PHRCA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the PHRCA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 PHRCA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 PHRCA Topics to Study (103)
✍️ Sample PHRCA Questions & Answers
1. What obligation does a California employer have when an employee's CFRA leave and PDL leave overlap?
In California, PDL and CFRA are separate entitlements that do not run concurrently, meaning an eligible employee could receive up to 4 months of PDL followed by up to 12 weeks of CFRA leave for baby bonding.
2. The Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA) covers employees of which institutions?
HEERA governs collective bargaining rights for employees of the University of California and California State University systems, distinct from community college employees covered by EERA.
3. California law requires that a non-exempt employee must be provided an off-duty, unpaid 30-minute meal period no later than after how many hours of work?
Under California Labor Code § 512, a non-exempt employee must receive a 30-minute unpaid meal period no later than the end of the fifth hour of work. A second meal period is required no later than the end of the tenth hour. Failure to provide a compliant meal period triggers a one-hour premium pay penalty.
4. Under California's FEHA, which of the following is NOT a protected characteristic?
Political affiliation is not a protected class under FEHA, though California does protect employees from retaliation for political activity under Labor Code §1101-1102.
5. California's AB 5 codified a three-part test for independent contractor status. Which element of the ABC test is unique compared to the prior Borello multi-factor test?
Part B—requiring that the work be outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business—was the most significant new element added by the ABC test codified in AB 5.
6. A California employer asks a departing employee to sign a non-compete agreement as a condition of receiving severance. Under California law, this agreement is:
California Business and Professions Code Section 16600 broadly voids non-compete agreements, with very narrow statutory exceptions (such as sale of a business). Unlike most states, California does not recognize a 'reasonable scope' carve-out — the clause is void even with consideration.