What PHR Recertification Credits Are (And Why They Matter)
You earned your PHR. The hard part is over — or so you thought. Every three years, HRCI requires you to demonstrate ongoing professional growth by earning PHR recertification credits. Miss the deadline, and you lose the credential entirely. No extensions. No partial credit.
The good news? Earning those credits doesn’t have to be slow, confusing, or expensive. With the right strategy, you can knock out your entire requirement quickly — some professionals finish in a matter of weeks — and get back to the work that actually moves your career forward.
This guide covers every method for earning PHR credits, the fastest and most cost-effective approaches, and a concrete plan for front-loading your credits so you’re never scrambling at the end of a cycle.
PHR Recertification Requirements: The Basics
PHR holders must earn 60 recertification credit hours over a three-year cycle. That’s set by HRCI (the HR Certification Institute), and there’s no flexibility on the total. You either hit 60 or you don’t recertify.
Within those 60 credits, there are specific requirements to keep in mind:
- 15 Business credits — These cover strategic HR topics like financial management, organizational development, and workforce planning. They’re harder to find than General credits, and running short is one of the most common recertification headaches.
- At least 1 Ethics credit — HRCI requires a minimum of 1 credit hour in ethics-related content during each cycle.
- No annual minimum — HRCI doesn’t require a set number of credits each year. You could earn all 60 in year one and coast through years two and three.
- E-learning has no cap — Unlike some professional certifications, HRCI places no limit on credits earned through online courses. You can complete everything from your laptop.
That last point is significant. It means PHR continuing education can be completed entirely online, at your own pace. No mandatory in-person events. No travel requirements. For a deeper look at every requirement, check out our complete breakdown of PHR recertification requirements.
The Three Ways to Earn PHR Recertification Credits
HRCI groups credit-earning activities into three categories. Understanding these helps you build a strategy that plays to your strengths.
1. Continuing Education Activities
This is how most PHR holders earn the bulk of their credits. Continuing education includes online courses from HRCI-approved providers, webinars (live or on-demand), conferences and seminars, college courses, and certificate programs. This is the fastest category because approved online courses let you control the pace entirely.
2. Instruction and Research
Teaching HR courses, presenting at conferences or chapter meetings, and publishing articles or research papers all count toward your credits. These require documentation and tend to accumulate naturally for HR professionals in leadership roles. They won’t move the needle fast alone, but they’re a valuable supplement.
3. Leadership, Mentoring, and Professional Activities
Serving on HR-related boards, volunteer work with a direct HR connection, formal mentoring programs, and exam development for credentialing bodies all qualify. Like instruction, these produce smaller credit counts and work best for rounding out the last few credits in a cycle.
Fastest Methods for Earning PHR Credits (Ranked)
If speed is your priority — and for most busy HR professionals, it is — here’s how the major methods compare.
1. Self-Paced Online Courses (Fastest)
Self-paced courses from an HRCI-approved provider are the single fastest way to accumulate PHR recertification credits. No scheduling constraints. No live attendance windows. You can complete a course at 6 AM or 10 PM.
Most courses run 1 to 1.5 hours, meaning you can earn 2-3 credits in a single evening. At that pace, finishing 60 credits in 4-6 weeks of focused effort is entirely achievable.
The key is choosing a provider with a deep catalog. RecertifyHR offers 68 courses totaling 100.5 HRCI-approved credit hours — well beyond the 60 you need, with credits spanning every category including the full 15 Business credits. The platform is also an official HRCI and SHRM approved provider, so if you hold both credentials, each course counts toward both.
Quick math: If you average 1.5 credit hours per day (roughly one course), you’d finish 60 credits in 40 days. Dedicate weekends and a few weeknights, and you could wrap up in under two months.
2. Live Webinars (Moderate Speed)
Live webinars typically run 60-90 minutes and award 1-1.5 credits each. The catch is scheduling — you’re locked into specific dates and times. Because each webinar only yields 1-2 credits, you’d need 30-40+ sessions to hit 60. Webinars work best as a supplement to self-paced courses, not a replacement.
3. Conferences (High Credit Count, High Cost)
A major conference like SHRM Annual can deliver 15-30 credits in a few days. But travel costs, limited scheduling, and the fact that conferences happen once or twice a year make them impractical as your only source. Best used as a concentrated boost alongside online courses.
4. On-the-Job Activities (Slowest, But Free)
Work experience, volunteering, publishing, and board service accumulate credits slowly over months or years. Count them as bonus credits when they appear, but don’t build your entire strategy around them.
PHR Recertification Cost: What to Expect
The cost of earning PHR recertification credits varies dramatically depending on your approach.
HRCI charges a $100 recertification application fee for PHR holders — that’s non-negotiable. Everything else depends on how you earn your credits:
| Method | Typical Cost | Cost per Credit | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-paced online platform (e.g., RecertifyHR) | $250/year | ~$2.49/credit | Fastest |
| Individual webinars (paid) | $50-$100 each | $25-$100/credit | Moderate |
| HR conferences | $1,500-$3,000+ (with travel) | $50-$200/credit | Moderate |
| University certificate programs | $500-$5,000 | $50-$170/credit | Slow |
| Free webinars and chapter events | $0 | Free | Slow |
The total PHR recertification cost for a three-year cycle ranges from $350 (one year of an online platform plus the HRCI fee) to $5,000+ if you rely on conferences and university programs. For a full cost analysis, see our guide to the complete HRCI recertification process.
Free Ways to Earn PHR Credits
Not every credit needs to cost money. Here are legitimate free options:
- SHRM local chapter meetings: Most chapters host monthly events that award 1-1.5 credits each.
- Vendor-sponsored webinars: Companies like BambooHR, ADP, and Paylocity host free webinars that carry HRCI credit.
- Employer-sponsored training: Leadership workshops, compliance training, and diversity programs may qualify for HRCI credit with proper documentation.
- RecertifyHR’s free course: RecertifyHR offers a free Change Management course worth 1 HRCI and 1 SHRM credit. No credit card required.
- Publishing and presenting: Write an HR article or present at a local chapter meeting. Both earn credits and raise your professional profile.
Earning all 60 credits for free requires serious dedication — dozens of webinars over three years, careful tracking, and hoping the right events align with your schedule. Most professionals find a mix of free credits and an affordable paid platform is the most practical approach.
How to Front-Load Your Credits (The Smart Strategy)
Most PHR holders spread their credits evenly across three years and end up scrambling in year three when life gets busy. A better approach is front-loading — earning the majority of your credits early in your cycle.
Why front-loading works:
- You eliminate deadline pressure. Once credits are banked, the remaining years are stress-free.
- You save money. One year of RecertifyHR at $250/year costs less than maintaining a subscription for three years ($250 vs. $750).
- You maintain flexibility. Job changes, family demands, health issues — if credits are done, a curveball in year three won’t threaten your credential.
A Sample Front-Loading Plan
Months 1-2: Foundation (20 credits)
- Subscribe to an HRCI-approved online platform
- Complete 2-3 courses per week
- Knock out your 1 required ethics credit early
Months 3-4: Category Coverage (25 credits)
- Focus on Business-category courses (you need 15 total)
- Mix in General and specialty credits for variety
- Attend 2-3 free webinars for supplemental credits
Months 5-6: Finish Line (15 credits)
- Complete remaining courses to hit 60
- Review your credit log for category gaps
- Submit your recertification application to HRCI
This plan requires roughly 2.5 credits per week — about 2-3 hours of coursework. That’s the equivalent of watching two TV episodes, except you’re protecting a credential you spent months earning.
Choosing the Right PHR Recertification Courses
The PHR recertification courses you choose matter beyond the credit count. Here’s what to look for:
- HRCI Approved Provider status: Non-negotiable. Courses from approved providers are pre-accepted and credits report automatically.
- Full category coverage: A provider with only General credits forces you to source Business and Ethics credits elsewhere.
- Enough total credits: A catalog of 80-100+ credits gives you choice and margin. Exactly 60 credits means zero flexibility.
- Self-paced access: Schedule-dependent courses slow you down.
- Dual approval (HRCI + SHRM): If you hold both credentials, dual-approved courses count toward both simultaneously.
RecertifyHR checks every box: official HRCI Approved Provider, SHRM approved, 68 courses with 100.5 credit hours across all categories (42.75 General, 15 Business, 22.25 Global, 20.5 California), fully self-paced, and trusted by 2,800+ HR professionals. At $250/year with unlimited access, there’s no per-course fee or credit limit. SPHR holders benefit from the same catalog — see our SPHR recertification guide for details.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until year three. The three-year window feels long until it isn’t. Start earning credits within the first few months of your cycle.
- Ignoring category requirements. Earning 60 General credits feels productive — until you realize you’re 15 Business credits short with two months left.
- Using non-approved providers. If HRCI doesn’t accept the documentation, those hours are wasted.
- Paying per-course when a subscription is cheaper. If you need more than 5-6 credits, a subscription almost always wins on cost.
- Forgetting the ethics requirement. It’s only 1 credit, but without it your application is incomplete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many credits do I need for PHR recertification?
PHR recertification requires 60 credit hours over a three-year cycle. Within those 60, you must include at least 15 Business-category credits and 1 ethics credit. There is no annual minimum — you can earn all 60 in a single year. E-learning credits have no cap, so the entire requirement can be completed through online courses from an HRCI-approved provider.
What is the fastest way to earn PHR recertification credits?
Self-paced online courses from an HRCI-approved provider are the fastest method. With courses typically running 1-1.5 hours each, you can earn 2-3 credits per day. Using a platform like RecertifyHR with 100.5 credit hours available, most motivated professionals finish all 60 credits within 4-8 weeks of focused effort.
How much does PHR recertification cost?
The HRCI application fee is $100. Credit-earning costs vary by method. Using RecertifyHR at $250/year, the total cost can be as low as $350 for a full cycle. Conferences and university programs can push the total to $2,000-$5,000+. The most cost-effective approach combines free webinars with an affordable subscription platform.
Can I earn PHR credits through work experience?
Yes, but with limitations. HRCI allows credits for qualifying professional activities including serving on HR boards, formal mentoring, exam development, and volunteer HR work. These require documentation and typically supplement formal education rather than replace it, since the documentation burden is higher and credit yields are lower per hour of effort.
Do SHRM PDCs count toward PHR recertification?
SHRM PDCs and HRCI credits are separate systems. A SHRM PDC does not automatically count as an HRCI credit. However, many courses carry dual approval from both HRCI and SHRM. If you hold both a PHR and a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, choosing dual-approved courses lets you satisfy both requirements with a single learning activity. RecertifyHR’s courses are approved by both HRCI and SHRM.
What happens if I don’t earn enough PHR credits by my deadline?
If your recertification deadline passes without 60 credits, HRCI provides a limited grace period with a late fee. If you miss the grace period entirely, your PHR certification lapses and you would need to retake the PHR exam to reinstate it. Given the exam costs significantly more than a year of recertification courses and requires weeks of study, keeping up with credits is always the better decision.
Your PHR Credits Action Plan
PHR recertification has clear requirements, and the fastest path through them is equally clear:
- Start now. Take RecertifyHR’s free Change Management course to earn your first credit in under an hour.
- Pick one primary platform. Choose an HRCI-approved provider with full category coverage. RecertifyHR’s 68 courses and 100.5 credit hours cover everything you need.
- Front-load your credits. Aim to finish at least 40-45 credits in the first half of your cycle.
- Track as you go. Log every credit immediately. Check category totals monthly — especially Business and ethics.
- Submit early. Once you hit 60, file your application. There’s no benefit to waiting.
Your PHR credential represents real expertise and real career investment. The professionals who keep it active — efficiently and affordably — are the ones who treat recertification as a system, not a scramble. Get started with RecertifyHR for $250/year and put this behind you.