Validates foundational knowledge of HR talent acquisition, learning and development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and compliance.
A good aPHR course teaches all five HRCI functional areas from the ground up, because the exam needs no HR experience. We compared the main options on coverage, format, practice included and price.
Most people new to HR should start with HRCI's Coursera certificate, which has one course for each exam area. Choose Mometrix for one low-cost book, HRCI's Cert Prep for the official platform, HR.com for a live class and DistinctiveHR for a complete self-study package.
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate | New to HR | Video | $49/month |
 HRCI aPHR Cert Prep | Official prep platform | Interactive | $449 |
 aPHR Study Guide 2026–2027 (3rd edition) | One cheap book | Book | $34 |
| aPHR Certification Preparation Class | Live instruction | Live online | $880 |
 2026 aPHR Self-Study Course (Digital) | Self-study package | Book | $175 |
Five Coursera courses from HRCI, one for each aPHR functional area, with video lessons, quizzes and four peer-reviewed projects. The courses add up to 94 hours of material and earn a Coursera certificate.
Great fit if HR is new to you and you want a guided course
Poor fit if you already know the basics and only need exam review; choose Mometrix or DistinctiveHR
HRCI's own exam-prep platform, built on the aPHR outline, with videos, flashcards, games and a study plan with progress tracking. Full-length pre- and post-test practice exams are included. Bundles with a textbook or more video cost more.
Great fit if you want the official exam-prep platform with practice exams included
Poor fit if you are paying yourself and want the lowest-cost route; choose Mometrix or DistinctiveHR
A third-edition study guide with a content review of the five aPHR areas, test-taking strategy and four full-length practice tests with explanations. Mometrix backs it with a one-year money-back guarantee.
Great fit if you want one inexpensive book to study from
Poor fit if you need video lessons or live teaching; choose HRCI's Coursera certificate or the HR.com class
A 10-week live online class with 20+ hours of instruction on the five aPHR areas, a study manual and 400+ practice questions. Recordings and weekly coaching sessions stay on HR.com's platform for two years, and a money-back guarantee applies.
Great fit if you want a fixed schedule and an instructor, or your employer pays for training
Poor fit if you want to study on your own schedule or keep costs low; choose Mometrix or DistinctiveHR
A 2026 self-study course from Distinctive Human Resources, the prep company run by David Siler. It combines study manuals, videos, audio tracks, flashcards and practice tests, for less than HRCI's own prep platform.
Great fit if you want a complete self-study package for less than the official prep
Poor fit if one study guide and a question bank are enough for you; choose Mometrix
For most people, HRCI's Coursera certificate: it has one course for each exam area and suits anyone new to HR. Choose Mometrix if one cheap book is enough, or HR.com for a live class.
No. The aPHR has no course, degree or experience requirement, so a study guide and practice exams is a valid route. Choose a course if HR is new to you.
HRCI's Coursera certificate takes about 5 months at 6 hours a week, and the HR.com class runs 10 weeks. Plan for about 60 hours of preparation in total.
No. The exam costs $400, a $100 application fee plus a $300 exam fee, and none of the courses here include it.