In 2022, employees were due back wages of $1,393 on average. In many situations, payroll errors caused these wage issues.
If you own a small business, you must have great payroll management. Handling payroll improperly can lead to hefty fines. These can bankrupt your business.
Hire a certified payroll professional to keep your payroll accurate. Do you know the types of payroll certifications you need to look for? If not, read on.
What Is a Payroll Certification?
Professionals with payroll certifications have demonstrated excellence in payroll management. Not just any professional can get this certification. They must meet strict requirements in:
- Skills
- Experience
- Knowledge
- Education
Oftentimes, professionals will undergo training classes to meet these requirements. They also have to submit proof of education and years of field experience. At the end of the program, they must take and pass an exam.
Given by Competent Leaders
These certifications are only given by groups that have proven themselves to be industry authorities. Business professionals can trust that these groups know how to judge payroll competency.
Must Be Renewed
Professionals must renew their certifications every few years. This way, their payroll competency will stay current.
Types of Payroll Certifications
There are two types of payroll certification offered through PayrollOrg, the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) and Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
PayrollOrg or PAYO is the authority behind this certification program. Professionals should know PAYO’s full body of knowledge to gain it. Some topics this covers include:
- Payroll laws and regulations
- State and federal taxation practices
- Calculating garnishments
- Principles of accounting
- Payroll systems
To gain CPP certification, professionals must pass a three-hour exam. This exam contains multiple-choice questions about payroll operations. To be eligible for the exam, candidates must meet certain criteria of years worked in the payroll industry and/or approved payroll training courses taken.
Also, CCPs must recertify every five years. Doing so keeps their knowledge of payroll up to date.
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
This is another program managed by PAYO. It verifies how well a professional knows and understands payroll fundamentals. To gain this certification, a candidate must pass an exam that tests them on the following:
- Wages
- Taxes
- Deductions
- Payroll regulations
- Other topics
Like the CPP exam, the FPC exam is also multiple-choice. It takes two hours to complete, and candidates must score a 70% or above. To maintain this certification, candidates must continue to earn education credits year by year.
Hire a Payroll Certified Professional
So put out a job listing. Then look for professionals with these certifications. If you do, you should get the perfect candidate.
However, going through the hiring process isn’t necessary. If you need a certified payroll professional, you can utilize our staff by becoming a payroll client or enlisting our team to help with any payroll projects that you may have. We offer third-party payroll solutions to small businesses in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and across the country.
Our professionals process your payroll so your employees get paid on time and accurately. Schedule a 30-minute payroll consultation meeting today on this page.
