Important notes for the payroll program
The course end date listed for CPAY455, CPAY460, CPAY465, CPAY470 and CPAY475 includes a two week marking turnaround following the course completion. This additional time is to allow for marks to be returned from the National Payroll Institute to NAIT. The actual course end date for course activity is two weeks prior to the end date listed.
Completed a prerequisite course at another institution? Please contact continuingeducation@nait.ca, and attach your letter from the National Payroll Institute showing course completion, and we will help you enroll in your next course.
Important information for your accounting (ACCT), compensation (HRMT) and oganizational behaviour (ORGB) courses. Registration for ACCT1115, ACCT2260, HRMT2280 and ORGB1135 courses requires program assistance because they are offered through the JR Shaw School of Business at NAIT. Please review the available sections offered through JRSSB, and have the following information ready before you contact us 780.378.6990, toll-free at 1.844.558.8753 or continuingeducation@nait.ca for help with registration: Full Name, NAIT Student ID Number, confirmation letter from the National Payroll Institute to pursue PCP Certification, course name and section number.
Courses
Learning outcomes in the full-time payroll program
The full-time Payroll Professional Program comprises a suite of 19 courses. Each course helps build the necessary foundational knowledge, skills and mindset required for payroll professionals to keep their organizations compliant throughout the annual payroll cycle.
In addition to finance and regulatory courses, students will also take technical courses to familiarize them with software they will use over their course of their careers in payroll. These courses will help develop fundamental competencies with Microsoft Word, Excel, and QuickBooks at increasing levels of complexity.
To adequately prepare students to enter the workforce, they will also develop soft skills to help successfully manage the intricacies of a professional work environment. Courses in time management, conflict resolution, business communications, and more will round out their training and help them hit the ground running on their first day of employment.
Full course list
Payroll, Finance & Regulatory
CPAY455 – Payroll Compliance Legislation
CPAY905 – Financial Accounting for Payroll
CPAY460 – Payroll Fundamentals I
CPAY465 – Payroll Fundamentals II
BFND580 – Workplace Legislation
Technical
CPAY920 – Intro to Computers
CPAY925 – Word
CPAY930 – Excel
CCTO401 – QuickBooks Levels I
CCTO402 – QuickBooks Levels II
CCTO403 – QuickBooks Levels III
Communication & Leadership
CPAY741 – Business Communications
CPAY590 – Time Management
CPAY740 – Networking
CPAY635 – Strategies for Managing Change
CITC916 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
CPAY640 – Quality Customer Engagement
CPAY530 – Customer Experience Strategies
SCRS100 – Foundations I – Conflict Resolution
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
The PCP and PLP certifications are granted by the National Payroll Institute (formerly known as Canadian Payroll Association) upon successful completion of the required courses, fulfilment of the necessary payroll experience, and passing the Institute's final exam with a minimum of 65%. The passing grade for all courses in the National Payroll Institute Designation programs is a minimum 65%. This includes non-payroll courses ACCT1115, ACCT1116, ORGB1135 and HRMT3328.
The Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification is the foundation for a career in payroll. It provides candidates with the legislative content required to keep an organization compliant throughout the annual payroll cycle, the tools to effectively communicate payroll information to all stakeholders, and an understanding of the accounting functions as they relate to payroll. Courses needed for this certificate include Payroll Compliance Legislation, Payroll Fundamentals I, Payroll Fundamentals II, and Introductory Financial Accounting.
The Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) certification builds on the PCP compliance knowledge by developing seasoned professionals to manage a payroll department. It provides you with the knowledge to make decisions, supervise and manage, and contribute a payroll perspective to organizational policy and strategy discussions. Courses needed for this certificate include Introduction to Payroll Management, Applied Payroll Management, Compensation Management, Organizational Behaviour, and Introductory Managerial Accounting.
Learn more about payroll certifications
Entrance Requirements
- You must register at NAIT before registering with the National Payroll Institute (formerly known as Canadian Payroll Association).
- Then register with the National Payroll Institute on their website and pay separate fees (course fee and membership fee, if applicable)for the following courses: CPAY455, CPAY460, CPAY465 for Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) or CPAY470 and CPAY475 for Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP).
For questions about certification, please inquire directly with the National Payroll Institute's Professional Certification Department at certification@payroll.ca.
For students to be successful in the program it is strongly recommended you have the equivalent of Math 10C and English 10-1 or 10-2.
If you don't have the recommended English requirements noted above, the following are recommended equivalencies for English Language Proficiency.
- Minimum of 73% on all four sections of NAIT's ESL Assessment Exam
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 5.0 Learn more about IELTS
- Successful completion of the University of Alberta’s ESL 140/145 course
Important Notes for the Payroll Program
Your course end date. The course end date listed for CPAY455, CPAY460, CPAY465, CPAY470 and CPAY475 includes a two week marking turnaround following the course completion. This additional time is to allow for marks to be returned from the National Payroll Institute to NAIT. The actual course end date for course activity is two weeks prior to the end date listed.
Completed a prerequisite course at another institution? Please contact continuingeducation@nait.ca, and attach your letter from the National Payroll Institute showing course completion, and we will help you enroll in your next course.
Important information for your accounting (ACCT), compensation (HRMT) and oganizational behaviour (ORGB) courses. Registration for ACCT, HRMT and ORGB courses requires program assistance because they are offered through the JR Shaw School of Business at NAIT. Please review the available sections offered through JRSSB, and have the following information ready before you contact us 780.378.6990, toll-free at 1.844.558.8753 or continuingeducation@nait.ca for help with registration: Full Name, NAIT Student ID Number, confirmation letter from the National Payroll Institute to pursue PCP Certification, course name and section number.