Program Summary
Payroll professionals process paychecks for more than 135 million workers each week. More than 70% of the gross federal revenues of the United States, nearly $1.2 trillion, are collected through payroll. Those federal revenues help fund the vital activities, crucial to the well-being of everyone in America, including:
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Public education
Child support
Social security
Unemployment
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National defense
Interstate highways
National parks
Medicare
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While payroll professionals continue deliver paychecks to US workers, they also support the collection of taxes, distribution of the country ’ s benefits, and the enforcement of fair labor standards. This requires not only highly technical skills, but also:
The understanding of rigorous guidelines and essential information for complian t payroll processing,
The need to stay constantly in tune with legislative and regulatory changes,
Applications in best practices to maintain lean and efficient operations,
The impact of national and global strategies in today ’ s business environment, and
International law and regulations that affect alien and expatriate employees.
To help define and maintain the high level of expertise needed, the American Payroll Association (APA) has established two professional certifications, the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) and the more advanced Certified Payroll Professional (CPP). PGCC offers several courses under APA ’ s PayTrain College and University Program to help prepare participants for the APA certification exam as well as:
Experienced and entry-level payroll professionals
Managers/supervisors providing strategic payroll management
Payroll professionals who interface with human resources, benefits, tax reporting, and other functions
Sales professionals/consultants serving the payroll industry
Systems analysts/engineers writing payroll programs
Payroll service bureau client representatives
Through the courses in these programs, you will gain:
A foundation of knowledge for starting or advancing your payroll career
An understanding of payroll essentials through hands-on exercises
Improved job performance by increasing accuracy and compliance
The guidance and expertise of an experienced facilitator
Access to a network of peers to learn about payroll practices in other organizations
A solid grounding in compliance issues related to tax and regulatory information
Preparation for the FPC and CPP exams
Recertification credit hours (RCHs) or continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain FPC or CPP credentials
Employment Trends
Payroll and timekeeping clerks held about 198,000 jobs in 2002. They can be found in every industry, but a growing number work for employment services companies as temporary employees, or for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services firms, which are increasingly taking on the payroll function as a service to other companies.
Payroll technicians with certifications indicate that they can handle more complex payroll issues will have an advantage in the job market.
As entering payroll information becomes more simplified (i.e., through computers), the job itself is becoming more complex, with companies now offering a greater variety of pension, 401(k), and other investment plans to their employees.
Program Objectives
Successful completion of each course earns a Certificate of Completion
Coursework leading to award of a Continuing Education Certificate
Skills development and preparation leading to certification exams from to receive the American Payroll Association ’ s Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
Participants who successfully complete the course should be able to:
Administer complex benefits and tax applications by accurately processing paychecks, taxes, and financial and federal reports for various employee requirements
Accurately complete all federal compliance documentation, conduct audits, identify errors, and manage inquiries and penalties with appropriate skills for IRS problem resolution
Demonstrate knowledge and leadership in evaluating and implementing a new information system solution
Demonstrate competency in planning and managing a department or staff by creating policies and procedures appropriate for the organization and applying learned managerial skills to various department and staff situations
Program Curriculum
For those seeking Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) -- no prior experience necessary.
For those seeking Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) -- involvement in payroll production, reporting, accounting, administration, or consulting in 3 of the 5 years preceding examination date
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Crs #
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Course Name
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Hrs
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MGT690
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PayTrain Fundamentals
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24
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MGT691
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PayTrain Mastery
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36
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Program total to obtain CPP certification
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60
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the American Payroll Association?
The APA is the biggest non-profit professional association for individuals engaged in payroll administration. Founded in 1982, the American Payroll Association now has over 100 chapters and 20,000 members around the world and helps them network with other business professionals in their field and to enhance their careers.
Do I have to be an APA member to enroll?
No. Enrollment is open to everyone.
I had no payroll experience. Can I still take this class?
The PayTrain F undamentals course is designed for those with little to no experience. However, you ’ re also welcome to call the PGCC Program Coordinator or APA to discuss starting a career in payroll.
How will I benefit from taking this program?
With the continually expanding and more complex nature of the payroll industry, formal training is a necessity! In fact, more and more employers require certification, and this is the only recognized professional certification designation in the payroll profession. Through this training, you can:
Increase your professional standing and increase your potential for hire and promotion.
Gain a foundation of knowledge for entering the field and formal training in payroll administration.
Learn the organizational requirements for federal law and regulatory compliance.
Network with peers and learn about payroll practices at other organizations.
Effectively prepare for the FPC and CPP certification exams.
What do the certification exams involve?
The College does not conduct the examination. It is handled by American Payroll Association and Assessment Systems, Inc.. Once you have completed the courses, your instructor will show you how to work directly with them to schedule and complete your exam.
Generally speaking, both the FPC and/or CPP Certification Examinations are offered at more than 150 assessment centers nationwide on Saturdays in April and September. The four-hour exam is administered on an electronic testing system and consists of 200 questions, 175 multiple-choice and 25 pre-test questions. Questions are designed to test payroll knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge to the payroll environment. Scoring takes place immediately and scores are given at the assessment center. Application procedures and additional details can be found on the APA web-site at www.americanpayroll.org/certi.html .
What do the FCP and CPP Certification Exams cost?
The fee for the certification exams is set by the APA and is separate from the College ’ s course fees. The current fees for APA members is $250 each and for non-members is $310 each. Please note that these exam fees are subject to change without notice.
Do these certifications require ongoing continuing education?
An FPC is required to receive six CEUs over a three-year-period in order to maintain his/her designation without having to re-take the certification exam. A CPP must receive 12 CEUs over a five-year period in order to maintain his/her designation without having to re-take the certification exam.