Applicants must have at least five years of professional HR experience with at least three of those years specifically in payroll management or related areas. Additionally, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent international education. Once you have passed the exam, you will be awarded your FPC certification which is valid for three years from the date of issue. To maintain your certification status, you must earn continuing education credits each year to demonstrate your commitment to learning new information and staying up to date with changes in payroll regulations. Upon successful completion of all three courses participants will receive their IFEBP Certified Payroll Professional designation which is valid for two years from date of issue. To maintain certification individuals must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years or retake the program every four years.
Professionals can find out what’s available near them using the association’s chapter directory. As a payroll professional, you know how important it is to maintain your company’s compliance by keeping up with changing regulations and procedures. Staying current is important to your company’s bottom line and to your career.
The higher-level knowledge and CPP expertise reduce payroll mistakes, regulatory and legal errors, and implementation problems that could cost your company more money in the long run. While most candidates take the test online, tests are also offered at testing centers maintained by Pearson VUE, the military, or other approved locations in unique instances. You do not need to be an APA member to apply or write the exam, but the fees and cost of study materials are higher for non-members. Candidates will be required to submit employment verification as part of their application, and current or former employers may be contacted. According to Robert Half’s 2021 Salary Guide, the median salary for payroll supervisors is $75,500. CPP certification increases your salary potential and higher-level payroll management opportunities.
Once your identification has been verified, your digital signature, palm vein scan, and photograph will be taken. Once your application has been approved, you will have one year to schedule and take the exam. During this process, you will need to pay the examination fee, which is $380 for APA members and $550 for non-members. The American Payroll Association (APA) administers the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam as a credential to certify the competence and integrity of payroll specialists. The CPP exam assesses the test taker’s knowledge of applicable federal statutes, taxes, and regulations related to workplace payroll preparation.

The application and information about registering is found in the APA’s CPP Candidate Handbook. To be recertified, you will need to fulfill 120 recertification credit hours (RCHs) which are continuing education activities. Note that the APA offers materials that you can use to prepare for the CPP exam.
But the free versions are often quick tests that don’t correctly reflect the actual payroll certification exams. Try to find a resource that mimics the exam to get a more realistic feel for what’s ahead. Similar to the SHRM-CP and PHR certifications, individuals who become CPP-certified will need continually renew their status. Every five years, payroll professionals with a CPP need to accumulate over 120 recertification credit hours (RCHs).
If you want to become an expert in this field or if you need certification for employment purposes, then investing in a certificate program is likely worth your time and money. However, if you simply want to gain some knowledge about how payroll works without committing to an entire program, then there are other options available as well. To become certified as an SPHR-P, applicants must meet certain educational and experience requirements.
It’s not an easy exam to pass, but it does make you more of an expert in your field and may even increase your annual earnings. This article outlines the various certifications available to payroll coordinators, providing information on their benefits and requirements. Participants can choose to take one or two courses at a time or complete all three in sequence. Courses are offered online or in person at various locations throughout the United States and Canada. According to the APA, the CPP exam questions are much more in depth than the FPC and also includes questions on leadership and management. CPP holders are considered experts in their field and are ready for more senior roles within a payroll team.
By enrolling in the program, you’ll receive live classroom instruction, textbooks and access to interactive online games and applications to reinforce the topics learned. In cooperation with the American Payroll Association, Temple College Business and Continuing Education presents the PayTrain College & University® program for payroll professionals. Comprised of two professional development courses, PayTrain Level 1 and PayTrain Level 2, the TC Payroll Professional Academy is designed for all levels of payroll administration. Students receive live classroom instruction, textbooks, and access to interactive online games and applications to reinforce topics learned.

Why Payroll Certifications Are So Important

Without doing so, a professional will not be considered for the FPC exam. The exam consists of questions that demonstrate general payroll competency. As mentioned above, the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam is attainable via the American Payroll Association (APA) who developed the exam.
The APA offers test takers a full suite of preparatory materials, including training booklets, in-person classes, and online webinars. It also offers an extensive “CPP Bootcamp” package, which consists of 20 online courses covering a range of topics including third party sick pay, involuntary deductions, and more. The association’s website features a helpful directory of upcoming events. Even if you have studied payroll in school and would want to get ahead by becoming certified, you must meet certain experience and education requirements to be an eligible applicant. The CPP exam is specifically designed for those who are experienced in being payroll professionals.

The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. Candidates must score at least 70% on the exam to receive certification. While the APA doesn’t require applicants to be card-carrying members of the association, it does mandate that they meet a list of stringent requirements. First, you need to have served in a payroll-related role for at least three of the last five years. In special cases, the APA allows individuals with 18 to 24 months of payroll experience take the exam if they successfully complete a comprehensive list of sanctioned courses.
Presenters with a CPP designation can earn up to one RCH for each hour of lecture. Fortunately, Lorman Education Services makes it easy and convenient to complete Certified Payroll Professional training online. We host dozens of live seminars every month and maintain an archive of more than 12,000 self-study training programs — many of which qualify for CPP recertification credit hours. Browse our catalogue to explore current opportunities, or sign up for our mailing list to have the latest programming updates delivered directly to you.

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Once the educational and experience requirements are met, applicants must pass the SPHR-P exam administered by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In cooperation with the American Payroll Association, Curry College presents the PayTrain College & University program for payroll professionals. Comprised of two professional development courses, PayTrain Fundamentals® and PayTrain Mastery®, this program is designed for all levels of payroll administration.
Seeing as it’s a resource from the APA, you know it will be relevant and comprehensive. To sit the exam, there’s a fee of $320 for APA members and $395 for non-members. If you don’t go on and get the more advanced certification, you’ll need to recertify within three years. See how Namely’s flexible solution will help you streamline your HR processes by having your people, payroll, and benefits info all in on place. Importantly, the questions only pertain to information that is accurate as of January 1 that respective year. For example, an applicant looking to earn their CPP in the fall wouldn’t be tested on tax changes that were enacted over the summer.
After an individual passes the CPP exam, they must complete continuing education credits to maintain their CPP certification. The American Payroll Association requires that CPPs complete at least 120 hours of approved courses, webinars, and events every five years. The Certification Board requires that payroll professionals fulfill ONE of the following criteria before they are eligible to take the Certified Payroll Professional Examination. First, you must earn your bachelor’s degree with a focus in finance, such as accounting, business administration or human resources. Since this is not an entry-level position, you will likely have to work your way up to becoming a CRM through on-the-job training.

These include working in payroll for several years and taking a variety of courses from the American Payroll Association. Criterion has a complete range of payroll, talent management, HR products, systems, and services available if you’re looking for additional aid. Call or connect with us online for more information or to request a demo. The APA publishes its current fees online and in its examination Handbook. Payments will be verified at the time of registration for your course, following approval of your application, employment verification, and assessment of credentials.

And also for those already certified to obtain recertification credit hours (RCHs). Course material is not included in the cost of the class and must be acquired separately. For instance, the end of the fiscal year is a crucial time since employees require their annual returns for tax season. Government reporting on behalf of the organization must also be completed. If an audit is required, it is their job to work closely with the government to ensure that all necessary paperwork is submitted and that all the information is correct.
This article will provide an overview of the top certifications available for payroll consultants, including the qualifications and benefits of each. Ms. Krispel currently offers consulting services to large corporate clients in HR/Payroll practices, process optimization, payroll training, and system implementations, specializing in PeopleSoft HCM. She previously worked for a large retailer managing their Payroll and HR Service Center. We work with institutional partners to offer a wide array of practice tests that will help you prepare for your big exam. No matter how niche your field of interest might be, we’re here to help you prepare for test day.
More affordable study guides and practice tests are available from Mometrix Test Preparation and ExamEdge. Experience in the practice of payroll for three or more years total in the five years before submitting the exam application. The CPP exam, on the other hand, does have eligibility requirements based on experience and education. CPP certification should be your ultimate goal, so if you already meet the eligibility requirements for taking the exam, you can skip the FPC. For 2022, the FPC exam costs $320 for APA members and $395 for non-members while the CPP exam costs $380 for members and $550 for non-members. Both exams are offered by appointment within certain windows of time in the spring and fall of each year.
The cost of obtaining a CPA credential varies depending on which course provider you choose. Generally speaking, most course providers charge between $500-$1,000 for each course plus an additional fee for taking the exam. In this role, you will be joining a thriving team environment that is enthusiastic about providing personalized HR support to a growing list of valued clients.
Payroll professionals will find that certification in the payroll field will build critical skills and advance their careers. New York Institute of Technology has partnered with the American Payroll Association (APA) to offer PayTrain Level 1 and 2 (formerly known as Fundamentals and Mastery courses). The Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) is a higher-level certification for experienced professionals with extensive payroll knowledge and a senior role in their organization. With its stringent standards and recertification requirements, CPPs are leaders who maintain current knowledge of payroll law, payroll systems, and industry best practices. For CPP-certified professionals, choosing to pursue continuing education instead of retesting offers a number of benefits.