What is a Payroll Specialist?
A payroll specialist is an individual who specialized in providing payroll services to the public. Payroll specialists provide payroll processing and tax preparation and payroll software setup, training, and support services to their clients, who may be businesses and nonprofits.

What is a Payroll Certification Specialist?
Payroll Certification Specialists (CPSs) are distinguished from other payroll specialists by stringent licensing requirements. They have extensive payroll knowledge, skills, experience, and ethics. In order to qualify for the CPS license, CPSs must possess payroll education, pass a national certification exam, meet experience requirements, abide by a code of professional conduct, and obtain a minimum of 16 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) annually.

Why You Should Become a CPS
The CPS license serves to protect the public interest by helping to ensure that only qualified individuals become licensed. More than a certification, the CPS license enables payroll specialists to become engaged as payroll professionals providing payroll services for businesses and nonprofits. The CPS license provides assurance to business and nonprofit owners and employees that CPSs are trusted and competent payroll professional.

Steps to Become a Licensed Payroll Certification Specialist (CPS)
Specific requirements for becoming a CPS, and the rights and obligations of a licensed CPS, are set forth in the National Association of Payroll Certification Specialists' CPS Regulations and Rules.

Follow these 4 steps to Begin the Journey to a Rewarding Career:

1. Pass the Uniform CPS Examination

Note: Not required for CPS candidates who completed the NACPB Payroll Certification Certification Program.

2. Obtain One-year of Payroll Experience
Candidates must obtain one-year (2,000 hours) of payroll experience.

3. Agree to Abide by the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct

4. Complete and Submit the CPS Application for Licensure
Candidates must complete and submit the CPS Application for Licensure.

CPS Application for Licensure
This document is available as a downloadable PDF file. PDF reader software, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, is needed to view or print the document. The Reader is available as a free download from the Adobe website. To download the Reader, click here.

To obtain the Application, go to CPS Application for Licensure.

Application Fee Payment
To pay the CPS Application for Licensure fee by credit card, click the Fee button below.