PHR study guide · 2026

The 7 PHR domains, explained

7 domains and 22 official functional areas. Employee and Labor Relations carries the most weight at 20%. Each guide explains what the domain covers, how its questions are framed and where candidates lose marks.

Start with Domain 6 See all domains
Questions
115 (90 scored, 25 pretest)
Time
120 minutes
Passing score
500 (scaled 100–700)
Outline
PHR Exam Content Outline, effective 1 March 2024 (current)

Exam blueprint

Bar widths follow the official weights. Weight ranges are drawn at their midpoint.

  1. 1 14%
  2. 2 14%
  3. 3 10%
  4. 4 15%
  5. 5 17%
  6. 6 20%
  7. 7 10%
  1. 1 Business Management
  2. 2 Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition
  3. 3 Learning and Development
  4. 4 Total Rewards
  5. 5 Employee Engagement
  6. 6 Employee and Labor Relations
  7. 7 HR Information Management

All 7 domains

22 official functional areas 80–115 hrs suggested study

  1. Domain 01 14%

    Business Management

    This functional area covers the business context of HR. It covers interpreting the business environment, working with cross-functional stakeholders, identifying risk and recommending practice, using HR metrics, and reinforcing culture, ethics and employer branding.

    Inside this domain

    • Interpreting the business environment and cross-functional stakeholders
    • Identifying risk and recommending practice
    • Metrics, culture, ethics, inclusivity and employer branding

    Watch for Strategic answer on the PHR

    Functional areas
    3
    Questions est.
    ~13
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs
  2. Domain 02 14%

    Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition

    This functional area covers hiring under U.S. law. It covers federal hiring law and policy, sourcing candidates and the talent acquisition lifecycle, and job offers, background checks and onboarding.

    Inside this domain

    • U.S. federal hiring law and policy
    • Sourcing candidates and the talent acquisition lifecycle
    • Job offers, background checks, and onboarding

    Watch for Equal application is lawful

    Functional areas
    3
    Questions est.
    ~13
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs
  3. Domain 03 10%

    Learning and Development

    This functional area covers developing employees. It covers implementing and evaluating training and career development, career pathing and succession support, and skills assessments and required compliance programs.

    Inside this domain

    • Career development and training programs
    • Career pathing, mentoring, coaching, and succession support
    • Skills assessments and required compliance programs

    Watch for Reaction equals effectiveness

    Functional areas
    3
    Questions est.
    ~9
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs
  4. Domain 04 15%

    Total Rewards

    This functional area covers pay and benefits. It covers compensation, payroll, incentives and recognition, benefits and non-monetary rewards, and U.S. federal pay and benefits compliance.

    Inside this domain

    • Compensation, payroll, incentives, and recognition
    • Benefits programs and non-monetary rewards
    • U.S. federal pay and benefits compliance

    Watch for Equal Pay Act for overtime

    Functional areas
    3
    Questions est.
    ~14
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs
  5. Domain 05 17%

    Employee Engagement

    This functional area covers engaging and retaining employees. It covers measuring engagement across the lifecycle, engagement programs and acting on feedback, and performance management, PIPs and separations.

    Inside this domain

    • Measuring engagement across the employee lifecycle
    • Engagement programs and acting on feedback
    • Performance management, PIPs, and separations

    Watch for Terminate without a PIP

    Functional areas
    3
    Questions est.
    ~15
    Study time est.
    15–20 hrs
  6. Domain 06 20%

    Employee and Labor Relations

    This is the largest functional area. It covers U.S. law and outreach, health, safety, security and privacy, policy, documentation and investigations, and complaints, grievances, ADR and labor relations.

    Inside this domain

    • U.S. federal law, outreach, and inclusivity
    • Health, safety, security, and privacy
    • Policy, documentation, and workplace investigations
    • Complaints, conflict, grievances, ADR, and labor relations

    Watch for Retaliate against a reporter

    Functional areas
    4
    Questions est.
    ~18
    Study time est.
    15–20 hrs
  7. Domain 07 10%

    HR Information Management

    This functional area covers HR data and systems. It covers HRIS and HR database content, reporting and data analytics, and system access, data integrity and compliance.

    Inside this domain

    • HRIS and HR database content
    • Reporting, data analytics, and trends
    • System access, data integrity, and compliance

    Watch for Report the number only

    Functional areas
    3
    Questions est.
    ~9
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs

Study the heaviest domains first

Marks follow weight. This order puts the most marks behind you first, across about 80–115 hrs of study.

  1. 6 Employee and Labor Relations 20% · 15–20 hrs
  2. 5 Employee Engagement 17% · 15–20 hrs
  3. 4 Total Rewards 15% · 10–15 hrs
  4. 1 Business Management 14% · 10–15 hrs
  5. 2 Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition 14% · 10–15 hrs
  6. 3 Learning and Development 10% · 10–15 hrs
  7. 7 HR Information Management 10% · 10–15 hrs

Try one

Practice questionDomain 6: Employee and Labor Relations

An employee reports a serious safety hazard in the workplace to HR. How should HR respond to comply with U.S. law and sound employee-relations practice?

One trap from every domain

The answer that looks right, and the clue that gives it away.

  • Domain 1

    Strategic answer on the PHR

    Clue The question asks what HR should do operationally.

  • Domain 2

    Equal application is lawful

    Clue A neutral practice screens out a protected group at a higher rate.

  • Domain 3

    Reaction equals effectiveness

    Clue The goal is on-the-job change, not just satisfaction.

  • Domain 4

    Equal Pay Act for overtime

    Clue The issue is overtime eligibility, not pay equity.

  • Domain 5

    Terminate without a PIP

    Clue Performance is below expectations and a fair path is needed.

  • Domain 6

    Retaliate against a reporter

    Clue An employee reported a safety or legal concern.

  • Domain 7

    Report the number only

    Clue Management needs insight to act, not just a figure.

Other Human Resources certifications

Study guides for exams that overlap with PHR.

Practise what you read

PHR domains: common questions

How many domains are in the PHR exam?

PHR has 7 domains with 22 official functional areas between them: Business Management, Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Total Rewards, Employee Engagement, Employee and Labor Relations and HR Information Management.

Which PHR domain carries the most weight?

Employee and Labor Relations is the heaviest at 20%, followed by Employee Engagement (17%). The lightest is HR Information Management (10%). Weights come from HRCI's official outline.

What is the PHR exam format?

Questions: 115 (90 scored, 25 pretest). Time allowed: 120 minutes. Passing score: 500 (scaled 100–700).

How long should I study for PHR?

Our planning estimate is 80–115 hrs across all domains, split by weight. It is an editorial estimate, not an official figure, so adjust it to your experience and to how you score on practice questions.

Where should I start?

Start with Employee and Labor Relations, because it carries the most marks, then work down by weight. Use the checklist on each domain page to confirm you can do what the domain asks before moving on.

Which outline is this guide based on?

This guide follows PHR Exam Content Outline, effective 1 March 2024 (current), published by HRCI. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Domain names, weights and functional areas come from HRCI's official outline (PHR Exam Content Outline, effective 1 March 2024 (current)). Question counts and study hours are editorial planning estimates, not official figures. Last reviewed October 2026.