Approved Provider Program

The APA has implemented a pre-approval program for payroll education courses, seminars, and conferences offered by third-party educational providers effective September 1, 2006.

The American Payroll Association (APA) provides payroll professionals the ability to demonstrate their payroll knowledge through the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) and the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) exams.

The payroll certifications are an industry standard used by employers recruiting payroll personnel.

FPCs and CPPs have the option to maintain their certification through continuing payroll education. The subject matter of the continuing education must fall within the Payroll Body of Knowledge as defined by the content outlines of the FPC and CPP exams. FPCs must earn a minimum of 60 qualifying recertification credit hours (RCH) within a three-year period and CPPs must earn a minimum of 120 qualifying RCHs within a five-year period to recertify through continuing education.

APA recommends that providers of payroll education enroll in the program and become designated as an Approved Provider of RCHs. The process requires the submission of all payroll education programs for approval. Changes or additions must also besubmitted to APA for approval.

Payroll education programs offered after September 1, 2006 that have not been approved will be removed from any FPC/CPP's RCH listing and will not count toward their recertification.

Detailed explanation of the Approved Provider process.

If you are a provider of payroll education and would like to submit an application to become an Approved Provider, download the Application and Course Submission form and email them to certification@americanpayroll.org.

Veiw a list of 2009 Approved Providers and their programs.

Please direct questions to APA's Certification Department at 210-226-4600 or by email to certification@americanpayroll.org.