Discover the Senior Professional in Human Resources certification, what it entails, eligibility requirements, and how getting certified can advance your career.
![[Feature Image] A human resources professional smiles as they study for their SPHR certification, which is a step toward advancing their career.](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6nrzf87x0c86CjkTX0bJgK/85d609542747509349f3c6134e24eb8b/GettyImages-1503271307.jpg?w=1500&h=680&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive&auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=1000)
The SPHR is a certification you can earn to advance in a leadership and planning role in human resources (HR).
The salary for an HR professional with a SPHR credential can earn up to 45 percent more than a senior human resource generalist [, ].
The SPHR exam covers various functional areas such as leadership and strategy, talent management, and HR information management.
You can earn this certification to advance your HR career or take on a policy planning role in human resources.
Learn more about the SPHR certification and how to apply. If you鈥檙e ready to start earning credentials right away, you can strengthen your management and hiring skills with the Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialization. Earn a shareable certificate in just two months with this five-course series.
SPHR庐 stands for Senior Professional in Human Resources and refers to a professional certification administered by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). As one of HRCI鈥檚 eight certifications, the SPHR validates the knowledge and skills of HR professionals. More specifically, the exam demonstrates mastery of the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR and is geared toward HR professionals who are planning rather than implementing policy.听
Getting the SPHR certification can benefit you in several ways, including:
Building your confidence and authority in HR
Keeping your HR knowledge current
Qualifying for advanced HR roles, such as HR manager, senior people manager, or HR director
Earning a higher salary
According to Payscale, a senior human resources generalist earns an average salary of $76,516 per year []. In contrast, the salary for someone with SPHR averages $111,000 [], an increase of more than 45 percent.
Here is some basic information about the exam:
Cost: $495 for the exam; application fee of $100 []
Availability: You can take the exam year-round at a Pearson VUE testing center or remotely using OnVUE, an online testing program.
How long certification lasts: Three years
Staying certified: Earn 60 recertification credits over three years (including 15 business management and strategy credits) or retake the exam.
Continue reading to learn what the SPHR exam covers and how to determine whether you should take it.听
The SPHR exam takes two hours and 30 minutes (plus 30 minutes of administration time) and consists of 115 questions and 25 pretest questions. Question types include multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, and scenario questions. The exam tests your HR knowledge and your ability to apply principles to solve real-world problems and combine different elements or approaches to solve complex problems.
The exam covers the following functional areas:
Leadership and strategy (33 percent): Developing HR strategy, contributing to organizational strategy, monitoring risk, influencing people management practices
Talent management (23 percent): Creating talent management programs to encourage a high-performing workforce
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Workforce planning and talent acquisition (17 percent): Forecasting organizational talent needs and developing strategies to attract and engage talent
HR information management, safety, and security (10 percent): Identifying the necessary tools to report on organizational strategy while also overseeing employee safety and security
Total rewards (17 percent): Monitoring the effectiveness of compensation and benefits for attracting and retaining employees听
To pass the SPHR exam, you must earn a scaled score of at least 500 out of 700.听
Now that you know what the SPHR includes, your next step is to determine whether you should take the exam. Look for these three signs:
To be eligible to take the exam, you must meet one of the following sets of requirements:听
Four years of professional HR experience and a master鈥檚 degree or higher听
Five years of professional HR experience and a bachelor鈥檚 degree听
Seven years of professional HR experience with less than a high school diploma or equivalent
HRCI鈥檚 Certification Policies and Procedures Handbook defines professional experience as:
Having decision-making authority
Using independent judgment when performing duties
Experience in roles requiring data collection and analysis
Experience interacting with people at multiple levels
Individual accountability for results
The Professional in Human Resources (PHR) is a similar certification, testifying to your mastery of the technical and operational aspects of HR management. To be eligible, you must meet one of the following sets of requirements: one year of HR experience and a master鈥檚 degree or higher, two years of HR experience and a bachelor鈥檚 degree, or four years of HR experience.
Read more: What Is PHR Certification?
In an entry-level or individual contributor position in HR, you would mainly implement existing policies. An SPHR certification shows you can plan policies and strategies that impact the organization.听
With the certification (and the experience and education required to take it), you may be able to qualify for more advanced HR roles. When exploring advanced roles in HR, you may find that some employers require having the SPHR certification or list it as a desired credential. Getting certified can increase the number of career opportunities available to you.
To take the SPHR exam, you need to apply through , read the handbook, and schedule your exam within six months of getting approved. The HRCI also offers preparation materials so that you can walk into your exam feeling confident.
If you鈥檙e planning to advance along an HR career path, you can keep your finger on the pulse of the industry by subscribing to . Or check out the following resources to keep learning more:
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Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Senior_Human_Resources_(HR)_Generalist/Salary.鈥 Accessed October 30, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Senior_Professional_in_Human_Resources_(SPHR)/Salary.鈥 Accessed October 30, 2025.
HR Certification Institute. 鈥, https://www.hrci.org/certifications/individual-certifications/sphr.鈥 Accessed October 30, 2025.
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