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PrintFrequently Asked Questions
First check the eligibility requirements. An individual who does not meet any of the eligibility criteria for the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam, but wants to obtain a payroll certification, must take the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exam.
Each of the payroll certification exams, the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) and the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) follow the applicable exam's content outline. The content outline can be found in the Candidate Handbook and on the PayrollOrg website:
CPP Outline
FPC Outline
The Payroll Certification Exams are designed to test individuals' Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) within the payroll body of knowledge. KSAs are a more detailed version of the exam's content outline.
CPP KSAs
FPC KSAs
It is always best to start early! The majority of those who have successfully obtained payroll certification have stated "It is best to begin preparing for the exam at least 6 months in advance."
There are several methods available to help individuals study and prepare for the payroll certification exams. PayrollOrg offers various courses specially designed to prepare individuals for the exams. In addition, there are some self-study tools available such as The Payroll Source®, PayTrain® Mastery, Payroll Practice Fundamentals and PayTrain® Fundamentals. Many PayrollOrg local chapters host exam study groups and some local area colleges/universities offer the PayTrain® College & University courses.
For more information and a complete list of courses that can be used as study tools, visit PayrollOrg's Education page.
There are also various resources and publications available to prepare for the payroll exams. In addition to courses and resources, there are many free publications from government agencies and websites that provide valuable reference material. A more detailed list of courses, resources, publications, and websites is contained in the Candidate Handbooks.
Note: PayrollOrg strongly suggests that exam candidates use more than one study source in preparing for the payroll certification exams. When studying use a number of references to ensure a wide diversity of information. Successful candidates have indicated that they engaged in a minimum of 6-12 weeks of preparation before taking the FPC exam and a minimum of three months for the CPP exam based on the FPC or CPP examination content outline.
The Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) and Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exams are offered simultaneously twice each calendar year in the United States and Canada and year round internationally and at military locations. The North America (U.S. and Canada) payroll exams are administered during testing windows in the Spring and Fall. Please check the Certification web page and handbooks regularly for the Fall and Spring window testing dates and regulatory changes that may affect the examination. Mid-year law or regulatory changes are not reflected in the current year's payroll exams.
Registration is done directly through PayrollOrg while the administration of the payroll certification exams is handled by the PayrollOrg's testing partner, Pearson VUE.
Candidates can register for the exams beginning approximately ten weeks prior to the first scheduled day of the testing window. Candidates wishing to test within North America during the Spring or Fall exam window can register online at:
FPC Exam Schedule and Fees
CPP Exam Schedule and Fees
International and military candidates can register for the exams at any time. Refer to the CPP or FPC Candidate Handbook for detailed information regarding exam application, scheduling, and more. Reservations to sit for the exam should be made as early as possible in advance of the desired test date. Test centers have space limitations, so it is recommended that reservations be made early.
Administration of the exam is also offered at the PayrollOrg Learning Center in Las Vegas, Nevada USA at the conclusion of the Payroll 201: Payroll Administration Certificate Program (for CPP) and the Payroll 101: Foundations of Payroll Certificate Program (for FPC). Separate registration for the exam is required and information is included in the CPP and FPC Candidate Handbooks. All reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis, and walk-in examinees are prohibited.
PayrollOrg Learning Center examination opportunities are recommended only for candidates who have previously studied and are using the course for review purposes only.
The fee for the PayrollOrg certification exams depends on the exam type - Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
FPC Exam Schedule and Fees
CPP Exam Schedule and Fees
Future payroll certification exam fees are subject to change. All applicable fees are published in the Candidate Handbooks and on the PayrollOrg webstore.
Fees are collected by PayrollOrg at the time of registration. Payment can be made by major credit card or electronic check. All payments must be processed prior to the scheduled testing date and upon approval of the exam application.
An individual can take either the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam only once within a testing window. If a passing grade is not achieved, the exam candidate must wait until the next testing window to retake the exam unless they have obtained additional training by attending PayrollOrg's Payroll 101: Foundations of Payroll Certificate Program (for FPC) or Payroll 201: Payroll Administration Certificate Program (for CPP) offered at the Learning Center in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. If an individual takes the FPC exam and passes, provided they meet the CPP requirements, they can also take the CPP exam within the same testing window.
The Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exam consists of 150 questions. FPC candidates are given 3 hours to complete the exam.
The Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam consists of 190 questions. CPP candidates are given 4 hours to complete the exam.
Please refer to the FPC or CPP Candidate Handbook for further scoring information.
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) is valid for three full calendar years after the year of certification. Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification is valid for five full calendar years after the year of certification. This is known as the "recertification period."
A Recertification Log is available to all FPCs and CPPs via the PayrollOrg website. The Certification Department strives to email recertification reminders when payroll certification is due for renewal, but it is the designee's responsibility to maintain certification status.
Retaining payroll certification can be done through continuing education or by successful re-examination.
To recertify through continuing education for the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation, an individual must accumulate a minimum of 60 qualifying recertification credit hours (RCHs) over the three-year recertification period.
Upon verification of RCHs by PayrollOrg, you will receive an email with instructions on how to share your updated digital badge.
To recertify through continuing education for the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation, an individual must accumulate a minimum of 120 qualifying recertification credit hours (RCHs) over the five-year recertification period.
Upon verification of RCHs by PayrollOrg, you will receive an email with instructions on how to share your updated digital badge.
If an individual wishes to recertify through re-examination (FPC or CPP), they must successfully complete the exam within the last year of their recertification period.
Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive an email with instructions on how to share your updated digital badge.
Individuals who fail to recertify by continuing education or re-examination will have their payroll certification designation removed retroactive to December 31 of the year in which the recertification period ended.
PayrollOrg offers a variety of courses, seminars, and conferences to assist in recertifying through continuing education. For a detailed listing of PayrollOrg's programs, visit the Education page on the PayrollOrg website. RCHs may also be obtained from qualifying college or university courses, approved PayrollOrg chapter meetings and statewide conferences, and approved payroll-related education from third parties.
Note: Unapproved provider courses are not accepted for recertification.
Yes, if the program is authorized by PayrollOrg through participation in the Approved Provider or RCH Chapter programs.
The authorized provider or chapter offering the program must supply all participants with proper documentation as proof of attendance and an agenda showing the topics covered. A detailed explanation of eligible programs and required documentation is provided on the Approved Provider and RCH Chapter page. You may find all PayrollOrg authorized program providers under the Recertification menu on our website.
The majority of PayrollOrg education programs also qualify toward recertification. For a list of PayrollOrg course programs, visit the Education catalog.
Note: Unapproved provider courses are not accepted for recertification. Only courses participating in the Approved Provider, RCH Chapter program, a majority of PayrollOrg events, and accedited cllege/university courses, that are approved for RCHs, can be used for FPC or CPP recertification.
Yes. PayrollOrg offers various online courses - such as FPC Boot Camp®, CPP Boot Camp®, PayTrain® Mastery and PayTrain® Fundamentals;. A number of study aids are available for exam candidates. No one source should be considered the only basis for exam preparation. When studying use a number of references to ensure a wide diversity of information. Successful candidates have indicated that they engaged in a minimum of 6-12 weeks of preparation before taking the FPC exam and a minimum of three months for the CPP exam based on the FPC or CPP examination content outline.
For more information about different study aids, please download either the FPC or CPP Candidate Handbook.
The actual number of educational clock hours spent in direct participation in a structured educational format as a student or instructor qualify as RCHs. Lunch, breaks, time spent at vendor hall exhibits, general business discussions at chapter meetings, etc., are not included in educational time.
RCHs can also be accumulated by converting qualifying continuing education units (CEU), continuing professional education (CPE) credits and college/university semester/quarter credits. In order for CEUs, CPE credits or college/university credits to qualify as RCHs, the content must be included in the content outline of the exams or within the definition of payroll industry. Non-PayrollOrg programs/courses must be approved by PayrollOrg and the program provider must be an authorized provider of RCHs.
Payroll industry is defined as: Payroll - production, reporting, accounting, systems, taxation, administration, and education/consulting.
One CEU is equivalent to 10 RCHs
0.1 CEU is equivalent to 1 RCH.
One semester credit is equivalent to 10 RCHs
One quarter credit is equivalent to 5 RCHs.
The conversion for CPE credits to RCHs is the number of CPE credits, multiplied by 50 divided by 60, rounded down to the nearest 30 minute increment.
Examples:
7 CPE credits multiplied by 50 equals 350 divided by 60 equals 5.83 rounds to 5.5 RCHs.
8 CPE credits multiplied by 50 equals 400 divided by 60 equals 6.66 rounds to 6.5 RCHs
RCHs are accumulated once for each qualifying topic facilitated or participated in within the calendar year. However, there is an exception to the calendar year restriction for those facilitating or participating in a study group in preparation for the payroll certification exams. If the materials studied are based on different sets of federal laws and regulations then RCHs can be earned for both study groups.
For example, the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 exams both test on federal laws and regulations effective January 1, 2023. Therefore, if facilitating or participating in a study group for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 exams, RCHs accumulate only once per topic facilitated/participated in. However, if an individual facilitates/participates in a topic in preparation for the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 exams, RCHs accumulate for each topic facilitated/participated in even if the topic is duplicated.
No. If RCHs are accumulated in excess of the required minimum - 60 in three years for the FPC and 120 in five years for the CPP - in a time period less than the applicable recertification period, the Recertification Log can be submitted no earlier than June 1 of the year of expiration. RCHs in excess of the minimum required for the applicable certification cannot be carried over into the next recertification period.
Keep in mind that 60 qualifying RCHs for FPCs and 120 qualifying RCHs for CPPs is the minimum number of RCHs needed to qualify for recertification, and many FPCs and CPPs will pursue professional development beyond the minimum standard.
Only the hours of structured training related to the implementation that also fall within the content outline of the exams or the definition of the payroll industry can be earned as RCHs. Training provided by the vendor, or organization must be approved by PayrollOrg in order to provide RCHs to participants. The hours spent on the job processing the implementation does not qualify as RCHs.
In this case, a five-year CPP recertification period begins after successful completion of the CPP exam and the FPC credential will not be recertified. Individuals may continue to use both designations until the FPC expires. Designations (FPC/CPP) should be used after the individual's name. Example - Patty Payroll, FPC, CPP.
Example: if FPC designation is attained during 2022 and CPP designation is attained during 2023, FPC and CPP designations may be used through December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026, only the CPP credential may be used through December 31, 2028 (and thereafter if the CPP recertification process is completed successfully).
Obtaining another certification does not qualify for recertification of the FPC or CPP designations. However, if the programs/courses attended to prepare for such other certification fall within the content outline of the payroll certification exams or within the definition of the payroll industry, and the program/course provider is approved by PayrollOrg as an authorized provider of RCHs, the applicable program/course hours would qualify as RCHs.
There is no minimum annual requirement. As long as at the end of the recertification period the RCHs recorded qualify (FPC = 60 or CPP = 120), the recertification log is approved, and applicable fees are submitted to PayrollOrg, the individual will be recertified.
In the event RCHs are denied and subtracted from the total, resulting in less than the required number of qualifying RCHs being accumulated, the individuals must accumulate the appropriate RCHs before their certification expiration date and resubmit their log. Otherwise, the individual will not qualify for recertification through continuing education. In such a case, the FPC/CPP designation will be removed from PayrollOrg's records. To become certified again, the individual must retake and pass the appropriate exam.
PayrollOrg strongly suggests that individuals review their FPC or CPP Recertification Log frequently and not wait until the end of the recertification period to review and total RCHs. If at any time you are unsure whether an educational program qualifies for RCHs, review the KSAs and exam content outline, or contact the Certification Department at [email protected].
Transcripts for PayrollOrg courses, seminars and conferences attended, within the current recertification period (3 years for FPC and 5 years for CPP), will be provided upon submission of payment.
Please allow two (2) weeks for processing. PayrollOrg will provide transcripts via email. If you need to update your contact information, please call Customer Service at (210) 224-6406 or email [email protected].
The American Council on Education (ACE) has approved the payroll certifications for college credit. Up to 8 semester hours can be awarded for obtaining the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation and up to 10 semester hours can be awarded for obtaining the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation. However, colleges and universities may deny some or all of such credits based on the student's curriculum. For information on ACE, visit www.acenet.edu.
To verify a FPC or CPP certification, please use the Directory of Certificants search tool. PayrollOrg can only verify if an individual has attained either the FPC and/or CPP certifications. Other certifications cannot be verified, nor do other certifications have any relationship to PayrollOrg's FPC and/or CPP certifications.
The Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exam has no eligibility requirement.
The Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam has eligibility requirements. Please review the Criteria options on the CPP webpage or download the CPP Candidate Handbook for detailed eligibility requirements.
All candidates are required to obtain and read the applicable (FPC or CPP) Candidate Handbook prior to taking the exam. To obtain a copy of the Candidate Handbook, use these links:
CPP Candidate Handbook
FPC Candidate Handbook
Note: The Candidate Handbooks are updated on a regular basis throughout the year. PayrollOrg strongly recommends that exam candidates always refer to the FPC or CPP Candidate Handbooks for the most current information.
Eligibility criteria should not be considered as the only criteria for preparation for the CPP exam. Candidates for the CPP exam, qualifying through any of the criteria, should be aware that a number of study aids are available as added preparation for the CPP Examination. No one source should be considered the only basis for preparation. Successful candidates indicate that they pursued at least a three-month minimum course of study and review based on the CPP examination content outline. Individuals meeting any one of the three criteria are eligible to take the CPP Examination. Payroll professionals who are currently certified and are applying for recertification through examination or continuing education are exempt from the above requirements. The Certification Board's CPP Committee reserves the right to review an applicant's qualifications and eligibility.
No. The FPC does not have any prerequisites. However, the CPP does have some prerequisites, but you are not required to take the FPC examination, unless you choose to fulfill eligibility Criteria 3 for the CPP exam. Please review the CPP eligibility requirements.
Please review the complete cancellation/reschedule policy in detail (see FPC or CPP CandidateHandbook) prior to making an exam registration. If you need to cancel your APA exam appointment, you must do so 31 or more calendar days in advance to avoid any fees.
- Do NOT contact Pearson VUE's local testing center. All candidates must telephone Pearson VUE or go to www.pearsonvue.com/payo at least 96 hours before the scheduled examination date to change or cancel a reservation. Changed reservations with proper notice may be transferred to a new reservation (within the current testing window for the Northern Americas region). Candidates will forfeit the entire examination fee and be considered a no-show if the change or cancel request is received less than 96 hours from the exam reservation date and time.
- Candidates who cancel an exam at least 96 hours and up to 30 days before their exam reservation will incur a nonrefundable cancellation fee of $50 USD, paid to Pearson VUE. Cancellations that occur more than thirty (30) calendar days prior to an exam reservation are not subject to additional fees. Please note that there is no fee to change a reservation during this same period.
- Note: The Pearson VUE chat option on the Pearson VUE website cannot be used to reschedule or cancel an exam.
- REFUNDS
Examination fees are fully refundable only if the candidate cancels the reservation with proper notice (96 hours or more before the date of the scheduled exam). Note: The cancellation fee will apply to exams cancelled at least 96 hours and up to 30 days before the exam reservation and is a separate transaction from the refund.
To request a refund, submit the request in writing to [email protected] and include in the refund request:
• Full Name
• Mailing address
• Email address
• Phone number
• Pearson VUE appointment cancellation confirmation, if applicable
• The reason for the request for a refund
Requests will be verified and submitted to accounting for processing. Refunds from PayrollOrg are made back to the original method of payment. Please allow six (6) to eight (8) weeks to receive a refund.
Appointment date and time options vary on the selected test center availability.
Please refer to the FPC or CPP Candidate Handbook for more information on how to apply, special accommodations, rescheduling, cancellations, and more.
Contact PayrollOrg at [email protected] or (210) 224-6406.