This is an eight-week PHR plan for someone with HR experience. It front-loads the largest domain (Employee and Labor Relations, 39%) and finishes with timed practice. Confirm the current outline, eligibility and fees on the HRCI certification page.
Weeks 1-3 - Employee and Labor Relations (39%)
Employee relations and engagement, performance and discipline, and US labor relations and law. This is by far the largest domain, so give it three full weeks and the most practice questions.
Weeks 4-5 - Business Management (20%)
HR’s role in the organisation, compliance and risk, ethics, and HR metrics. The second-largest domain - learn how HR fits the wider business.
Week 6 - Talent Planning and Acquisition (16%)
Workforce planning, sourcing, recruiting and onboarding.
Week 7 - Total Rewards (15%) and Learning and Development (10%)
Compensation structures, benefits programs and pay compliance, then training delivery, employee development and performance support.
Week 8 - Practice and review
Sit full-length, timed practice exams. Review the reasoning behind every miss by domain, with the most attention on Employee and Labor Relations, and aim to be consistently comfortable before booking.
Tips
- Front-load the 39% domain; do not spread time evenly.
- Treat the PHR as operational and US-centric, not behavioural like the SHRM-CP.
- Avoid “exam dump” sites - they breach HRCI policy and copyright.