HRCP Blog

My most recent project at work has been updating the HR QuikStudy Flash Cards. We’ve decided to begin shipping them as soon as they are printed, rather than waiting for the 2008 edition of the HRCP Program to come out in January. We’ve added a bunch of new terms and revised a few definitions. I made some major changes to the production process (basically re-building the flash cards from scratch) that will make future revisions much simpler. Our new set of flash cards includes 621 terms. If I decide next week that I want 622 terms and definitions, I’ll be able to make the changes in a matter of minutes. I like the added flexibility this will give us in our efforts to keep up with the ever-evolving field of human resource management.

My most recent project at home has been sewing a quick-change dress for my 10-year-old daughter. It’s nowhere near as cool as this one, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. My daughter can completely change her dress in about four seconds.

The kids started back to school today. Early this morning while I watered the garden, I noted a crispness in the breeze. My pumpkins are turning orange. But the most indisputable sign that fall is on its way is that our group orders have started coming in. A number of groups use the HRCP Program for their PHR and SPHR review courses. While our program is designed for self-study, we also provide Instructor Materials for those who teach from the HRCP Program, including PowerPoint presentations and discussion questions. Our relationship with some of the groups that use our materials dates back a decade, and we also have several new groups who will be using the HRCP Program for the first time this fall. We are extremely proud of several of our groups who had 100% pass rates on the May-June exams.

Some people prefer to study on their own, at their own pace, but a review course might be helpful to those who would benefit from an externally-imposed study schedule and an experienced instructor. Plus, there’s the commiseration factor. It’s comforting to know that your classmates are going through the same thing you are. My daughter’s fifth grade class endured an hour-long lecture today on personal hygiene and the use of deodorant. At least the PHR and SPHR review courses won’t be going there. We hope.

I’ve given up on making sense of the Harry Potter/horcrux thing, but I believe I’ve made some headway into understanding the PHR and SPHR pass rates. The pass rate on the PHR exam has declined over the past number of years, with an especially precipitous decline over the past two years (from 67% in May-June 2005 to 62% in 2007). One or more of the following must be true:

• The PHR exam is getting more difficult.
• The cutoff for passing the PHR exam is being set higher each year.
• Less-qualified individuals are taking the PHR exam.
• People are going into the PHR exam less prepared.

The pass rates on the SPHR exam have bounced around over the years, with a low of 53% in May 2002 and a high of 60% in November-December 2004. The most recent administration of the exam produced results (58%) that are slightly above the average (57%). Looking at the data since 2005, the only conclusion I can draw is that you’ve got a better chance of passing the SPHR exam in the spring. I don’t know why. Maybe the fact that the winter exam window straddles the holiday season increases stress and provides less time for study. (Why SPHR candidates seem to be more negatively impacted by this, I couldn’t say. Perhaps it’s the eggnog.)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, whatever the reason for the plummeting and bouncing pass rates, the only thing you can control is your personal preparation. Study hard. Your result on the exam is not determined by national pass rates or trends. Your success is determined by you.

Today HRCI released the pass rates for the May–June 2007 administration of the PHR and SPHR exams. The SPHR pass rate was 58%, three points higher than the last exam window, while the pass rate for the PHR exam slipped a point to 62%. I created a graphic of the pass rates for the past five exam windows:

What conclusions can we draw from this data? That it is advantageous to take the SPHR exam in the spring, perhaps? Maybe that if you’re considering taking the PHR exam, the sooner the better?

I’m going to have to mull this over for a bit. That and the whole Harry Potter/horcrux thing. I’ve got thinking to do. I’ll get back to you.