A Quick Overview of the HRCI Credentials

Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)TM HRCI’s Associate Professional in Human Resources™ (aPHR™) is the perfect certification to help you with your career growth and provide you with the confidence to launch into the HR profession. The aPHR is specifically designed for professionals who are just beginning their HR career journey and proves your knowledge of foundational human resources.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the aPHR you must have a high school diploma or global equivalent. No HR experience is required since this is a knowledge-based credential.

Associate Professional in Human Resources—International (aPHRi)TM If you are new to HR and want to distinguish yourself in the field, the Associate Professional in Human Resources—International™ (aPHRi™) helps propel your career growth and provide you with the confidence to launch into the HR profession. HR professionals in the United States are not eligible for this exam.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the aPHRi, you must have a high school diploma or global equivalent. No HR experience is required since this is a knowledge-based credential.

Professional in Human Resources (PHR)® This is the flagship HR credential from HRCI®. The most widely known certification, PHR demonstrates mastery of the technical and operational aspects of HR management, including U.S. laws and regulations. The PHR is for the HR professional who has experience with program implementation, has a tactical/logistical orientation, is accountable to another HR professional within the organization, and has responsibilities that focus on the HR department rather than the whole organization.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the PHR, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
- At least one year of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a master’s degree or higher
- At least two years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a bachelor’s degree
- At least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a high school diploma

Professional in Human Resources—California (PHRca)® The PHRca demonstrates mastery of the laws, regulations, and HR management practices unique to the state of California. The PHRca is for professionals who either practice in California or are responsible for human resource management in California. You do not have to be located in California to earn a PHRca. Many certification holders add the PHRca to their other HRCI credentials.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the PHRca, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
- At least one year of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a master’s degree or higher
- At least two years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a bachelor’s degree
- At least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a high school diploma

Professional in Human Resources—International (PHRi)® The PHRi (formerly the Human Resources Business Professional™, or HRBP™), for internationally based practitioners, validates professional-level competency, knowledge, and skills to help to propel your HR career forward. The PHRi demonstrates mastery of generally accepted technical and operational HR principles in a single international setting. HR professionals in the United States are not eligible for this exam.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the PHRi, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
- At least one year of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a master’s degree or global equivalent
- At least two years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a bachelor’s degree or global equivalent
- At least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a high school diploma or global equivalent

Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)® This credential is widely recognized as the industry leader for senior HR professionals. The SPHR demonstrates mastery of the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR management as practiced in the United States. The credential is designed for big-picture thinkers responsible for planning rather than implementing HR policy. SPHR professionals are responsible for HR department goals, for breadth and depth of knowledge in all HR disciplines, and for understanding business issues beyond the HR function.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the SPHR, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
- At least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a master’s degree or higher
- At least five years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a bachelor’s degree
- At least seven years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a high school diploma

Senior Professional in Human Resources—International (SPHRi)® The SPHRi (formerly the Human Resources Management Professional™, or HRMP™), for internationally based HR leaders, validates senior-level HR competency and mastery of generally accepted HR principles in strategy, policy development, and service delivery in a single international setting. The SPHRi requires documented knowledge of local employment laws. HR professionals in the United States are not eligible for this exam.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the SPHRi, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience*:
- At least four years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a master’s degree or global equivalent
- At least five years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a bachelor’s degree or global equivalent
- At least seven years of experience in a professional-level HR position plus a high school diploma or global equivalent

Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)® The GPHR demonstrates your expertise of multinational HR responsibilities, including strategies of globalization development of HR policies and initiatives that support organizational global growth. It shows you have the knowledge and skills needed to manage HR challenges in a global marketplace.

Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the GPHR, you must meet one of the following conditions for education and experience:
- Have at least two years of experience* in a global professional-level HR position and a master’s degree or higher 
- Have at least three years of experience* in a professional-level HR position (at least two in global HR) and a bachelor’s degree
- Have at least four years of experience* in a professional-level HR position (at least two in global HR) and a high school diploma
*Note: Global HR experience is defined as having direct, cross-border HR responsibilities for two or more countries or regions.
For more information on credentials offered by the HR Certification Institute, visit https://www.hrci.org/our-programs/our-certifications.