Donna Howard, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Chief Human Resources Officer, PhyNet Dermatology LLC
Donna is an accomplished Human Resources executive and business partner with a record of enhancing organizational performance through proactive human capital solutions. She is Chief Human Resources Officer for PhyNet Dermatology, a leading national dermatology practice management company. Her previous experience includes being the HR leader for other healthcare organizations, as well as financial and other service institutions.

Her areas of expertise include mergers/acquisitions, improving employee engagement,
and improving company financials with applicable HR programs.  In addition to teaching this certification course, Donna has also been an instructor for HR certification classes at UT-Austin and the University of Houston.  She’s been teaching this class for more than 20 years. 

She has served as Executive Director of the HRSouthwest Conference and is Past
President of the Dallas HR Management Association.  Her education includes an MBA
in Human Resources from the University of Texas at Arlington and a BBA in Finance
from Texas Christian University.

This aPHR exam prep is held in an online format with 8 online training course sessions led by our instructor in the University's LMS. Students attend online sessions for lecture and discussion, and will complete assigned work on their own between live sessions. 

Class capacity is limited to 15 students to ensure the best educational experience. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, so complete your registration today!

• Class Dates: September 12 - October 31, 2026
• Times: 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. CT (Saturdays)
• Modality: Online live instruction via the Virtual Classroom cloud-based meeting platform
• Registration deadlines: (registration opens June 2nd)
  • Early-bird: August 12, 2026
  • Standard: September 1, 2026

Tuition includes the eight online live Saturday courses and all course materials required to participate in the class. The tuition fee does not include the cost of the aPHR certification exam.

STANDARD REGISTRATION TUITION RATES

Standard tuition rates are used when a student registers for the class or submits their payment within 30-days from the start date of the class, otherwise. 

• $995 - Standard Tuition
• $895 - Discounted Tuition 

EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION TUITION RATES

Students can qualify for an early bird discount by completing the registration process (including full payment) by the early bird deadline. The early bird period ends 30 days from the start of the class. In order to qualify for the early bird discount, students must fill out and submit the online registration form and submit full payment prior to the early bird deadline (see registration deadline section for deadline information).

• $895 - Standard Tuition
• $795 - Discounted Tuition

Other Discounts:

Discounts are offered for UD Alumni and Students, UD Employees, Government Employees (federal and local), US Veterans, and SHRM or Dallas HR members. To qualify for the discount, students will be asked to provide an active .edu or .gov email; UD ID; or membership number.

The maximum class capacity is 15 students. We reserve seats in class on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure a spot in the aPHR exam prep course, you must fill out the online application form and submit your payment. Application forms without payment do not guarantee a spot in class. 

• Early-bird: August 12, 2026
• Standard: September 1, 2026

The University of Dallas accepts the following forms of payment: 

• Cash payments: Our Office of Finance receives cash payments during regular business hours.
• Credit/Debit card payments: We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express using our online payment portal.
• Check payments: Make the check payable to "University of Dallas," write the student's name and id number in the memo, and mail it to University of Dallas - Business Office, 1845 E. Northgate Drive, Irving, TX 75062
• Letters of Credit: Please get in touch with Jennifer Howard at jlhoward@udallas.edu for more information on this option.
• Company Sponsorship/Educational Benefits: Please get in touch with Jennifer Howard at jlhoward@udallas.edu for more information on this option.
• Payment Arrangement: We have a payment arrangement option for students who need a little help. This option divides Tuition into multiple payments. Executive Education students who wish to participate must complete and fill out the Payment Arrangement section of the application to enroll in this option.

How payment arrangements work: Payments are billed monthly. You submit the first payment when you sign up for the payment arrangement. You can make all subsequent payments before the due date. The University must receive all payments in the agreement before releasing any certificate or transcript.

PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT AMOUNTS:

• Tuition Rate: $995
  • Requires an initial payment of $350, plus a payment of $350, and a final payment of $295.
• Tuition Rate: $895
  • Requires an initial payment of $350, plus a payment of $350, and a final payment of $195.
• Tuition Rate: $795
  • Requires an initial payment of $350, plus a payment of $350, and a final payment of $95.
    

PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT DUE DATES:

Your first payment establishes your payment schedule. It is highly recommended you submit your first payment immediately to secure your space in class. The last day you can submit your payment is 10 days prior to the class's start date. The list below shows the payment due dates based on the first payment.

• June payment arrangement: A June payment arrangement has three payments. The first payment of $350 is due before the end of the month. The second payment is due by July 30, and the final payment is due August 30, 2026.
• July payment arrangement: A July payment arrangement has three payments. The first payment of $350 is due before the end of the month. The second payment is due by August 30, 2026, and the final payment is due September 30, 2026.
• August payment arrangement: An August payment arrangement has three payments. The first payment of $350 is due before the end of the month. The second payment is due by September 30, and the final payment is due October 30, 2026.
  • To qualify for the early-bird rate, your first payment must be received by August 12, 2026.
• September payment arrangement: There are no payment arrangement options available for September due to the payment schedule requiring three months.

Important clarifications:

• To qualify for the early-bird tuition rates: We must receive your application and payment before the early-bird deadlines. No payment arrangement is available for early-bird rates after the deadlines.
• To submit payment: You will be taken to our payment portal to submit your payment upon completing the application form.
• To sign up for the payment arrangement: You will select the payment arrangement option in the registration form and be required to provide specific information and agree to the terms. No payment arrangement is available without filling out this section of the registration form.

• Individuals who want a career in human resource management.
• HR professionals who have limited experience and wish to earn a certification.
• Hiring managers.
• Non-HR professionals who manage people.
• Individuals who want to highlight their dedication to the HR management field, and want to show their expertise in the field.

BENEFITS FOR YOU: When you enroll in this aPHR course, you will: 

• Gain practical expertise that can immediately impact your job performance.
• Build a strong foundation of HR management knowledge, skills, and tools.
• Establish practical skills by applying your new HR management skills to case study scenarios.
• Take advantage of the knowledge and experiences of your expert instructor.
• Upon completion, receive a digital badge issued by the University of Dallas highlighting your professional development learning. This badge can be added to your LinkedIn account.
• Stay motivated to complete your training with set class dates and assignments.
• Build your professional network through fellow course participants and your instructor. 

BENEFITS FOR YOUR EMPLOYER: Our course can help your organization by providing employees with the knowledge and skills required to make informed decisions involving your company's most valuable resource - people. This program:

• Builds your employees' knowledge, skills, toolkit, and confidence through formal training.
• Reduces risks by providing a structured HR management process and best practices.
• Promotes a consistent understanding of HR structure for individuals who are part of a formal HR team for the first time. 

VALUE OF THIS COURSE:

• Time-efficient and comprehensive: Our training program covers fundamental project management topics and tools in 28 hours of class time.
• Exceptional instruction: Learn from a C-Level HR expert who provides insight and one-on-one guidance.
• Networking and peer interaction: Share experiences, discuss topics, and gain real-world insights into project management.
• Stay on track: Structured class time and assignments help keep you motivated and on track.

1. Distinctive HR's aPHR 2026 Learning System: This is a comprehensive preparatory course accessible both online and with most mobile devices.  
2. UD Workbook with course handouts

Learning System Specs:

• Study guide (coil-bound, approximately 125 pages)
• Access to online content with interactive digital flashcards, sample tests, training games, downloadable audio files (3+ hours), glossary, and videos
• Final practice exam designed to mimic the HRCI exam (600+ sample questions)
• Access to the online content (LMS) is valid for 1 year from the date your order is processed.
  • Please Note: LMS access is for a single-user and is NOT transferable or to be shared with others.  A valid email address and individual’s name must be provided for each learning system ordered. 

LMS System requirements: (The latest version of at least one of the browsers below.)

• Windows: Internet Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari,
• Mac: Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome
• Linux: Firefox, Opera, Konqueror

HTML5:

• Google Chrome 14 or later on Windows or Mac
• Safari 5.1 or later on Windows or Mac
• Mobile Safari on Apple iOS 5.0 or later on iPad

Governed by: Human Resource Management Institute (HRCI)

 

Exam at A Glance 

• Eligibility Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
• Number of Questions: 90; Included in the 90 questions are pretest questions that are not scored and used as a test set for future exams.
• Format: Multiple Choice
• Duration: 1 hour + 45 minutes
• Passing Score: 500 (exam scores range from 100 – 700)
• Cost: $300 exam fee + $100 application fee
• Certification Retirement: 3 years
• Recertification: To maintain your aPHR certification, you must earn 45 recertification credits over the 3-year time span.

Please click here to read a public disclosure about this course.