From the postings I've seen, you are correct.  I had purchased and studied the SHRM Learning System and found it to be great.  They have a good learning layout and plenty of practice questions.  I tested last year for the PHR and received my certification.  SHRM was a big help as I have only been in HR for about 4 years.

I am an HR Generalist in my role in the company, but we do not have unions and we are not that sophisicated as regards comp and pay grades.  I focused most on that because that is what I felt I was weakest in.  I passed the first time I took the PHR test.

If you took both exams you can only recertify the SPHR. 

 Per HRCI

"The SPHR exam supersedes the PHR designation; therefore, the PHR and SPHR cannot be held simultaneously."

 

I was wondering if you retook your exam and if you passed. 
I took my SPHR exam on June 6th of this year 2008.  I failed it.  I was doing over 90% on the SHRM software of 1040 questions.  I don't get it.  I'm terrified to try again as you have to pay that darned fee EVERY time.  Anyway, I, like you, found the test to look COMPLETELY foreign compared to anything I'd been studying.  I 'm not sure if I can pass it if I'm already doing 90% on the training material and still failed it.  I'm still currently waiting for my results to see where I went wrong and what my actual score was.

Thanks.

Hi, I've been in hr for 13 years. I was "over confident" and took the SPHR and failed. I then took a class and decided to go for my PHR, and passed. The study material for both are the same. The SPHR places more of an emphasis on stategy. The SPHR is about applying the "terms" you learn, and not just rote memory, which is what the PHR is about. Deciding which exam to take was hard for me, and now that I passed the PHR I wish I went for my SPHR.

I used the HRCI study material, and it worked perfectly. There are six modules, and each comes with flash cards. If you read all the modules, and study, you will pass.

 If you've been in hr, at an exempt level for 5 plus years than you may want to consider the SPHR.

 Good luck, Maggie.