Effective September 14, 2019 all FPC and CPP examinations will be based on the updated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Every few years the APA completes a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to validate certification examinations and ensure that the content specifications for the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) Examination and the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) Examination are current and relevant to the payroll profession.
In beginning of 2018, nearly 1,800 payroll professionals answered the call to have their voice heard in a Job Task Analysis (JTA) survey to help the American Payroll Association (APA) understand what payroll professionals currently do in their positions.
Every few years the APA completes a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to validate certification examinations and provide a basis for defending the appropriateness of the examination content. By assessing what payroll professionals do in their practice, this JTA ensures that the content specifications for the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) Examination and the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) Examination are current and relevant. Content validity in a certification examination provides evidence that the roles addressed in the examination reflect actual practices necessary for successful performance.
The survey responses were analyzed, and expert panels were convened to review the survey findings, and to revise and construct the new blueprint (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - KSAs) for the FPC and CPP examinations.
Additionally, the Certification Item Development Task Force (CIDTF) has been working diligently to write questions based on the updated blueprint for the FPC and CPP exams to be reviewed by the Certification Board. The Certification Board then reviewed, edited, and constructed exam items and forms for APA's examinations for the Fall 2019 exam window.
The updated FPC and CPP Content Outline and KSAs will be in effect on the FPC and CPP examinations beginning September 14, 2019.
Within the last year, APA’s Education department has been working diligently to align its educational materials with the updated blueprint in order to help potential exam candidates prepare adequately.
The current FPC and CPP Content Outline will be in effect through September 13, 2019. Following, the updated FPC and CPP Content Outline will be in effect starting September 14, 2019 and on.
The exam is offered in North America during the following windows:
Spring 2019
Registration: January 15 - April 19, 2019
Exam: March 23 - April 20, 2019
Fall 2019*
Registration: July 9 - October 11, 2019
Exam: September 14 - October 12, 2019
*Updated FPC and CPP Content Outline and KSAs go into effect September 14, 2019
For information on taking the exam at APA’s Payroll Learning Centers, internationally, and on military bases, review the Candidate Handbook available on the Certification webpage.
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