How do you become a certified payroll professional?

To become a certified payroll professional, you need to meet the qualification requirements, pass the CPP exam, and maintain your certification. Here are some details on these three steps that you can take to become a certified payroll professional (CPP):

• Meet the qualification requirements. To become a certified payroll professional you must pass the CPP exam. In order to qualify for this, you need to have at least three years of experience in payroll administration. This includes payroll calculations and tax compliance, and must have been within five years of taking the exam.
• Pass the CPP exam. The certified payroll professional (CPP) exam is a fairly challenging exam that requires the test-taker to commit to considerable preparation and study. It covers a broad range of topics, including but not limited to:
• General payroll areas
• Payroll processing
• Federal and State tax regulations
• Benefits administration

  The CPP exam has 190 multiple-choice questions, and all test-takers have exactly four hours to complete the exam. The minimum passing score for the CPP exam is 300 points out of 400 points, meaning a test-taker must get at least three-quarters of the questions correct in order to earn a passing score.

• Maintain your certification. To maintain your CPP certification, you must earn a certain amount of continuing education credits every year. There is also an annual fee you must pay. In addition, every five years you must retake and pass the CPP exam to maintain your certified payroll professional certification.