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HRCI certification

SPHR — Senior Professional in Human Resources

The strategic HR credential — for leaders who shape policy and align HR with business direction.

Who it's for: Senior HR leaders responsible for HR strategy, policy, and organizational direction in the U.S.

Eligibility

  • 4 years of professional-level HR experience with a master's degree or higher
  • 5 years of professional-level HR experience with a bachelor's degree
  • 7 years of professional-level HR experience with less than a bachelor's degree
Founding-member price$89
Planned standard price$139

Lifetime access, no subscription. Planned pricing — nothing is billed until early access opens.

Exam format

Questions
115 scored + 25 pretest
Time allowed
2 hours 30 minutes
Delivery
Computer-based at Pearson VUE or via OnVUE
Fees
$495 exam + $100 application = $595 total

Exam content outline

The knowledge domains this exam draws from, and how heavily each is weighted.

Leadership and Strategy
33%
Talent Management
23%
Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition
17%
Total Rewards
17%
HR Info. Mgmt, Safety & Security
10%

Sample questions

A preview of the style and difficulty you can expect from the SPHR question bank.

A CEO asks HR to justify a proposed restructuring in business terms rather than HR process. Which response best reflects SPHR-level thinking?

  • Present the org chart changes without financial context
  • Tie the restructuring to specific business outcomes such as cost savings, capacity, or revenue growth ✓
  • Defer entirely to the CEO's preference
  • Focus the presentation only on employee morale

SPHR-level leadership frames HR initiatives in business terms, connecting people decisions to measurable organizational outcomes.

Which activity is most representative of strategic workforce planning at the SPHR level?

  • Posting job openings as they arise
  • Forecasting future talent needs against long-range business goals and building a pipeline to meet them ✓
  • Processing new-hire paperwork
  • Scheduling weekly team meetings

Strategic workforce planning anticipates talent needs tied to business strategy rather than reacting to immediate vacancies.

Recertification

3-year cycle; 60 total recertification credits (45 HR + 15 Business), or retake the exam.

Other credentials

aPHRPHRPHRiSPHRSPHRiGPHR SHRM certifications →

Get in before SPHR prep launches.

Founding members lock in $89 pricing before it moves to $139.

You're on the list — we'll email you when early access opens.