A certified payroll professional manages workers’ wages, benefits packages, and retirement funds. To become certified, one must meet eligibility requirements set by the American Payroll Association and pass an exam. Continuing education is required to maintain certification. Certified payroll professionals can advance in their career and improve HR procedures.
A certified payroll professional is a human resources (HR) specialist who calculates, manages, and distributes workers’ wages. With the help of the payroll clerk, he or she ensures that employees receive accurate and timely compensation. Additionally, a payroll professional is usually responsible for managing benefits packages and retirement funds. Earning the title of Certified Payroll Professional involves meeting the eligibility requirements set forth by the American Payroll Association (APA) and passing an extensive exam. The APA certifies candidates worldwide. To maintain certification, a person needs to take a set number of continuing education courses every five years.
The APA offers certification exams for payroll workers who meet one of three criteria standards. The first option requires a person to obtain at least three years of verifiable work experience in payroll administration and accounting. To meet the second criterion, an individual must have two years of experience and attend four APA-accredited two- to three-day seminars. Persons who have completed 18 months of work, the core payroll certification exams, and three seminar classes meet criteria three. College courses in accounting and payroll can often be substituted for seminary requirements in criteria two and three.
Once the prerequisites are met, an individual can register to take the Certified Payroll Professional exam. APA-affiliated testing centers around the world offer exam dates throughout the year. The computer-based multiple-choice test consists of 190 questions and takes about four hours to complete. The questions focus on many different important points, including salary calculation, tax worksheets, benefits management, accounting, and reporting. Scores are usually available immediately after taking the test and an official certificate is sent within a month.
Becoming a certified payroll professional can be very helpful in getting payroll manager jobs in small businesses and large corporations alike. Most employers place a high value on the title and can be confident that their employees have extensive knowledge of job duties. Certified payroll professionals can streamline and update payroll systems, install more efficient HR procedures, and facilitate clear communication between workers and managers. In addition, they ensure that companies follow all legal guidelines regarding compensation, benefits and tax withholding.
An experienced and successful Certified Payroll Professional usually has many opportunities to advance in their career. In time, he or she could become an office supervisor or a senior HR manager. A payroll professional may even have the chance to obtain an executive accounting position with continuing education and several years of experience.
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