The American Payroll Association devised the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam to assess and certify the knowledge and integrity of payroll professionals.
The Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exam is designed to gauge a candidate's familiarity with federal payroll preparation laws, taxes, and regulations.
CPP stands for Certified Payroll Professional, and it is a certification exam created by the American Payroll Association (APA) for payroll experts, managers, and supervisors. It is a high-level computer simulation test replicating the experience of being in a strange and unclear setting.
The simulation-based nature of the test is meant to gauge how well candidates can think under pressure without the benefit of a "safe space" in which to relax and rely on habit.
Adapting to the greater volatility that is dominating many industries requires a more profound knowledge of such cognitive skills, which are becoming increasingly important given the shifting character of the modern workplace. It includes a few of payroll's more advanced features.
The CPP exam has seven distinct parts:
Area Covered | Percentage |
1. Fundamentals of Payroll | 24% |
2. Regulatory Obligation or Information Gathering and Supplying | 16% |
3. Paycheck Calculation | 20% |
4. Systems and Procedures for Processing Payroll | 12% |
5. Accounting and Payroll Processing | 10% |
6. Accounting | 9% |
7. Audit | 9% |
Total | 100% |
The test is four hours long and consists of 190 multiple-choice questions, each with four possible responses.
The 25 sample questions on the test have no bearing on the final grade. Pass or fail results are communicated to test takers on the day of the exam.
The CPP exam necessitates investigation, analysis, organization, modification, and retention of data and self-monitoring of problem-solving methods.
Exam registration for CPPs is handled online through the APA's certification office. Work experience and completion of APA-approved payroll administration courses are taken into account to determine test eligibility.
Applicants need to have put in at least three years of practice within five years before the exam date. An alternative requirement is 24 months of experience in the field of payroll administration or completion of a payroll administration course. Those who have earned the FPC credential are also welcome to apply.
An alternative requirement is 24 months of experience in the field of payroll administration or completion of an APA-approved payroll course.
The following are some of the benefits of the CPP:
In 2021, whether the exam is taken online or at an official APA testing center, the base fee will be $380 for APA members and $550 for colleagues and non-members.
The fees are $435 for members and $595 for non-members in South America, the European Union, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Whether taking the exam in North America, at an APA testing center, or in the military, the costs remain the same.
To meet educational requirements to become eligible to take the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) exam, you must accomplish a few academic requirements.