Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) Designation
Your Path to Becoming a Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP)
The National Payroll Institute’s PCP designation is the foundation for a successful career in payroll. The PCP courses will help you gain an in-depth understanding of the legislative requirements to keep your organization compliant throughout the annual payroll cycle. When you achieve the designation, you join a growing community of supportive professionals and gain access to the resources you need to stay current and compliant.
The PCP designation requires three core payroll courses, an Introduction to Accounting course transfer credit and one year of weighted payroll work experience:
Certification Requirements
- Payroll Compliance Legislation
- Payroll Fundamentals 1 – Prerequisite: Payroll Compliance Legislation
- Payroll Fundamentals 2 – Prerequisites: Payroll Compliance Legislation and Payroll Fundamentals 1
- Introduction to Accounting - must be completed at a post-secondary institution
- PCP Work Experience Requirement Application (a minimum of one year weighted Canadian payroll work experience)
Students must achieve a minimum grade of 65 per cent on both the final examination and 65 per cent on the course to pass
Steps to register
Step 1
Students must first register with Douglas College and pay the school’s registration fee to secure their seat in the course. Note: Students must achieve a minimum of 65% on final exams and 65% for each course.
Step 2
Students must also register with National Payroll Institute and pay the Institute's course fee and the membership fee to receive access to the online materials and the learning platform. Students should register with the Institute no later than five business days before the start date of the course.
Please click on the Course Calendar to register online with the Institute. Alternatively, you can download the course registration form from our website, under Payroll Education>Payroll Designations>Designation Forms.
For more information visit www.payroll.ca, or email the Professional Accreditation Department at accreditation@payroll.ca.
Certification declaration
Once the education requirements are met, and you are an active National Payroll Institute member, you will be sent the Certification Declaration, which must be completed and submitted to receive the certification.
Maintaining PCP
All certified individuals must comply with the following three requirements to maintain certification:
- Maintain a membership with the National Payroll Institute through a Professional membership or the Organization membership of your employer (annual membership fees are required)
- Adhere to the CPA’s Code of Professional Conduct
- Meet the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements