Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) — American Payroll Association (APA)
The Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) is an advanced professional credential awarded by the American Payroll Association (APA), now operating as PayrollOrg. It is designed for experienced payroll professionals who demonstrate mastery of complex payroll concepts, regulatory compliance, payroll accounting, and systems management . To earn the CPP designation, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements—typically three years of payroll experience within the last five years, or a combination of experience and APA-approved coursework—and pass a comprehensive four-hour examination consisting of 190 multiple-choice questions . The exam covers core payroll concepts (24%), compliance and research (16%), paycheck calculation (20%), payroll process and systems (12%), payroll administration and management (10%), audits (9%), and accounting (9%) . The certification is valid for five years, after which recertification is required through continuing education or re-examination . The CPP is widely recognized by employers as a benchmark of expertise and is often sought for senior payroll, supervisory, and management roles .
Document information
- Uploaded on
- October 21, 2026
- Number of pages
- 45
- Written in
- 2026/2027
- Type
- Exam (elaborations)
- Contains
- Questions & answers
