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May 19, 2012
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Forums > HR Topics > Certification (SPHR, PHR)
Subject: PHR v SPHR

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Author Messages
dfg77 (guest)
10/30/2007 4:09 PM Alert 

I've heard that the PHR test is easier than the SPHR.  Given that does it make sense to go after the SPHR certification?
mccopl (guest)
10/31/2007 9:23 AM Alert 
Depends upon your testing skills. While it has been a few years since I took the SPHR, I found that they tend to have more scenerios to respond to - the strategic stuff where hard decisions are required. Your average HR Generalist does not hve to deal with that.
tgritter (guest)
02/20/2008 10:57 AM Alert 
I was certified as PHR early in my HR career and then became certified as SPHR later, after I had advanced to a more senior role with broader responsibilities.

You should go for the SPHR certification if you already hold, or you aspire to hold, a higher-level management position in the HR field -- the type of position where you are involved in strategic planning and decision-making for your organization. As more and more entry-level and mid-level HR professionals obtain the PHR certification, the SPHR certification will help you to stand out from the crowd as someone with a more sophisticated grasp of strategic business issues.

Now, a word about recertification... If you're not involved in planning and decision-making at the strategic level, then maintaining your SPHR by recertifying with credits can be difficult, because a certain number of your recertification credits must be related to strategic activities or programs.

I originally obtained SPHR certification by examination and I recertified as SPHR 3 years later with credits, but I recently decided to give up my SPHR certification because, due to a career change, I could not easily come up with the required number of strategic credits. I guess that I could have taken the exam again, but I don't really need the SPHR for credibility in the type of work I'm doing now, so I couldn't really justify the time/expense of seeking recertification.
Patrick
Posts:1
12/31/2008 8:20 AM Alert 
Several responses here: The PHR does seem easier to those individuals who do well with scenario type questions and have been part of the decision making process in employment issues. Recertifying for SPHR can be a bear if you are not high level HR. I struggled this last time, having some of my strategic credits being turned down as only being basic level. This is where documentation can be of great assistance. It saved my SPHR. Next time, I am taking the educational course route for my strategic points.

On one of the other threads someone was lamenting the cost of study materials - well I too did not pass it on my first try (I really am a bad test taker) - but I passed it when I printed out the subject areas and the weights assigned. I then concentrated my studies on what I was weak in and what had the greatest test values. Worked like a charm.
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Forums > HR Topics > Certification (SPHR, PHR) > PHR v SPHR


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