SPHR® Exam Prep — Kaplan CertPrep exam preparation

SPHR® EXAM PREP

Lead the Strategy.
Earn the SPHR®.

SPHR® 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
Works on all devices
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What Does This Product Do?

The Kaplan CertPrep SPHR® Exam Prep covers all five functional areas of the SPHR exam content outline: Leadership and Strategy (33%), Talent Management (23%), Workforce Planning (17%), Total Rewards (17%), and HR Information Management (10%). Questions are written at the analysis and synthesis level — reflecting the SPHR’s focus on strategic HR leadership — with detailed rationales that explain the executive reasoning behind every correct answer.

Who Should Use This Product?

Senior HR professionals with 5–7+ years of strategic, policy-level HR experience

HR Directors and VPs of HR pursuing HRCI®’s senior-level certification

Professionals meeting SPHR eligibility requirements (senior experience + degree combination)

PHR® holders ready to advance to the senior-level credential

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

About the SPHR® Exam

The SPHR® (Senior Professional in Human Resources) exam is administered by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI®) and is designed for HR leaders who operate at the strategic and policy-making level. The exam consists of 140 total multiple-choice questions — 115 scored operational questions and 25 unscored pretest questions — with a 2.5-hour time limit. Content spans five functional areas: Leadership and Strategy (33%), Talent Management (23%), Workforce Planning (17%), Total Rewards (17%), and HR Information Management (10%). Questions are written at the analysis and synthesis cognitive level, reflecting the SPHR’s strategic focus. The exam is delivered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers or via OnVUE online proctoring. Eligibility requires one of three pathways: (1) 4 years of professional HR experience plus a master’s degree or higher; (2) 5 years plus a bachelor’s degree; or (3) 7 years with a high school diploma. The combined application and exam fees total $595. The passing score is 500 on HRCI’s 100–700 scaled scoring system; HRCI reports a 76% SPHR pass rate as of December 31, 2025 — the highest pass rate among HRCI’s domestic certifications. Kaplan CertPrep’s SPHR® Exam Prep is being built to cover all five functional areas of the current HRCI exam content outline.

Frequently Asked Questions

The SPHR® (Senior Professional in Human Resources) is HRCI®’s senior-level HR certification, designed for HR leaders who operate at the strategic and policy-making level. It tests executive-level competency across five functional areas: Leadership and Strategy (33%), Talent Management (23%), Workforce Planning (17%), Total Rewards (17%), and HR Information Management (10%). The exam contains 140 questions (115 scored + 25 pretest) with a 2.5-hour time limit.
To be eligible for the SPHR®, you must meet one of three pathways: (1) at least 4 years of professional-level HR experience plus a master’s degree or higher; (2) at least 5 years of professional-level HR experience plus a bachelor’s degree; or (3) at least 7 years of professional-level HR experience with a high school diploma or equivalent. SPHR candidates must have strategic and policy-level HR experience.
The PHR® tests operational and technical HR knowledge — implementing programs, managing day-to-day HR functions, and applying U.S. employment law. The SPHR® tests strategic HR leadership — organizational design, workforce strategy, policy development, and executive-level decision-making. The SPHR requires significantly more experience and tests at the analysis and synthesis cognitive level rather than the application level.
The SPHR® passing score is 500 on HRCI’s 100–700 scaled scoring system. HRCI reports a 76% SPHR pass rate as of December 31, 2025 — the highest pass rate among HRCI’s domestic certifications — reflecting the advanced experience base of SPHR candidates. The exam is administered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers or via OnVUE online proctoring.

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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