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Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for aPHR, with direct links to official sources.
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Questions90 questions (65 scored + 25 pretest)
Testing time1 hour 45 minutes (plus 30 minutes administration time)
ScoringPassing score 500 on a scaled-score range of 100-700; pass/did-not-pass decided on the total exam score (cut score set by the modified Angoff method)
Exam feeUSD 300 exam fee + USD 100 application fee (no refunds once the application is approved); optional Second Chance Insurance retake program priced separately
Prep options
Study resources for aPHR
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- HRCI
- Category
- Human Resources & Payroll
- Current version
- Current specification; no public version label
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 100-700
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE (test centers and OnVUE online proctoring)
- Format
- Computer-based at a Pearson VUE testing center or online proctoring via OnVUE
- Availability
- Year-round testing; after application approval, a test date must be selected within a 180-day exam eligibility period (OnVUE scheduling open 24/7 where offered)
- Results
- At a test center, results report received at the testing center and official results available online within 1-2 business days; online-proctored exams do not receive an immediate result
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
90 items (65 scored + 25 pretest, randomly distributed and not identified) organized by weighted Functional Areas per the aPHR Exam Content Outline; item types are traditional four-option single-best-answer multiple choice plus alternative types (multiple response, fill in the blank, drag and drop, scenarios); as a knowledge-based exam the aPHR uses knowledge/comprehension-level items (application and synthesis items appear only on HRCI's practice-based exams)
Where rules vary
U.S.-focused foundational HR credential; HRCI publishes the separate aPHRi (International) for HR roles outside the United States.
Eligibility
High school diploma or global equivalent; no HR experience required
Retake policy
May reapply immediately after a failed attempt but must wait 90 calendar days between attempts (earliest retake on day 91); 180 calendar days to schedule once the re-application is approved; the same exam may not be taken more than three times in a consecutive 365-day period; full exam fees apply to each re-application