Written by Lezlie Blaski
As advisors, we are often asked, “Which exam should I sit for?” While it is true that each certification has experience requirements, you might want to ask yourself two questions: What personal experience and type of responsibilities am I looking to showcase in my resume? Which certification will provide increased credibility to those two important factors?
When deciding which certification you should work towards, it’s important to take into consideration the exam topic weighting of each credential.
The Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification focuses on the technical and operational aspects of the day-to-day human resource functions, as well as the related federal employment laws and regulations.
The Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification focuses on the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR Management.
Your decision should be based on your experience and responsibilities, not your length of service. This article might help to put the two certifications into perspective: http://upstarthr.com/phr-vs-sphr-which-is-right-for-you/.
Additional resources, including webinars, the HRCI Policies and Procedures Handbook, exam content outlines, as well as HRCI approved position codes, can be found on the HRCI website: https://www.hrci.org/our-programs/what-is-hrci-certification/certification-resources.
As always, advisors are here to help you discover which exam is right for you. We work with you to review your resume and/or discuss your experience level before you complete the application. Please don’t hesitate to contact us directly for more information!
