Important notes for the payroll program
Registering with the National Payroll Institute (NPI)
The NAIT payroll program runs in conjunction with the National Payroll Institute (NPI), therefore, dual registration is required. This means:
- Students must register in the course with NAIT and pay the NAIT course fee.
- Students must also contact the National Payroll Institute directly, register with NPI, and pay the NPI course materials fees. If you do not register with NPI, you won’t be eligible to write exams and get course credit needed for credentialling. You can accomplish this by following the instructions on the "Before You Register" tab on this program page.
Please note students must also pay for an NPI membership as part of the credentialling process. So effectively students pay 3 separate fees in total (membership fee, NAIT course fee, and NPI course materials fee).
Course end dates
The course end date listed for CPAY455, CPAY460, CPAY465, CPAY470, CPAY475 and CPAY480 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.
Prerequisite courses
Have you completed a prerequisite course at another institution? Please email your letter from the National Payroll Institute showing course completion to continuingeducation@nait.ca, and we will help you enroll in your next course.
Registration in ACCT, HRMT and ORGB courses
Registering for your accounting (ACCT), compensation (HRMT) and organizational behaviour (ORGB) courses is slightly different from the CPAY courses. Registration for ACCT1115 can be done online through the Self Service section of your MyNAIT Student Portal. However, you will need program assistance to register in your ACCT2260, HRMT2280, and ORGB1135 courses. Please review the available sections offered through the JR Shaw School of Business (JRSSB) at NAIT, and have the following information ready before you contact us for help with registration:
- Full name
- NAIT Student ID Number
- Confirmation letter from the National Payroll Institute to pursue PLP Certification
- Course name
- Section number
With this information in hand, you can contact us at continuingeducation@nait.ca.
Courses
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.
NAIT now offers a Payroll Technology course, CPAY480. Understanding how to use payroll technology is a critical part of the payroll practitioner development plan. This course provides real-world experience with the leading Payroll and HR technology platform in Canada. Please review the pre-requisites for this course before registering.
Learn more about payroll certifications
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
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); CPAY470 and CPAY475 for Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP); or CPAY480 for Payroll Technology.
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
Course end date
The course end date listed for CPAY455, CPAY460, CPAY465, CPAY470, CPAY475 and CPAY480 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.
Registering for 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.
