SPHR Flashcards

All 22 terms

HRCI

The HR Certification Institute, the body that administers the PHR, SPHR, aPHR and global credentials such as the SPHRi.

SPHR

The Senior Professional in Human Resources credential, HRCI's senior, strategy-focused certification for HR leaders.

PHR

The Professional in Human Resources credential, HRCI's operational, mid-level certification that the SPHR sits above.

SHRM-SCP

The senior credential from SHRM (a different body), the parallel to the SPHR, which emphasises behavioural competencies.

SPHR eligibility

Senior HR experience: 4 years with a master's, 5 with a bachelor's, or 7 years with less than a bachelor's degree.

Functional area

One of the five weighted content areas of the SPHR exam, each with a published percentage weight.

Leadership and Strategy (33%)

The largest SPHR functional area: leading the HR function and aligning HR with organisational strategy and risk.

Talent Management (23%)

The SPHR area covering development, succession, performance, engagement, leadership development and offboarding.

Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition (17%)

The SPHR area covering forecasting talent needs, recruitment strategy, employer branding and onboarding.

Total Rewards (17%)

The SPHR area covering total rewards philosophy, compensation and benefit strategy, and recognition programmes.

HR Information Management, Safety, and Security (10%)

The smallest SPHR area: HR systems and data strategy, workplace safety, and information and workplace security.

HR strategy

A plan for how the HR function will support and advance the organisation's strategic goals.

Succession planning

Identifying and developing internal talent to fill key roles in future, supporting business continuity.

Workforce planning

Forecasting the organisation's future talent needs and planning how to meet them across business cycles.

Total rewards philosophy

The guiding principles behind how an organisation pays and rewards people, balancing business and individual needs.

Change management

Leading and supporting people through organisational change so that performance goals are met.

Key performance indicator (KPI)

A measurable value that shows how effectively the organisation or HR is meeting key objectives.

HR metrics and analytics

Measures and data such as turnover, cost per hire and ROI, used to inform and assess strategic HR decisions.

Human capital risk

The risk to an organisation arising from its people, which HR analyses and helps to manage.

Employer value proposition (EVP)

The mix of rewards, culture and experience an organisation offers to attract and retain talent.

Recertification

Maintaining the SPHR by earning 60 credits (45 HR + 15 Business) per three-year cycle, or retaking the exam.

Scaled score

A standardised score reported by HRCI, rather than a raw percentage, that allows results to be compared across exam versions.