Professional or Senior Professional in Human Resource (PHR/SPHR)

The S/PHR program is divided into six modules, each of which builds on the preceding one and concludes with a relative section in the examination. Not all topic areas are given equal weight at each module of the S/PHR exams. The different topic areas for the six modules are as follow:

Module 1: Business Management and Strategy

• Strategic role of HR in organizations
• HR Business Management Skills
• Strategic Planning Process
• Assessing the Internal/and Scanning the External Environment
• Measuring Strategic Outcomes
• Ethical Issues Affecting Organizations
• HR and the Legislative and Regulatory Environment

Module 2: Workforce Planning & Employment

• Key Legislation Affecting Employee Rights
• Key Legislation Affecting Privacy and Consumer Protection
• Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action
• Gender Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace
• Organizational Staffing Requirements
• Job Analysis and Documentation
• Recruitment, Flexible Staffing, Selection and Retention
• Organizational Exit
• Employee Records Management

Module 3: Human Resource Development – HRD

• Human Resource Development and the Organization
• Key Legislation
• Organizational Development Initiatives
• Adult Learning and Motivation
• Training and Development
• Talent Management
• Developing Leaders
• Performance Management

 Module 4: Compensation and Benefits

• Key Compensation Legislation
• Compensation & Benefits & the Strategic Focus of the Organization
• Compensation Structure
• Compensation Systems
• Introduction to Benefit Programs & Key Benefits Legislation
• Government-mandated Benefits
• Deferred Compensation Plans
• Health-care Benefits
• Other Non-statutory Benefits
• Compensation and Benefits Programs for International Employees
• Evaluating the Compensation and Benefits System and communicating it to employees

Module 5: Employee and Labor Relations

• Laws Affecting Employee and Labor Relations Legislation
• Employee Relations and Organizational Culture
• Employee Involvement Strategies
• Policies, Procedures and Work Rules
• Discipline and Complaint Resolution
• Labor Relations legislation and Union Organizing
• Unfair Labor Practices
• Collective Bargaining
• Strikes, Picketing, and Secondary Boycotts

Module 6: Risk Management

• Organizational risk
• Key Legislation
• Safety
• Health
• Security
• Privacy