Participants should allow themselves about 12 weeks to study for the FPC exam. This means that participants should begin studying for the examination before submitting an application or registering to ensure success. The FPC is a certification awarded by the American Payroll Association. Anyone can obtain the certification, no special memberships or degrees are required, but participants must pass an examination. At the conclusion of your exam, an official report is
provided. Your raw score is
converted to a scaled score to account for the differences between test
versions.
This part of the program will provide you with the basic knowledge and skills required to maintain payroll compliance and prevent costly penalties. Our comprehensive APA Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) practice tests are designed to mimic the actual exam. You will gain an understanding of the types of questions and information you will encounter when you take your American Payroll Association APA Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) Certification Exam. First, payroll certification should not be confused with “certified payroll,” which refers to a federal contractor compliance documentation. Instead, payroll certification refers to the process by which human resources professionals demonstrate their mastery of the knowledge and skills needed to successfully carry out payroll responsibilities. The FPC examination covers payroll fundamentals, including Professional Payroll Skills and Responsibilities, Tax Reporting and Accounting, and Paycheck Concepts.
Nevertheless, it’ll demonstrate your expert skill in a widely-used tool in the industry, and it can help you stand out as a job candidate. The exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions and simulations. To pass the exam, you must receive a minimum of 75% (37 out of 50 questions). The definitive CFRN® practice test for the industry’s most challenging exam, the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN).
We are fully accredited with the Better Business Bureau, and have many satisfied customers who have successfully passed their certification exam with the help of our test preparation materials. Candidates will receive their test score at the test center, when the exam is complete. Once your application has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email and will have one year to schedule and take the exam. During this process, you will need to pay the examination fee, which is $320 for APA members and $395 for non-members.
To receive the FPC title, one must apply to take the FPC exam through the APA. Without doing so, a professional will not be considered for the FPC exam. The exam consists of questions that demonstrate general payroll competency. There are further online resources where you can find practice tests. But the free versions are often quick tests that don’t correctly reflect the actual payroll certification exams.
The only personal item you will be allowed to take with you to the testing area is a calculator, which can be provided for you upon request if you do not have your own. The day of your exam will look a little different depending on which method of testing you chose during registration. Those 70 questions are chosen from the bank of 941 available questions. Candidates are eligible for the fourth knowledge test within 24 months of training completion date or initial challenge date.
I am in the beginning stages of preparing for the Fundamental Payroll Certification through American Payroll Association (APA). The APA website lists several course recommendations to prepare for the exam; however, I find that some course outlines overlap each other. The cost of the self-study course is $1,030 for APA members and $1,305 for non-members.
There are two testing windows annually
– in the fall and the spring. Reservations for fall testing usually begin in
July and ends in the middle of October, and reservations for spring testing
begins in January and ends in the middle of April. In this section of the exam, you
are asked to exhibit your knowledge of internal and payroll system, and
accounting system controls. In addition, your understanding of audit policies
and procedures is examined in this section.
The exam is administered electronically online and at Pearson VUE testing centers. Having a certified payroll professional contributing to the company’s compensation decisions can make all the difference in strategies becoming reality. What you can do, however, is advance your knowledge and skills then definitively prove your expertise by passing a payroll certification exam. This in-depth guide covers everything you need to know about the different payroll certifications you can achieve and how to apply for them. Plus, you’ll discover essential strategies to help you knock the payroll certification exams out of the park. As a payroll administrator, you
are the expert in employee pay and benefits.
Or you can opt for the guided version of the course for $1,130 for APA members or $1,405 for non-members. You can also use the outline as a checklist for your exam prep. If you wish to sit the CPP exam, your current or previous supervisor must verify your work experience by signing the Employer Verification section.

Additional Resources

Every testing site will complete a professional contract and submit it to Headmaster. The site will submit pictures of the testing room to validate the site has the required equipment and space to perform a testing event. Once this is completed, MDH will communicate to the site via email that it has been approved for the new testing platform.
Laws that have been established or changed mid-year are not reflected on the examination. We ensure student success by designing and developing all of our course materials in-house – including our study guide, slide deck, and learning management system. This creates a seamless, tailored learning experience that allows you to effortlessly engage the material. Attempting multiple practice tests helps students revise the entire FPC exam syllabus. This way they memorize concepts and perform well in the FPC exam.
Developed by the
American Payroll Association (APA), the FPC is an entry-level certification
based on knowledge, and not experience. The certification is voluntary and not
required for practice in any state. We believe you can perform better on your exam, so we work hard to provide you with the best study guides, practice questions, and flashcards to empower you to be your best. These exams can go up to four hours, so it helps mentally prepare you for taking the exam. Take practice tests both throughout your studying to identify knowledge gaps and again just before the actual exam for the best results.

You’ll only be able to make an exam reservation once you’ve completed the online application and paid the fee. Make a reservation as soon as possible by phone or online as exam spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Find your nearest official test center via the Pearson VUE website. If you wish to take the CPP exam, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above before beginning the application process, as you will need to provide proof. To give you an example, you can gain certification in one of the most widely-used and well-known payroll tools, Quickbooks. You’ll receive training through various methods, such as videos, virtual conferences, webinars, and in-person events.
FPC mocks will help you in developing an effective study strategy. A Complete Fundamental Payroll Certification Examination study guide that includes sample questions, test tips and a complete study plan prepared by a team of expert and dedicated researchers. Cost-effective and qualified exam help from a committed exam preparation company. To receive a certification, you must first complete the free Online Food Protection Course, The online course is offered in English, Spanish and Chinese. You must complete each lesson and pass a quiz before moving on to the next lesson. The study guide and exam are offered in English and 36 other languages.
Aside from taking advantage of the tools mentioned in the section above, there are a few more practical tips that you can use to give yourself the best chance of passing your certification exam. Payroll certification lets employers and potential employers know that you are competent and up-to-date with payroll laws, regulations, and procedures. Compliance questions are limited to a specific, stated data due to the continuously changing laws.
Payroll professionals need certifications in order to grow in their professional careers and to be recognized by their employers for their contributions to the company. Becoming a certified payroll professional is an effective means for a payroll professional to present their expertise to the current and potential employers’ appreciation. The latest payroll certification exhibits a contemporary knowledge of payroll law and best practice in a recognizable way. The organization’s support to its employees in their certification efforts demonstrates a standardized approach, boost their productivity, and value their essential contributions.
The Fundamental Payroll Certification is a
computer-delivered, 150 multiple-choice question exam with a three-hour time

limit. 25 of the 150 questions are pre-test and do not count against or for an
individual’s final score. Your practice exams are available anytime anywhere on any device.
Try to find a resource that mimics the exam to get a more realistic feel for what’s ahead. In cooperation with the American Payroll Association, Prince George’s Community College presents the PayTrain College & University® Certificate Program for payroll professionals. Comprised of two professional development courses, PayTrain Fundamentals and PayTrain, this program is designed for all levels of payroll administration.
However, payroll software can still help to prevent day-to-day errors and speed up payroll processing. Visit our HR software matching page to find out how we can help you select your perfect payroll software solution. Since laws are continuously changing, compliance questions and topics are limited to a specific, stated date.
You will be prompted to schedule an exam appointment once you successfully complete the course. Most people need between six and eight weeks to prepare adequately for the CPP exam. Pricing starts at $1,030 for APA members and $1,305 for non-members. You have the option to self-study or pay a little more for guided study.
MDH understands candidates have different learning styles and backgrounds. After careful consideration, MDH increased the knowledge test time from one hour to a maximum of two hours. There are 70 questions on the test, and candidates must receive a score of 76% to pass the knowledge test.
The platform lets you take a self-assessment test to determine your current payroll knowledge. Then, you have access to 12 course topics, including Payroll Concepts, Calculations of Deductions and Net Pay, Payroll Reporting and Employment Taxes, and Payroll Administration and Management. Payroll is often an underappreciated career involving long hours, weekends working, and short holidays. Payroll personnel must deal with constantly changing payroll regulations and adhere to federal, state, and local payroll laws in addition to company policy. The American Payroll Association randomly selects candidates for audit.
In some cases, certified individuals may be re-certified as part of
continuing education. However, if continuing education does not meet APA
criteria, certificate holders must retake the FPC exam before their current
certification expires in order to retain continuing certification. Test takers are asked to arrive approximately 30 minutes early for
check-in and to bring an approved calculator. Test participants can find out immediately
after the exam whether they passed the exam or can find out in which areas they
received negative results if they failed. ILead offers the best online FPC training
courses and also US taxation courses in Hyderabad which are designed to meet
the aspirants’ career requirements. Earning a payroll certification can help you
demonstrate your payroll expertise, and advance your career as a payroll
professional and enhance your standing within the accounting profession.
The problem with payroll is that it’s hard to
prove how good you are at what you do. It’s not like you can put together a
portfolio of all the numbers you’ve calculated. After all, a company’s
financial information must be kept confidential. This, of course, shows you exactly what you need to know to pass the exam. For example, in this case, you now know how the exam is weighted and which areas to focus more of your study time on. You must submit an online application with the APA before making an exam reservation.
When it comes to APA certification, the more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel and the greater your likelihood of success. So, get accustomed to what the exam entails, study in a way that suits your learning style, and be sure to practice before you sit for the exam. To be eligible to sit for the CPP exam, APA requires that candidates meet specific payroll experience or educational criteria. Unlike other courses, our program always focuses on the ‘Why’ so students can apply their knowledge to both exam questions and real-world patients. After four days of in-depth presentations, you will not only be able to retain the material but also understand it. The training program can use the Test Master Universe (TMU) software to review their students’ scores and areas where students are having more difficulty.
The curriculum is drawn mainly from the CPP exam, so it’s hard to imagine a more complete study tool than this one. Once again, you’ll be able to use the CPP designation after your name when you pass the exam. It’s worth mentioning that you can only use one title at a time.