CKE Practice Test

The CKE is the Knowledge Exam run by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) in Ontario, Canada, for registrants working toward the CHRP or CHRL designation. This page puts the official format, fees, test windows and scoring rules in one place. It also has free practice sets, worked questions with full explanations, a study plan and answers to common questions.

CKE Exam at a Glance

What the CKE is and how it works

According to Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), Ontario, Canada. Exams are delivered by Prometric, “The CHRP Knowledge Exam has 175 questions whereas the CHRL Knowledge Exam has 250 questions.”^[1]

The CKE is the Knowledge Exam from the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) in Ontario, Canada. It is offered as the CHRP Knowledge Exam and the CHRL Knowledge Exam. Prometric delivers it, and registrants must sit it in person at a Prometric test centre. Remote delivery through ProProctor is only available by approved accommodation.

Eligibility is the same for both: you must be an active HRPA registrant or student in good standing and have met the education or equivalent requirement through Routes 1–4.

Format. The CHRP Knowledge Exam has 175 four-option multiple-choice questions and runs 3.5 hours. The CHRL Knowledge Exam has 250 four-option multiple-choice questions and runs 5 hours, in 2 sections with a 15-minute break. About 25 questions on each exam are unscored.

Fees. The CHRP exam is CA$350 plus HST (CA$395.50). The CHRL exam is CA$400 plus HST (CA$452).

Scoring. The CHRP exam has a single overall cut score, so a strong area can make up for a weaker one. The CHRL exam needs a total score above the cut score and a score above the threshold in each functional area.

Retakes and results. There is no limit on attempts as long as your eligibility is still valid. Results are emailed about 4–6 weeks after the testing window ends. A passing result is valid for 15 years while you complete the remaining requirements for the designation.

Dates and fees can change, so confirm them on the HRPA website before you register.

CKE content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CKE content outline published by Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), Ontario, Canada. Exams are delivered by Prometric, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CKE questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which ethical principle requires healthcare providers to act in the best interest of the patient?

1. Autonomy
2. Justice
3. Beneficence
4. Non-maleficence

Answer: C. Beneficence

Explanation:

Beneficence is correct. It is the duty to act in the patient's best interest by doing good and promoting wellbeing. Autonomy is wrong because it is about respecting a person's right to make their own informed decisions. Justice is wrong because it is about fairness in how care and resources are shared out. Non-maleficence is the closest distractor: it means avoiding harm, which is about what not to do, while beneficence is about actively acting for benefit.

Rule to remember: match the verb. Do good is beneficence, avoid harm is non-maleficence, respect choice is autonomy, treat fairly is justice. This question comes from our healthcare sets and is not an HRPA question.

Example 2

Question: What is a nosocomial infection?

1. An infection acquired before hospital admission
2. A hospital-acquired infection
3. An infection caused by fungi only
4. A chronic infection present for more than a year

Answer: B. A hospital-acquired infection

Explanation:

A hospital-acquired infection is correct. Nosocomial describes where and when the infection was picked up, namely during care in a healthcare setting. An infection acquired before admission is wrong because that is the opposite idea: it was already present, or came from the community. Fungi only is wrong because nosocomial infections can have many causes, and the term says nothing about the organism. A chronic infection present for more than a year is wrong because the term does not describe how long an infection lasts.

Rule to remember: when a medical term names a type of infection, ask whether it describes the source, the organism or the duration. Nosocomial describes the source. This question is from our healthcare sets, not an HRPA question.

Example 3

Question: Which is NOT an advantage of objectives?

1. It sets specific targets for the employee.
2. It creates unnecessary competition.
3. It provides direction for the employee.
4. It increases staff motivation.

Answer: B. It creates unnecessary competition.

Explanation:

The answer is that objectives create unnecessary competition, because this is the only statement that is not an advantage. Setting specific targets, giving direction and increasing motivation are the reasons organizations use objectives. Some competition between employees can follow, but it is a side effect to manage, not a benefit, and the word unnecessary makes the option a drawback.

Rule to remember: when the stem says NOT or EXCEPT, rewrite it as a hunt for the false statement. Check each option against the question and mark the three that are true. The remaining option is your answer. This question comes from our management set and is not an HRPA question.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the HRPA exam page and the FAQ so you know your exam's format, scoring rule and test window, then read the outline of content areas and mark the ones you feel least sure about.

Next, use the practice sets to find gaps, not to measure readiness. Our sets are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions. Several are built around healthcare topics, so they will not match the HRPA outline. The best fits are Principles of Management and Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Try General Knowledge for mixed practice.

1. Answer a short run of questions without looking anything up.
2. For every miss, write down why the right option is right and why your choice was wrong.
3. Return to the official outline and study that area from HRPA material.
4. Redo the missed questions a few days later, without looking at your notes.

In the last days before your appointment, practise reading stems carefully, especially negative wording such as NOT and EXCEPT. If you are sitting the CHRL exam, make sure no functional area is left weak, because each one has its own threshold.

Sources & last verified

1. Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), Ontario, Canada. Exams are delivered by Prometric — number of questions, time limit, passing score, retake policy (official source). “The CHRP Knowledge Exam has 175 questions whereas the CHRL Knowledge Exam has 250 questions.” Verified Oct 24, 2026 · source checked Oct 24, 2026.
2. Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), Ontario, Canada. Exams are delivered by Prometric — exam fee (official source). “CHRL Knowledge Exam Registration | 400 | 452” Verified Oct 24, 2026 · source checked Oct 24, 2026.
3. Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), Ontario, Canada. Exams are delivered by Prometric — registration deadline, testing window, registration opens, score release (official source). “Registration Deadline: November 16, 2026” Verified Oct 24, 2026 · source checked Oct 24, 2026.
4. prometric.com — delivery (official source). “Starting in 2026 registrants will be required to take their exam in-person at a Prometric Test Centre.” Verified Oct 22, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.