PHR® Exam Prep — Kaplan CertPrep exam preparation

PHR® EXAM PREP

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PHR® exam preparation — from Kaplan, the name behind 80+ years of exam success.

Expert-written practice questions
Detailed rationales on every answer
Full-length practice tests
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What Does This Product Do?

The Kaplan CertPrep PHR® Exam Prep covers all seven functional areas of the current PHR exam content outline: Business Management (20%), Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition (16%), Learning and Development (10%), Total Rewards (15%), Employee Engagement (17%), Employee and Labor Relations (18%), and HR Information Management (4%). Questions are written at the application and synthesis level — matching the PHR’s practice-based item format — with rationales that explain the reasoning behind every correct answer.

Who Should Use This Product?

HR generalists and specialists with 2–4 years of professional-level HR experience

HR coordinators and managers pursuing HRCI® certification for career advancement

Professionals meeting PHR eligibility requirements (degree + experience combination)

Anyone preparing to sit for the HRCI® PHR® exam at Pearson VUE

About the PHR® Exam

The PHR® (Professional in Human Resources) exam is administered by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI®) and validates technical and operational HR knowledge at the practitioner level, with a focus on U.S. employment law and day-to-day HR implementation. The exam consists of 115 total multiple-choice questions — 90 scored operational questions and 25 unscored pretest questions — with a 2-hour time limit. Content spans seven functional areas: Business Management (20%), Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition (16%), Learning and Development (10%), Total Rewards (15%), Employee Engagement (17%), Employee and Labor Relations (18%), and HR Information Management (4%). The PHR includes application and synthesis-level questions, not just recall. The exam is delivered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers or via OnVUE online proctoring. Eligibility requires one of three pathways: (1) 1 year of professional HR experience plus a master’s degree or higher; (2) 2 years plus a bachelor’s degree; or (3) 4 years with a high school diploma. The combined application and exam fees total $495. The passing score is 500 on HRCI’s 100–700 scaled scoring system; HRCI reports a 72% PHR pass rate as of December 31, 2025. Kaplan CertPrep’s PHR® Exam Prep is being built to cover all seven functional areas of the current HRCI exam content outline.

Frequently Asked Questions

The PHR® (Professional in Human Resources) is HRCI®’s operational HR certification, designed for professionals who implement HR programs and manage day-to-day HR functions. It validates technical knowledge across seven functional areas including Business Management, Workforce Planning, Total Rewards, Employee Engagement, and Employment Law. The exam contains 115 questions (90 scored + 25 pretest) and must be completed in 2 hours.
To be eligible for the PHR®, you must meet one of three pathways: (1) at least 1 year of professional-level HR experience plus a master’s degree or higher; (2) at least 2 years of professional-level HR experience plus a bachelor’s degree; or (3) at least 4 years of professional-level HR experience with a high school diploma or equivalent.
The PHR® passing score is 500 on HRCI’s 100–700 scaled scoring system. HRCI reports a 72% PHR pass rate as of December 31, 2025. Scores are provided immediately upon completion at Pearson VUE testing centers, with official score reports delivered via ASWBCentral within 24–48 hours.
Both the PHR® and SHRM-CP are widely recognized HR certifications, but they come from different organizations and emphasize different competencies. The PHR® (from HRCI®) focuses on technical and operational HR knowledge, particularly U.S. employment law. The SHRM-CP (from SHRM) emphasizes behavioral competencies alongside HR knowledge. Many HR professionals hold both credentials.

PHR®, aPHR®, SPHR®, and HRCI® are registered trademarks of the HR Certification Institute. Kaplan CertPrep is not affiliated with or endorsed by HRCI.

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