Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)
From HRCI (HR Certification Institute)
HRCI's entry level, knowledge based HR certification for people starting in HR or managing people without HR training. Not AI specific.
Go to the official page ↗Direct official link
Is this right for you?
- Level
- Intermediate People with some experience who want to go further or prove what they know.
- What you get
- A certification employers can verify, made for the top of your résumé and your LinkedIn profile.
- How you learn
- Online, self paced, about 1 hr.
- How to use it
- Put it at the top of your résumé and under Licenses and certifications on LinkedIn, with the verification link so hirers can confirm it in seconds. Name it in every application that uses this skill, and send it straight to recruiters and hiring managers.
- Why it's worth it
- Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Source ↗
What you will pay$400Upfront cost. Full details below.Renewal costs money too. See Renewal below.
- Time
- Exam 1 hour 45 minutes plus 30 minutes administration.
- Before you start
- No HR experience required.
- How you are tested
- Computer based exam at a Pearson VUE center or online proctored (OnVUE); 65 scored + 25 pretest questions.
- Renewal
- Valid 3 years; 45 recertification credits or retake the exam; $169 recertification fee.
- Full cost details
- $400 total ($300 exam + $100 application fee); no refund once approved. Recertification $169 per 3 year cycle ($50 each additional HRCI certification).
- Where it applies
- United States (HRCI offers aPHRi for international candidates).
Jobs asking for this
See live job postings that mention Associate Professional in Human Resources.
Open to work?Join the free Open to Work list so hirers looking for this credential can find you. No phone number needed.
Join the listChecked at the source Oct 13, 2026
Sources and what we verified
HRCI aPHR page: eligibility, format, recertification ↗HRCI exam fees ↗HRCI recertification fees ↗What we verified: HRCI publishes a single price (no member/nonmember split). Recertification fee page does not break fees out by credential; $169 applies to recertifying one certification.
Fees and eligibility can change. Confirm current terms with the issuer before you pay.
Also listed for: AI for HR