PHRca Exam Information and Outline
Professional in Human Resources - California
PHRca Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official PHRca exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by HRCI. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
| Functional Area | No. | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Area 01: Compensation and Benefits (19%) | 01 | California wage and hour laws (minimum wage, overtime, double-time). |
| 02 | Meal and rest period requirements and penalties. | |
| 03 | Wage payment requirements (timing, final pay, deductions, commissions). | |
| 04 | California-specific leaves of absence (PDL, CFRA, paid sick leave). | |
| 05 | Employee classification (exempt vs. non-exempt, independent contractor ABC test). | |
| 06 | Unemployment and disability insurance (SDI, PFL). | |
| 07 | Reporting time pay and split-shift premiums. | |
| 08 | Public works and prevailing wage requirements. | |
| Functional Area 02: Employment Relations and Employee Engagement (21%) | 01 | California's "at-will" employment and its exceptions. |
| 02 | Proprietary information and non-compete restrictions in California. | |
| 03 | Employee privacy rights (monitoring, personnel files, drug testing). | |
| 04 | Discipline and discharge processes (progressive discipline, documentation). | |
| 05 | Union-management relations and agricultural labor laws (ALRA). | |
| 06 | Engagement and retention strategies tailored to California's workforce. | |
| 07 | Investigations of employee complaints (harassment, retaliation). | |
| Functional Area 03: Talent Acquisition and Development (19%) | 01 | California fair hiring practices (Ban the Box, salary history ban). |
| 02 | Pre-employment testing and background check requirements. | |
| 03 | Recruiting and sourcing for California-based roles. | |
| 04 | Onboarding requirements (Form I-9, Wage Theft Prevention Act notices). | |
| 05 | California-mandated training (sexual harassment prevention, safety). | |
| 06 | Competency-based performance management. | |
| 07 | Career development and promotion practices. | |
| 08 | Methods to measure training ROI and workforce readiness. | |
| Functional Area 04: Health, Safety, and Risk Management (16%) | 01 | Cal/OSHA standards and compliance requirements. |
| 02 | Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (IIPP). | |
| 03 | California Workers' Compensation system and reporting. | |
| 04 | Workplace violence prevention and response strategies. | |
| 05 | Ergonomics and repetitive motion injury requirements. | |
| 06 | Emergency action and fire prevention planning. | |
| 07 | Drug-free workplace issues in the context of legal cannabis. | |
| 08 | Risk assessment and mitigation techniques. | |
| 09 | Business continuity and disaster recovery planning. | |
| Functional Area 05: Compliance and Business Strategy (25%) | 01 | California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). |
| 02 | Legislative and regulatory monitoring in California. | |
| 03 | HR’s role in organizational strategic planning. | |
| 04 | Reporting requirements for EEO and pay data (SB 973). | |
| 05 | Impact of globalization and remote work on California compliance. | |
| 06 | Mass layoff and plant closing requirements (California WARN). | |
| 07 | Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. | |
| 08 | Legal and ethical standards for HR professionals in California. |