Frequently Asked Questions
Is this class right for me....
Who should attend?
How do I pass the class?
Is there much homework for this class?
What are good methods to study in this class?
Orientation details....
Why do I have to attend the orientation session?
Can I attend orientation before registering for the class?
Fee and materials details....
What is the price for the class materials?
Study guide....
What if I have to miss a class session?
Why do we have a class e-mail discussion list?
What is the benefit of the topic quizzes?
PHR/SPHR details....
Am I eligible to sit for the PHR/SPHR exam?
How can I register for the PHR/SPHR exam?
What do I need to know about taking the PHR/SPHR exam online?
- Whether you are just entering HR, on the career ladder, or nearing
retirement, this course is for you. Review and absorb the entire HR Body
of Knowledge across 12 weeks, finish by passing the comprehensive final
-- and then (if you have 2 years of HR experience) take the next step
and take the PHR/SPHR certification exam!
- Earning your (senior) Professional in Human Resources (PHR/SPHR) certification
will give you a head start at your current and future job. Because you
renew your certification (with Continuing Education training) every three
years, your employer, supervisor, and co-workers will know from the get-go
that they are working with an industry-recognized professional who continually
updates his/her HR skill-set.
Why do I have to attend the orientation session?
At the time of registration, each participant must also schedule attendance
at the mandatory 1-hour orientation meeting at the Coastal Georgia Center.
For fall 2009, orientation runs from 6 pm to 7 pm on Monday, August 31.
This will be the only time when the syllabus and the SHRM Learning System course materials are distributed. You'll learn about the course requirements and the PHR/SPHR exam and deadlines. We will also supply a range of study and test-taking tips from past participants.
Can I attend orientation before registering for the class?
Yes, non-registered students can attend an orientation at no charge to
obtain more information, but you must register for one of the free orientation
sessions in advance. Registration will close at the end of the second
orientation session.
What is the price for the class materials?
The SHRM® Learning System reflects the content of the Human Resource
Certification Institute's body of knowledge. The 6 modules and CD-ROM cover:
Strategic Management
Employee and Labor Relations
Total Rewards
Workforce Planning and Employment
Human Resource Development
Risk Management
The $695 price of these study materials is included in the course fee.
What if I have to miss a class session?
Try to avoid missing class if at all possible! After all, you learn a lot
on the topic from 3 hours of lecture and discussion. REMEMBER: you need
at least 70% attendance (plus 70%-plus on the final) to pass the class.
However, if you have to miss a session, let us know in advance. Ask a class mate to bring you a copy of the Powerpoint slides (3 per page) and any handouts at the next class meeting.
How do I pass the class?
Your grade will be pass/fail, based solely on your attendance and your
final exam. In order to earn the course pass certificate, you must attend
70% or more of the class sessions and earn 70% or better on the final.
Quizzes are not included in the course pass/fail grade -- but the final
exam is.
The course pass rate for spring, 2009 was 91%. Individual results
vary, so we encourage you to study hard and often, and not to miss any
class sessions.
Is there much homework for this class?
Plan to spend a minimum of 2 hours studying at home (6 hours per week)
for every classroom hour. As with a college course, the more you put
into this 36-hour course, the more you will get out of it.
Six hours should be your MINIMAL study time outside of class, and 9 hours per week your true goal.
By reading each module reading assignment before the topic is discussed in class -- and then going back and re-studying after the class lecture, you will get more out of this course and improve your chances of passing the final exam.
What are good methods to study in this class?
Adults learn better when they are interactively involved in the material
they are studying. Effective methods of learning include:
* Read the modules and handouts
* Listen to the instructor
* Take notes in class
* Highlight important points in the modules
* Use the CD-ROM practice quizzes
* Ask questions on the class listserv
Why do we have a class e-mail discussion list?
Our instructors are excellent lecturers, but there will also be times when
they'll encourage discussion: how is that issue addressed in your firm?
what do you do if the boss doesn't know the law? where can you find more
information on OSHA site visits?
At times, you'll have to drop the class discussion and get back to the lecture, just to stay caught up with the schedule. Please feel free to follow up on the class discussions by sharing questions, comments, and concerns on the class discussion list. The combined knowledge that you and your classmates bring to the class and to the listserv discussion group will help everyone learn.
What is the benefit of the topic quizzes?
There will be an end-of-module quiz at the conclusion of each module. Based
on student preference, the instructors generally distribute the quiz
and the answers as a take-home study project.
Taking module quizzes and CD-ROM quizzes is good practice for the final and the PHR/SPHR exam. If you do poorly on a module quiz, return to the topic and study it more intensely.
Am I eligible to sit for the PHR/SPHR
exam?
As detailed online at http://hrci.org/certification/2009hb/?2009-PHR_SPHR_GPHR-Handbook: "To be eligible to sit for the PHR, SPHR and GPHR exam, candidates must have at least two years of exempt-level (professional) HR work experience. In the Qualifying Work Experience section of the application, the candidate's position(s) must be an exact match of the exempt-level HR position codes found in Appendix C of the handbook. If a candidate's title is not on the approved position title list, candidates will need to mark Other - Non Exempt Level (000)or Other - Exempt Level (999) on the application, submit a completed Supporting Work Documentation form, and submit an official job description. The form must demonstrate that:
At least 51 percent of the candidate's daily activities are within the human resource function.
Those activities are at the exempt (professional) level."
How can I register for the PHR/SPHR exam?
To qualify for the (Senior) Professional in Human Resources (PHR/SPHR)
exam, an applicant must have completed at least 2 years of full-time
exempt level work in the HR profession. The PHR/SPHR is offered solely
through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). The exam is
available only on-line and only twice annually. The testing windows run
December 1 - January 30 and May 1 - June 30.
For more information and to apply for exam registration, visit the Human Resource Certification Institute's website at http://www.hrci.org.
What do I need to know about taking the PHR/SPHR exam online?
The HR Certification Institute is pleased to announce a new computer-based testing feature for those taking the PHR, SPHR, GPHR and California certification exams.
Exam candidates will now be able to use a new strike-through feature on the exam. This feature allows test takers to strike through the answer choices they believe to be incorrect. This feature will help applicants narrow down their answers. Used in conjunction with the existing "mark
question for review" feature, the new strike-through feature will also save candidates time when they mark a question to come back to and they have already eliminated some of the answers as incorrect. The strike-through feature is reviewed in the tutorial, which candidates should go through before starting the test.
For more information and to apply for exam registration, visit the Human
Resource Certification Institute's website at http://www.hrci.org.