aPHRi Syllabus: Sections and Question Counts

Last verified: 11 November 2026. This is an independent guide; it is not affiliated with HRCI or any government body. Exam details can change, so check the exam page at HRCI before relying on any figure.

How the questions are split

The full mock exam on this site (90 questions in 105 minutes) is split across the sections according to the exam specification from HRCI.

The two largest sections are HR Operations and Recruitment and Selection: together 50 of the 90 questions (55.6%). Start with them, then take the rest in order of size.

Notes on this split

• HRCI publishes percentage weights for the five functional areas, not item counts. Unit counts here are practice allocations based on those weights.
• The real exam may include multiple-response, fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop and scenario items. This practice bank uses four-option single-answer questions only.
• aPHRi is for HR practice outside the United States. Questions give the applicable local rule in the scenario when a legal fact matters.

Topics in each section

HR Operations (30 questions)

• Organizational strategy, mission, vision and values
• Organizational culture
• Legal and regulatory environment
• Confidentiality and privacy of records and data
• Business functions
• HR administration, policies and procedures
• HR metrics
• Tools to compile data
• Methods to collect data
• Reporting and presentation techniques
• Impact of technology on HR
• Employee records management
• Workforce reporting requirements
• Purpose and function of HRIS
• Job classifications
• Job descriptions
• Reporting structure
• External providers of HR services
• Communication techniques

Recruitment and Selection (20 questions)

• Laws and regulations for recruitment and selection
• Applicant databases
• Recruitment sources
• Recruitment methods
• Alternative staffing practices
• Interviewing techniques
• Pre- and post-offer activities
• Orientation and onboarding

Compensation and Benefits (13 questions)

• Laws and regulations for compensation and benefits
• Pay structures and programs
• Total rewards
• Benefit programs
• Payroll terminology
• Salary and benefits survey data
• Insurance claims and processing
• Work-life balance practices

Human Resource Development and Retention (9 questions)

• Laws and regulations for training and development
• Training delivery formats
• Evaluating training programs
• Career development practices
• Performance appraisal methods
• Performance management practices

Employee Relations, Health, and Safety (18 questions)

• Laws on employment environment, labor relations and privacy
• Employee and employer rights and responsibilities
• Collecting employee feedback
• Workplace behavior issues
• Investigating complaints and grievances
• Progressive discipline
• Off-boarding and termination
• Employee relations programs
• Workforce reduction and restructuring terms
• Laws on health, safety, security and privacy
• Workplace risk management
• Workplace security risks

How to use this split

Start with the 10 free questions, no sign-up: your score comes back split by section, so you see the weakest one. Then spread your study days according to the table above, as laid out in the study plan.