Validates knowledge of strategic HR leadership, workforce planning, talent management, total rewards and HR information, safety and security.
A good SPHR course teaches the strategic side of HR, such as leadership, strategy and total rewards, and trains you for situational questions. We compared the main options on the 2024 outline, format, practice and price.
Most people should start with HRCI's own course, which is built on the exam outline and includes practice exams. Choose HR.com's live class for a fixed schedule, DistinctiveHR for a self-study package with audio and the Sybex guide for reading.
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 HRCI SPHR Cert Prep | Official HRCI course | Interactive | $499 |
| SPHR Certification Preparation Class | Live instruction | Live online | $1,180 |
 2026 HR Cert Self-Study Course (Digital) | Self-study with audio | Video | $375 |
 PHR, PHRi and SPHR, SPHRi Complete Study Guide, 6th edition | Learning by reading | Book | $54 |
HRCI's own self-paced course, built on its exam content outlines, with videos, flashcards, games and full-length practice exams, plus a study plan and progress tracking. Adding it during your exam application brings it to $449.
Great fit if you want one official course with practice exams included
Poor fit if you mainly need scenario practice on top of your experience; add HRStudyPro's practice exams
Scheduled live online sessions over 8 or 16 weeks, with 30+ hours of instruction, recordings, flashcards, five manuals and 800+ questions. Sold through HRCI's preparation page, with a pass-or-refund guarantee.
Great fit if you want a fixed schedule and an instructor, or your employer pays for training
Poor fit if you study best alone or on an irregular schedule; choose HRCI's course or DistinctiveHR
David Siler's self-study course, refreshed each year, with study manuals, videos, audio tracks, flashcards and practice tests in one package. The audio tracks turn a commute into study time.
Great fit if you want a complete self-study package with audio you can use on a commute
Poor fit if you want the lowest-cost route; choose the Sybex guide
Sandra Reed's study guide, written for the 2024 exams, covers the five SPHR areas and the PHR areas. It comes with an online test bank, flashcards and a glossary.
Great fit if you like reading and want a thorough reference at a low price
Poor fit if you find dense textbooks hard to get through; choose HRCI's course
For most people, HRCI's own course: it is built on the exam outline and includes full-length practice exams. Choose HR.com's class if you want an instructor.
Yes. Adding it during your exam application brings the price from $499 to $449.
HR.com's class has 30+ hours of instruction over 8 or 16 weeks. Plan for about 100 hours of preparation in total, between 50 and 120.
Yes, if you add practice. The Sybex guide includes an online test bank, and you can add a question set such as HRStudyPro's exams.