CPP/FPC Study Group Forming
Our chapter is forming a Study Group to begin in mid June.  If you are interested in sitting for the CPP or FPC certification this fall, or you just want to learn more about payroll, this is the class for you.  All materials and training is approved by The American Payroll Association.
  To enroll or get more details;
 contact Mitch Johnston, CPP at 260-451-6685 or email him at Mitch.Johnston@itt.com


My Certification Success Story

By Mitch Johnston, CPP

I joined APA last year to learn more about the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification and develop a personal process to achieve my CPP. Thanks to APA, I was able to study through an online course and had the luck of working with Vicki Lambert, CPP, as my facilitator. 

In April 2009, I contacted the Northeast Indiana Chapter and indicated that I'd like to join a study group in the area. During that conversation, I was informed that the chapter had a hard time organizing a group. However, I was urged to immediately start one myself, and the chapter provided support for doing so by naming me the Educational Committee Chairperson for 2009/2010.

In short order, 14 chapter members formed a study group that met for 13 consecutive weeks. This was a diverse group of payroll pros that were not only dealing with learning, but like everyone else we were also working within the difficult economic climate. This meant long hours at the office, sharing materials as "study buddies," balancing summer activities, and honoring commitments to the group. We finished the study group with commitments from six people to pursue their own CPP certifications and two more for FPC certifications within the next year. I was able to sit for and pass the CPP exam myself on October 10, 2009.

As a bonus, I also attended the Indiana Statewide Payroll Conference in September this year, which provided a great amount of information concerning CPP testing topics and resources--something I'd also highly recommend not only for all payroll professionals, but especially for those wanting to sit for the CPP exam. Having the ability to converse with those who have been there was extremely valuable.

Mitch Johnston, CPP, is the Payroll Systems Manager for the ITT Corporation in Fort Wayne, Indiana.