Becoming a certified payroll professional is not hard to do. Get the skills, certification and knowledge you’ll need in this course by taking advantage of our interactive online learning where you can work at your own pace, review lectures and even ask questions when you get stuck – boot camp style.
how to become a certified payroll professional
1. Determine Your Eligibility
Not everyone qualifies to take the certification exam. 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. The more on-the-job experience you have, the fewer number of courses you need to take.
2. Apply for the CPP
The APA offers applicants the opportunity to apply for the exam through its website, by mail, or even by fax. The association takes 10 to 15 days to process applications once they receive them. If you’re eager to check in on the status of yours, the APA provides an application tracker on its website.
If you’re in between jobs when you submit your application, note that the APA requires a signature from a prior payroll supervisor confirming your relevant experience.
3. Schedule Your Exam
Once your CPP application is approved, you have a year to schedule the exam. This can be done via the APA’s website or by calling the scheduling hotline at 800-470-8757. Your examination fee varies depending on which continent you take the exam and whether you’re an APA member. A schedule of registration deadlines and fees for North America is below. Note that all test dates are on Saturdays.
