Key aPHR terms in plain English. The aPHR tests foundational HR knowledge across five functional areas, so it helps to know the core vocabulary of hiring, total rewards, learning, employee relations and US employment compliance.
| term | definition |
|---|---|
| aPHR | The Associate Professional in Human Resources, HRCI’s entry-level, knowledge-based credential with no HR experience requirement. |
| HRCI | The HR Certification Institute, the body that administers the aPHR, PHR and SPHR. |
| Functional area | One of the five weighted content areas on the aPHR: Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Compensation & Benefits, Employee Relations, and Compliance & Risk Management. |
| Talent acquisition | The full process of identifying staffing needs and sourcing, screening, selecting, hiring and onboarding people. |
| Applicant tracking system (ATS) | Software used to collect, store and manage candidate and recruiting data through the hiring process. |
| Onboarding | The process of integrating a new hire, including paperwork, orientation and early support to help them become productive. |
| Job analysis | Studying a role to identify its duties and the skills needed, used to write job descriptions and guide hiring. |
| Total rewards | The full mix of pay, benefits and non-monetary rewards an organisation offers employees. |
| Compensation | The pay an employee receives, including base salary, wages and incentives such as merit increases and bonuses. |
| Benefits | Non-wage programmes offered to employees, such as health insurance, wellness, fringe benefits and retirement plans. |
| 401(k) / 457(b) | Common US employer-sponsored retirement savings plans with rules on contributions and withdrawals. |
| Payroll processing | Calculating and paying wages, including taxation, deductions, garnishments and final pay. |
| Learning and development | Building employee skills through orientation, training and development aligned to organisational goals. |
| ADDIE model | An instructional-design framework: Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate, used to build training. |
| Learning management system (LMS) | Software used to deliver, track and report on training and employee development. |
| Change management | A structured approach to preparing and supporting people through organisational change. |
| Employee relations | Monitoring and addressing morale, performance and retention, and balancing organisational needs with employee well-being. |
| Employee engagement | The degree to which employees feel committed to and motivated in their work and organisation. |
| Performance management | The ongoing process of setting goals, giving feedback and reviewing employee performance. |
| Grievance | A formal employee complaint that HR handles through a fair, documented process. |
| Diversity and inclusion | Practices that build a fair, varied workforce where all employees can participate and contribute. |
| Compliance | Following the laws, regulations and policies that govern the workplace. |
| EEOC | The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal anti-discrimination employment laws. |
| Title VII | Part of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting employment discrimination on grounds such as race, sex and religion. |
| ADA | The Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires reasonable accommodation. |
| FLSA | The Fair Labor Standards Act, which sets US rules on minimum wage, overtime and related wage-and-hour matters. |
| I-9 | The US form used to verify an employee’s identity and authorisation to work. |
| OSHA | The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which sets and enforces US workplace health and safety rules. |
| HIPAA | The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which includes rules protecting certain health information. |
| Risk management | Identifying, assessing and reducing workplace and organisational risks, including health, safety and compliance risks. |
| Scaled score | A standardised score (100-700 on the aPHR, with 500 to pass) that lets results compare fairly across exam versions. |
| Recertification | Maintaining the aPHR by earning 45 recertification credits within a three-year cycle, or by retaking the exam. |