About HRCI certifications
HRCI, the HR Certification Institute, has certified HR professionals since 1973, longer than anyone else, and says more than 500,000 people in over 150 countries hold its credentials. It offers eight individual certifications, from the entry-level aPHR to the global GPHR, and all except the aPHR are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
Two things set HRCI apart from SHRM in practice: you can test year-round, including from home with OnVUE, and HRCI publishes its pass rates and holder counts every year. Through 2025, pass rates ranged from 56 percent for the GPHR to 76 percent for the SPHR.
The credentials side by side
| Credential | Cost | Eligibility | Exam | Pass rate | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aPHR | $400 | None required. | 90 questions (65 scored, 25 pretest) in 1 hour 45 minutes, plus 30 minutes of administration. | 71% | 45 HR credits every 3 years, or retake the exam. |
| PHR | $495 | One of: a master's degree and 1 year of professional-level HR experience, a bachelor's degree and 2 years, or 4 years of HR experience with no degree. | 115 questions (90 scored, 25 pretest) in 2 hours, plus 30 minutes of administration. | 72% | 60 HR recertification credits every 3 years, or retake the exam. |
| SPHR | $595 | One of: a master's degree and 4 years of professional-level HR experience, a bachelor's and 5 years, or 7 years of HR experience. | 140 questions (115 scored, 25 pretest) in 2 hours 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes of administration. | 76% | 60 credits every 3 years, including at least 15 Business credits, or retake the exam. |
| GPHR | $595 | One of: a master's degree and 2 years of professional-level HR experience, a bachelor's and 3 years, or 4 years without a bachelor's. | 125 questions (100 scored, 25 pretest) in 2 hours 15 minutes, plus 30 minutes of administration. | 56% | 60 credits every 3 years, including at least 15 Global credits, or retake the exam. |
How to get certified, step by step
- Check your eligibility. Each credential has degree and experience pathways, except the aPHR, which requires none.
- Apply and pay. Fees run from $400 (aPHR) to $595 (SPHR and GPHR), including a $100 application fee.
- Schedule with Pearson VUE. Test at a center or online with OnVUE, any time of year.
- Pass the exam. Exams run from 1 hour 45 minutes (aPHR) to 2 hours 30 minutes (SPHR).
- Recertify every three years. Earn 45 to 60 credits and pay $169, plus $50 for each additional HRCI credential.
Dates, renewal, and the details that trip people up
HRCI recertification credits
- aPHR: 45 HR (General) credits
- PHR: 60 HR (General) credits
- SPHR: 60 credits, at least 15 in Business
- GPHR: 60 credits, at least 15 in Global
The recertification fee is $169 for one credential and $50 for each additional HRCI credential. If you miss your deadline, you have 12 months to recertify with an extra $100 suspended fee, and you can't use the designation during that time.
We believe that continued learning and collaboration are at the heart of professional growth.
Read the full guides
aPHR: Associate Professional in Human Resources
HR fundamentals. None required.
PHR: Professional in Human Resources
Operational HR and US employment law. One of: a master's degree and 1 year of professional-level HR experience, a bachelor's degree and 2 years, or 4 years of HR experience with no degree.
SPHR: Senior Professional in Human Resources
Strategic HR and US policy. One of: a master's degree and 4 years of professional-level HR experience, a bachelor's and 5 years, or 7 years of HR experience.
GPHR: Global Professional in Human Resources
Global, cross-border HR. One of: a master's degree and 2 years of professional-level HR experience, a bachelor's and 3 years, or 4 years without a bachelor's.
Sources
- HRCI: Exam fees
- HRCI: Exam pass rates
- HRCI: Exam statistics
- HRCI: Recertification fees and deadlines
- HRCI: Frequently asked questions
- HRCI 50th anniversary release (PDF)
- HRCI and WorldatWork collaboration, November 24, 2025
Fees, eligibility rules, and testing dates change. We checked every figure against the certifying body on the date shown, but confirm with the official source before you apply. HRTally isn't affiliated with SHRM, HRCI, PayrollOrg, WorldatWork, or IFEBP.
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<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/hr-certifications/hrci-certifications/">HRCI certifications: PHR, SPHR, aPHR, and GPHR compared</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "HRCI certifications: PHR, SPHR, aPHR, and GPHR compared." HRTally, updated October 24, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/hr-certifications/hrci-certifications/
Frequently asked questions
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
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