CPP-Remote- Certified Payroll Professional
Exam Code: CPP-Remote- Certified Payroll Professional
CPP?Remote (Certified Payroll Professional) exam—the
fully remote, online?proctored version administered by the American Payroll
Association (APA):
Exam Overview
- The Certified
Payroll Professional (CPP) exam consists of 190 multiple?choice
questions, 25 of which are unscored “pretest” items. You have 4
hours to complete the exam
- To
pass, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 300 out of the
scoring pool (165 scored questions)
Content Breakdown (Approximate Weighting)
Domain
|
Approx. %
|
Core Payroll Concepts
|
24%
|
Compliance / Research / Resources
|
16%
|
Calculation of the Paycheck
|
20%
|
Payroll Process, Systems & Administration
|
12%
|
Payroll Administration & Management
|
10%
|
Audits
|
9%
|
Accounting
|
9%
|
These reflect the official content outline in the 2024?25
candidate handbook
Eligibility Criteria
You must meet one of the following three
requirements before applying:
- 3
out of the last 5 years of payroll practice in core payroll functions
(domain includes payroll production, reporting, taxation, administration,
consulting, education)
- Employment
in payroll for the last 24 months, plus completion of all of
these APA courses within that period:
- Payroll
Practice Essentials
- Intermediate
Payroll Concepts
- Advanced
Payroll Concepts
- Strategic
Payroll Practices
(all offered exclusively through PayrollOrg)
- Employed
in payroll for 18 months, plus holding the FPC credential
and completing one of the above course bundles within 18 months
Remote Exam Logistics (OnVUE proctoring)
- Non?US/India
candidates should choose the CPP?Remote Exam authorization via
PayrollOrg. The fee is the same whether taken online or at a
Pearson VUE test center—no extra charge for remote proctoring
- Before
exam day, you must run a system check on your actual testing device
(webcam, internet, ID capture, workspace scan)
- Log
in 15–30 minutes prior to your scheduled time on exam day.
- Check?in
includes photo ID verification, workspace scan, and some metadata capture
of your testing area and rules acceptance
- Virtual
tools only: a virtual calculator and whiteboard are
provided—no physical scratch paper or calculators allowed
- A 10?minute
scheduled break occurs after completing Section?1. No additional or
unscheduled breaks allowed—exiting webcam view can invalidate your test
- If
your system or connection fails during the exam, your session will be
terminated and your fee forfeited
- After
completing the exam, your results (Pass/Fail) appear on-screen
immediately, and a score report is emailed within 24 hours
Fees & Retake Policy
- Exam
fee: $419 USD for APA members, $609 USD for non-members.
These rates apply to both test?center and online proctored exams
- Candidates
may retake the exam as often as needed, but only once per
testing window. Spring test window candidates must wait until the Fall
window to re?test, and vice versa
- A cancellation/reschedule
fee of $50 applies if you cancel between 4–30 days before the exam;
must cancel at least 96?hours in advance to qualify
Study & Preparation Tips
- Candidates
generally report spending 3 months or more studying using a
combination of official APA course materials, the CPP content outline, and
external practice resources
- Real?practice
questions often require use of the virtual whiteboard—many Reddit users
suggest practicing calculations by typing or using a mouse before exam day
- Mometrix
and other providers offer summarized review guides/reserved content
outline and sections to focus your prep
After the Exam & Recertification
- If
you pass, PayrollOrg will email instructions to order your certificate,
lapel pin, and digital badge, generally within a week
- CPP
certification is valid for 5 calendar years. Recertification can be
done through continuing education hours (Recertification Credit Hours, or
RCHs) or by retaking the CPP exam during your 5th year
Quick Reference Summary
- 190
questions; 4?hour limit
- 165
scored, 25 pre?test items
- Scaled
score of 300 to pass
- Remote
exam via OnVUE, same fee as test?center
- Virtual
tools only—calculator & scratch board
- Need
one of three eligibility pathways (experience or coursework/FPC)
- Once-per?window
retake policy
- Immediate
results on screen + emailed report