her work centers on helping organizations build leadership capability and support employee growth, across leadership development, training program design, eLearning, and capability building. She also speaks at conferences, chamber events, and professional development sessions. Catapult is an employers association founded in 1958 that serves member employers across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, and supports members nationwide.
