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
Prerequisite
None.
A thorough understanding of mathematical principles and a proficiency in English will increase the probability of success in this course.
Overview
Payroll Compliance Legislation (PCL) is the first core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification program. Upon completion of Payroll Compliance Legislation (PCL), you will have a thorough understanding of the compliance requirements and be able to describe payroll’s objectives and stakeholders, identify an employer/ employee relationship, apply federal and provincial legislation to payroll and communicate the payroll compliance requirements to various stakeholders.
Delivery Method
This course will be offered virtually via Zoom. Sessions will take place according to the posted schedule.
To participate in virtual sessions, students will need high speed internet, video cam and microphone.
Note
This course can be accessed through the Canadian Payroll Online Student Platform and Zoom. There is no Douglas College Blackboard component for this course.
| Instructor: | Marilena Pignotti |
|---|---|
| CRN: | 21537 |
| Dates: | 7 Saturdays: June 14 to August 9, 2025 (no class June 28 and August 2) |
| Times: | 9 AM to 4 PM |
| Fee: | Two separate fees must be paid to register:
National Payroll Institute fees include online course materials, yearly NPI Membership, examinations and Certificate. |
| Register: | Phone 604-527-5472 to register. |
Prerequisite
None.
A thorough understanding of mathematical principles and a proficiency in English will increase the probability of success in this course.
Overview
Payroll Compliance Legislation (PCL) is the first core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification program. Upon completion of Payroll Compliance Legislation (PCL), you will have a thorough understanding of the compliance requirements and be able to describe payroll’s objectives and stakeholders, identify an employer/ employee relationship, apply federal and provincial legislation to payroll and communicate the payroll compliance requirements to various stakeholders.
Delivery Method
This course will be offered virtually via Zoom. Sessions will take place according to the posted schedule.
To participate in virtual sessions, students will need high speed internet, video cam and microphone.
Note
This course can be accessed through the Canadian Payroll Online Student Platform and Zoom. There is no Douglas College Blackboard component for this course.
| Instructor: | Marilena Pignotti |
|---|---|
| CRN: | 31006 |
| Dates: | 7 Saturdays, September 6 to October 25 (no class October 11) |
| Time: | 9 AM to 4 PM - Virtual via Zoom |
| Fee: | Two separate fees must be paid to register:
National Payroll Institute fees include online course materials, yearly NPI Membership, examinations and Certificate. |
| Register: | Phone 604-527-5472 to register. |
Prerequisite
Payroll Compliance Legislation
Overview
Payroll Fundamentals 1 (PF1) is the second core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification program. Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 1 (PF1), you will be able to: calculate regular individual pay, calculate non-regular individual pay, calculate termination payments, complete a Record of Employment and communicate all aspects of individual pay requirements to various stakeholders.
Delivery method
This course will be offered virtually. Sessions will take place according to the posted schedule.
To participate in virtual sessions, students will need high speed internet, video cam and microphone.
| Instructor: | Dawn Irmscher |
|---|---|
| CRN: | 21022 |
| Dates: | 7 Saturdays: April 5 to June 7, 2025 (no class April 19 and May 17) |
| Times: | 9 AM to 4 PM |
| Fee: | Two separate fees must be paid to register:
National Payroll Institute fees include online course materials, yearly NPI Membership, examinations and Certificate. |
| Register: | Phone 604-527-5472 to register. |
Prerequisite
Payroll Compliance Legislation
Overview
Payroll Fundamentals 1 (PF1) is the second core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification program. Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 1 (PF1), you will be able to: calculate regular individual pay, calculate non-regular individual pay, calculate termination payments, complete a Record of Employment and communicate all aspects of individual pay requirements to various stakeholders.
Delivery method
This course will be offered virtually. Sessions will take place according to the posted schedule.
To participate in virtual sessions, students will need high speed internet, video cam and microphone.
| Instructor: | Dawn Irmscher |
|---|---|
| CRN: | 31008 |
| Dates: | 7 Saturdays: September 6 to November 1, 2025 (no class September 27 & October 11) |
| Times: | 9 AM to 4 PM |
| Fee: | Two separate fees must be paid to register:
National Payroll Institute fees include online course materials, yearly NPI Membership, examinations and Certificate. |
| Register: | Phone 604-527-5472 to register. |
Pre-requisites
Payroll Compliance Legislation
Payroll Fundamentals 1
Overview
Payroll Fundamentals 2 (PF2) is the final core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification program. Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 2 (PF2), you will be able to: calculate organizational remittances to federal, provincial and third party stakeholder, prepare accounting documentation for payroll, complete year-end documentation and communicate all aspects of organizational remittances, accounting and year-end requirements to internal, external and government stakeholders.
Delivery Method
This course will be offered virtually. Sessions will take place according to the posted schedule.
To participate in virtual sessions, students will need high speed internet, video cam and microphone.
Note
This course can be accessed through the Canadian Payroll Online Student Platform and Zoom. There is no Douglas College Blackboard component for this course.
| Instructor: | Kimberley Ensign |
|---|---|
| CRN: | 21023 |
| Dates: | 7 Saturdays, May 10 to July 5, 2025 (no classes May 17 and June 28) |
| Time: | 9 AM to 4 PM - Virtual via Zoom |
| Fee: | Two separate fees must be paid to register:
National Payroll Institute fees include online course materials, yearly NPI Membership, examinations and Certificate. |
| Register: | Phone 604-527-5472 to register. |
Pre-requisites
Payroll Compliance Legislation
Payroll Fundamentals 1
Overview
Payroll Fundamentals 2 (PF2) is the final core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification program. Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 2 (PF2), you will be able to: calculate organizational remittances to federal, provincial and third party stakeholder, prepare accounting documentation for payroll, complete year-end documentation and communicate all aspects of organizational remittances, accounting and year-end requirements to internal, external and government stakeholders.
Delivery Method
This course will be offered virtually. Sessions will take place according to the posted schedule.
To participate in virtual sessions, students will need high speed internet, video cam and microphone.
Note
This course can be accessed through the Canadian Payroll Online Student Platform and Zoom. There is no Douglas College Blackboard component for this course.
| Instructor: | Kimberley Ensign |
|---|---|
| CRN: | 31009 |
| Dates: | 7 Saturdays, November 8 to December 20, 2025 |
| Time: | 9 AM to 4 PM - Virtual via Zoom |
| Fee: | Two separate fees must be paid to register:
National Payroll Institute fees include online course materials, yearly NPI Membership, examinations and Certificate. |
| Register: | Phone 604-527-5472 to register. |
This course must be taken at a Canadian post-secondary institution. Douglas College course ACCT1110 has been pre-approved by the CPA.
Introduction to accounting must cover the following principles and practices to be accepted as part of the PCP program:
- recording transactions (debits/ credits),
- journal entries,
- preparing simple financial statements,
- closing accounts,
- reconciliations,
- trial balance.
In order to fully prepare students as certified Payroll Compliance Practitioners, one (1) year of weighted payroll-related work experience is required. Students completing courses on a part time basis can obtain the work experience requirement within five years before or after passing Payroll Compliance Legislation (PCL) course and the timeline for students in full time program, starts either five years before or after the end date of their Payroll Fundamentals 2 (PF2) course. Those individuals who complete the education requirement but have yet to satisfy the PCP work experience component are considered “PCP Candidates”.
Please visit the Canadian Payroll Association website for more detailed information.
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