PHR Exam Prep™

Introduction

For well over 50 years, Human Resources (HR) practitioners have struggled with how to define and establish themselves as members of a true—and recognized—profession. (Of course, we weren't always called “HR professionals”, or even “HR practitioners”). In 1948, Herbert Heneman, Jr., Ph.D., opened the discussion of certification for our professional ancestors when he wrote an article titled, “Qualifying the Professional Industrial Relations Worker.” The discussion was picked up by ASPA (American Society for Personnel Administration), which was renamed SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) in 1989.

In 1967, ASPA co-sponsored a conference with Cornell University's School of Industrial & Labor Relations. The purpose of this conference ...