This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.

Passing the PHR exam takes more than work experience: the questions are scenarios, the wording is specific, and every domain counts. Here are 449 tools to prepare: 177 ready-to-use procedures, templates, checklists and matrices, 265 models, methods and HR terms explained, 4 services shown on screen and 3 reference files, plus 221 practice questions.

Open a lecture, go through the domain, then test yourself.

Why candidates struggle with the PHR exam

Many candidates know HR from their own company and are surprised by questions built on US law and general practice. Scenario questions offer several plausible answers, and the right one depends on a keyword. Without a plan, preparation turns into rereading notes, and exam day becomes the first time under real time pressure.

What changes after this course

You go through each domain of the exam content outline with procedures, checklists and models. You practise on scenario questions with explanations, use elimination and keyword scanning, and know how much time you have per question. You arrive with a review plan and know what comes after the exam.

What is inside: 449 tools, counted lecture by lecture

You do not have to take this number on trust. Open any lecture and read its description: every tool inside is listed there by name.

• 2 practice tests with 221 scenario questions, 11 quizzes and a role play
• 44 downloadable resources: the lecture presentations plus 3 reference files: the PHR exam content outline, the HR certification glossary and the HR English glossary
• 177 ready-to-use tools inside the presentations:
• 67 step-by-step procedures and workflows: workforce planning, progressive discipline, compensation administration, training needs assessment
• 37 templates and sample documents: overtime pay calculation, attendance policy, employee turnover rate, competitor benefits comparison
• 27 checklists: employment application disclosures, incentive plan design, emergency action plan, PHR exam readiness
• 26 scorecards, rubrics and matrices: HR shared service selection matrix, recruiter performance bonus matrix, graphic rating scale, behaviorally anchored rating scale
• 8 question lists and scripts: STAR interview method, legal interview questions, employee net promoter score
• 6 formulas and metric sets: recruitment metrics, training ROI calculation, budget variance measures
• 4 ready AI prompts: LinkedIn profile analysis, LinkedIn headline generation, LinkedIn About section generation
• 2 other working tools: PHR question keyword guide, straight ranking
• 265 models and methods explained with examples: Big Five personality model, Total Rewards model, point-factor job evaluation, taxonomy of learning objectives
• 4 services shown on screen, including OnVUE for the online exam

Where the tools are

• Exam format and study plan (1 section, 1 tool). The exam content outline, HRCI requirements and your plan.
• The PHR domains (7 sections, 160 tools). Talent planning and acquisition, employee relations, total rewards, learning and development, business management, HR operations, health and safety.
• Exam strategy and final review (2 sections, 10 tools). Test-taking tactics, practice questions, recertification and career growth.
• English for HR for international students (1 section, 361 tools). HR vocabulary across every domain, from recruiting and payroll to global mobility and HR analytics.

Who is teaching

I am Mike, the #1 HR instructor on Udemy, with 1,800,000+ course enrollments from 170,000 students, and the author of about 200 books on Amazon. I built the people system at Preply as it became a unicorn and worked at Wargaming, iDeals and Alfa-Bank across 20 years in HR. I hold PHRi, SHRM-CP and HCI sHRBP certifications and represent HRCI in Eastern Europe.

When I first thought about certification, my English stopped me. Then I started preparing and saw that the exam needs reading, not writing or speaking, and the specific wording of the questions became familiar with practice. I have taken certification exams both in a test centre and online from home, so I can tell you what each option feels like.

How to use the course

Go through the domain sections in order and take the quiz after each one. Then take the two practice tests under time pressure and review every explanation. Section and lecture titles show how many tools are inside, and each lecture description lists them by name.

What is included

• 42 lectures across 12 sections, 22.5 hours
• 2 practice tests with 221 questions, 11 quizzes and a role play
• 44 downloadable resources: lecture presentations and three reference files
• 449 tools across the lessons
• Lifetime access to all materials
• Active instructor support in the Q&A section
• A Udemy Certificate of Completion

Where to start

Open the PHR exam content outline and mark the two domains you know least: start your preparation there. Enrol now and start your first lesson today.

PHR and HRCI are trademarks of HR Certification Institute. This course is not affiliated with or endorsed by HRCI.