As human resources practices evolve and become more complex, the demands on HR professionals continue to change. While senior professionals are taking expanded roles the strategic business outcomes, more junior professionals are also expected to help champion employee engagement and support improved business decisions with data-driven analytics.
To ensure that HR professionals at all levels are prepared to meet these demands, Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) has announced updates to the functional areas that comprise the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) examinations. These changes will take effect on examinations taken on or after August 1, 2018.
The 2018 PHR Exam Content Outline indicates that greater emphasis will be placed on the HR professional’s role in the employee experience, use of data and business decision-making processes. The new exam content outline consolidates and updates functional areas included on the test. It also updates the emphasis that the exam will place in each content area, as listed in percentages below:
See PHR and SPHR Exam Content Outline FAQs.
The 2018 SPHR Exam Content Outline indicates that greater emphasis will be placed on the senior professional’s responsibility for developing workforce strategies that are aligned with desired business outcomes. The new exam content outline also consolidates and updates functional areas included on the test. It also includes updates to emphasis that the exam will place in each content area, as listed in percentages below:
