About Payroll certification
PayrollOrg, the organization formerly known as the American Payroll Association, offers the two payroll certifications most US employers recognize: the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) and the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP). PayrollOrg reports that over 70 percent of payroll departments have at least one CPP.
The two credentials work as a ladder. The FPC has no requirements and proves you know the fundamentals. The CPP requires experience or coursework and proves you can run and improve a payroll function.
The credentials side by side
| Credential | Cost | Eligibility | Exam | Pass rate | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPC | About $359 to $459 | None required. | 150 questions in 3 hours. | Not published | 60 recertification credit hours over 3 years, or retake the exam. |
| CPP | $419 to $609 | One of: 3 years of payroll practice in the 5 years before applying; 24 months of payroll practice plus approved PayrollOrg coursework; or the FPC, 18 months of payroll practice, and approved coursework. | 190 questions in 4 hours. | Not published | 120 recertification credit hours over 5 years, or retake the exam. |
How to get certified, step by step
- Start with the FPC if you're new. No experience required, 150 questions in three hours.
- Build experience. The CPP needs 18 months to three years of payroll practice, depending on your path.
- Take approved coursework if needed. Payroll 201 or the CPP Boot Camp can shorten the experience requirement.
- Register in a window. Fall and spring windows in the US and Canada, with fixed registration deadlines.
- Recertify. FPC every 3 years with 60 credit hours; CPP every 5 years with 120.
Dates, renewal, and the details that trip people up
2026 to 2027 payroll exam windows
- Fall 2026: registration July 1 to October 2, testing September 5 to October 3, 2026.
- Spring 2027: registration November 9, 2026 to April 16, 2027, testing January 4 to April 17, 2027.
Both exams test federal rules in effect January 1 of the testing year. Our state labor law library covers the state rules the exams don't.
Certification has become indicative of a future employee who is both self-motivated and invested in continuous learning.
Read the full guides
FPC: Fundamental Payroll Certification
Payroll fundamentals. None required.
CPP: Certified Payroll Professional
Advanced payroll management. One of: 3 years of payroll practice in the 5 years before applying; 24 months of payroll practice plus approved PayrollOrg coursework; or the FPC, 18 months of payroll practice, and approved coursework.
Sources
- PayrollOrg: Certification FAQ
- PayrollOrg: Certification overview
- Chief Learning Officer: SHRM notches its 100K certificant (2017)
Fees, eligibility rules, and testing dates change. We checked every figure against the certifying body on the date shown, but confirm with the official source before you apply. HRTally isn't affiliated with SHRM, HRCI, PayrollOrg, WorldatWork, or IFEBP.
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<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/hr-certifications/payroll-certification/">Payroll certification: FPC and CPP compared</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "Payroll certification: FPC and CPP compared." HRTally, updated October 24, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/hr-certifications/payroll-certification/
Frequently asked questions
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.