Post job

Best payroll technician certifications

Payroll technician certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an payroll technician to employers. However, not all payroll technician certifications provide the same value for job seekers.

The best certifications for a payroll technician are Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Payroll Certification, and Certified Customer Service Specialist (CSS).

Below is a list of the best payroll technician certifications. Obtaining an payroll technician certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

4 best certifications for payroll technicians

4 best payroll technician certifications

1. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)

2. Payroll Certification

NBA's Payroll Certification assures employers you have payroll knowledge and skill. You obtain the Certification by passing the Uniform Payroll Certification Examination.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 

3. Certified Customer Service Specialist (CSS)

The Customer Service Specialist (CSS) is a certification that validates one's work skills through employability concepts. Though developed to meet the role of an evolving service oriented electronics technician, CSS is relevant to every industry, employer and employee. Topics included are Safety, Ethics, Respect, Teamwork, Communication, Telephone and Email Techniques, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Relationships, and Sales and Marketing.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
ETA International

4. Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Payroll Association

What is the best certification for a payroll technician?

The best payroll technician certification is Certified Management Accountant (CMA). The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is awarded by the The Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this payroll technician certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Management Accountant (CMA), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 1 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for payroll technicians?

The most in-demand payroll technician certification is Payroll Certification based on all active job postings. Having this payroll technician certification will give you access to more payroll technician jobs with higher salaries.

Best certifications

The most common combination of payroll technician certifications include: Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Payroll Certification, and Certified Customer Service Specialist (CSS).

Online courses for payroll technicians to earn certifications

Advertising disclosure

1. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries

udemy
4.4
(1,649)

Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...

2. Ultimate Payroll Management with Income Tax & Year-End 23-24

udemy
4.2
(351)

Basic to Advanced: Certification in Payroll, Compensation Benefits, Income Tax,Year Ending for Payroll & Human Resources...

3. QuickBooks Payroll - QuickBooks Online

udemy
4.5
(319)

Processing Quick Books Online payroll for a small business, generating paychecks, processing payroll tax forms...

4. Understanding Payroll for Beginners

udemy
4.5
(361)

Payroll calculation, processing payroll, taxes, and reporting...

5. Payroll Accounting With Visually Effective Excel Dashboards

udemy
4.3
(420)

Payroll Data Analysis with Excel Pivot Tables,hr payroll, payroll management, payroll certification, Payroll, Excel...

6. Payroll Management

udemy
4.5
(338)

Use free UK payroll software to perform essential payroll management...

7. Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll

udemy
4.6
(1,262)

Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll...

8. Complete Payroll Management in Excel &TALLY ERP9 &TallyPrime

udemy
4.7
(415)

Payroll, Bookkeeping,Microsoft Excel,Excel,TALLY ERP9, Payroll Process, Tally Prime,Payroll Account, Salary , wages ,HR...

9. Intro to Business • HR: Payroll Fundamentals

udemy
4.5
(645)

Understand the Basics of Processing Employee Payroll...

10. Xero Australia Payroll Complete Training Course

udemy
4.2
(433)

Become an expert at the payroll function of Xero bookkeeping & accounting software using Xero's Australian demo company...

11. Complete Tally ERP 9-GST Course with Live Project of Clients

udemy
4.2
(353)

Learn Tally ERP 9 with live Accounts of a Business Covering its Accounting, Payroll, GST, Banking, Inventory System...

12. Audit - Financial Statement

udemy
4.4
(2,545)

Master the Art of Auditing Financial Statements: In-Depth Analysis, Techniques, and Real-World Case Studies...

13. Practical Course in Goods and Services Tax

udemy
4
(314)

Learn GSTR1 and GSTR2 Returns,GSTR3B Monthly return & GSTR9 Annual return...

14. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement

udemy
4.6
(930)

Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...

15. Ultimate HR Generalist and Human Resource Management Course

udemy
4.3
(1,866)

Hands-on HR Certification: All HRM topics. Master Employee Life Cycle, Payroll, Recruitment, Engagement, EXDesign and AI...

16. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book

udemy
4.5
(3,466)

Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...

17. GST: The Goods and Services Tax Certificate Course

udemy
4.5
(602)

A GST Course for Beginners to learn the basics of GST, GST filing, Registration, ITC Returns and Taxation...

18. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course

udemy
4.3
(736)

Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...

19. US Income Taxes - Income Tax Preparation Simplified for You

udemy
4.5
(606)

The A – Z of self-preparing and e-filing your basic income taxes by 04/15. Income tax preparation made easy for you...

20. Tally.ERP9+TallyPrime+GST+IncomeTax+TDS+MS Excel (ComboPack)

udemy
4.2
(2,793)

A Compulsion Course for Accounting, Financial, MIS, Data Analysis, Tax Professional, Auditors & Bsns Management Sectors...

Browse office and administrative jobs