Fundamental Payroll Certification

Establishing Eligibility

The Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) is open to all those who wish to demonstrate a baseline of payroll competency. The FPC is designed for:

Entry-level Payroll Professionals
Sales Professionals/Consultants serving the payroll industry
Systems Analysts/Engineers writing payroll programs
Payroll Service Bureau Client Representatives

APA membership is not required to take the FPC examination.

Training Resources

The candidate for certification is advised to consult a variety of sources to prepare for either of the certification exams. The exam handbooks contain a list of suggested references.

The candidate can obtain study materials from the APA and attend APA preparation courses. APA courses are also approved to achieve recertification. Training and resources are available in a variety of formats including books, training courses, Web-based training, Webcasts and Audio Seminars.

Study Groups

Many APA Local Chapters conduct study groups for CPP and FPC exam preparation. Consult the study group list for a group in your area.

About the Exam

Please note that for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 certification exam test questions should be answered based on U.S. Federal laws and regulations as of January 1, 2009. Mid-year changes are NOT reflected on the exams.

FPC Exam Candidate Handbook

FPC Content Outline

FPC Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

Completing the Application

FPC Application for Certification Application must be completed and submitted to American Payroll Association before registering to take the exam. You may also contact the Certification Department at (210) 226-4600 or email at certification@americanpayroll.org.

Examination Fees:

2/8/2010 - 9/10/2010 $290.00

9/11/2010 - 9/9/2011 $295.00

Candidates are responsible for the full amount of the examination fee. Once an appointment for an examination has been initiated, you are obligated to pay the full fee. If you cannot test for any reason, or decide not to test, the appointment must be changed or cancelled to avoid having to pay the exam fee for a missed examination.

Candidates are responsible for knowing all regulations regarding fees and examination scheduling as presented in the FPC Examination Candidate Handbook. There are no exceptions. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

More Information

This information has been extracted from the complete FPC Examination Candidate Handbook January 2010. The handbook is presented as Adobe PDF files and can be viewed in the freely available Adobe Reader.

EXAM NOTES

For both the CPP and FPC certification exams administered beginning September 12, 2009 through September 10, 2010, exam questions should be answered based on Federal laws and regulations in effect as of 1/1/2009.

For both the CPP and FPC certification exams administered beginning September 11, 2010 through September 9, 2011, exam questions should be answered based on Federal laws and regulations in effect as of 1/1/2010.

Mid-year changes are NOT reflected on the exams.

RECERTIFICATION

Recertification is required after 5 years for CPP and 3 years for FPC. Recertification may be achieved through accumulating recertification credit hours ((RCH) or by successfully retesting. For CPP 120 RCH are required; for FPC, 60.
CPP Recertification File Folder
FPC Recertification File Folder

STUDY GROUPS

Many APA Local Chapters conduct study groups for CPP and FPC exam preparation. Consult the study group list for a group in your area.

LEARNING CENTER TESTING

Effective February 2009, attendees of Payroll 101 and Payroll 201 have the opportunity to sit for the FPC and CPP exam, respectively, at the conclusion of each course. For more information, please refer to the Certification Home Page. Please note: Separate registration and fee for testing is required.

COLLEGE CREDIT

APA's certification programs bring college credit through the ACE College Credit By Examination Program. Details.

FAQ

Have a question about APA's Certification programs? The most common questions are answered on the FAQ page.

APA's Certification Department
210-226-4600
certification@americanpayroll.org