Study Schedule for Your aPHR Certification Exam
The lack of HR certifications has been highly debated for many years. While it is not required to have credentials to obtain a position in HR, many positives come from having those letters behind your name. If you have chosen to become certified, it is now time to do your research.
The Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) is the ideal certification for someone looking to be credentialed if they have never been employed in a human resource role. The aPHR is a severe test of a candidate’s knowledge of topics they should be familiar with when starting their Human Resources career.
HRCI is a credentialing organization that has endured for over 40 years with the sole purpose of testing HR knowledge and conferring designations to candidates. The organization designed the aPHR to concentrate on the key topics that HR Generalists are most likely to encounter early in their careers. Also, the only requirement for the aPHR is a high school diploma or its equivalent for international candidates.
The aPHR exam is knowledge-based, which means that unlike HRCI’s other exams, candidates are not expected to draw on their experiences or do situational judgment to answer any of the questions. This makes it perfect for students who have not been able to gain any industry experience while in school, armed service members transitioning to the private workforce, and people looking to make a career change.
Skills for HRCI aPHR Certification
- Compensation And Benefits
- Employee Relations
- HR Operations
- Human Resource Development
- Human Resource Retention
- Recruitment
- Workplace Safety
How to Build a Study Schedule for the aPHR Exam?
When it arrives to studying for any of the HR certification exams from the SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, aPHR, PHR, SPHR, and GPHR, having a study schedule and plan benefits to assure you are adequately prepared and making the most of your time as you prepare for the HR certification exams.
That is not what this aPHR certification study schedule is. Our time is precious, and with just time and preparation, we can create a study schedule that you can manage.
1. Plan Enough Time for Studying aPHR Topic, Chapter, and Category
Most college classes are planned to expect about three hours of work per week per credit in the course. By increasing your credit load by three, you can make a good idea of the time you should give for studying in addition to the time used in class.
2. Study at a Set Time and in a Faithful Place
Establishing habits of study is very important. Understanding what and when you are going to study saves a lot of time in making decisions and retracing your steps to get the necessary materials.
You require a dedicated space where you feel focused and at ease to review and study for your SHRM and HRCI exams. Having an environment that is comfortable, clean, and pretty is essential for me to focus and do my best work.
Read: aPHR Certification Your Accelerated Path to HR Manager
3. Study in Chunks
Study in 20-30 minutes in increments using a theory called chunking. Break large amounts of information into smaller subsections. Know connections or patterns and organize the data into smaller ideas. It is essentially categorization or creating an umbrella topic.
4. Use Odd Hours During the Day for Studying
Pick opportunities when your brain is free to review material for the aPHR certification exam. Use flashcards to review short terms while you wait in line at Starbucks, and review materials 10–20 minutes before you sleep to allow maximum memory and retention.
5. Provide for Spaced Review
Schedule one day per week to review each of your courses’ work and be sure you are up-to-date. I suggest using this time to review content, answer quiz questions, and review essential terms that might have been tripping you up. Doing a consistent review will aid lessen your stress levels and keep you from feeling like you require to cram for the exam. The goal here is to separate and plan for review time to get before your best come aPHR exam time.
6. Review, Recite and Teach Others
Reviewing the materials is critical, but even more vital to provide for the maximum knowledge retention at the fastest pace is to teach and talk about HR concepts complex workplace scenarios with others. It is essential not just to recall the content but also to apply it to answer the SHRM and HRCI exams’ situational judgment questions.
7. Keep Carefully Secured Notes on Both Lectures and Assignments
Right notes are the best basis for review. This, again, helps with your knowledge retention and those situational judgment questions.
8. Leave Some Unscheduled Time for Flexibility
This is the most important. You require to be flexible, and no matter how well you plan and organize for the aPHR certification exam, you need to provide for some unscheduled time where you can go with the flow. Preparing for the aPHR exam is a marathon and not a sprint. Make time for the unexpected.
Summary
Taking your aPHR certification exam is not just about making those coveted letters to place next to your name. It is about the foundational HR knowledge and personal growth as you move towards this fundamental career goal.
It is essential to spend time in gratitude, acknowledging the moment and nuances of the individual and professional journey you are on. This is where the real learning and growth chances instead of that middle moment where we accomplish our goals or cross the finish line.
