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- Certified Payroll Representative Frequently Asked Questions
Certified Payroll Representative Frequently Asked Questions
General
The length of the Financial Certification Program depends on the Specialty. Participants in the Financial Systems Specialist, the Procure to Pay Specialist, and the Certified Payroll Representative have six (6) months to complete the course work and all course exams. The final Certification Exam can be taken outside the six month window; however an individual is not certified until he/she passes the final exam.
Each of the individual Certification Programs offers comprehensive training to strengthen skills and to ensure depth of knowledge in an area of expertise. Certification will enhance your ability to ensure financial compliance and accountability, skills vital to the Duke University financial environment. Raising your job skills effectively should then favorably impact your performance evaluations. Certification in a chosen career path provides a credential recognized and respected in the Duke community.
The Financial Certification Program is designed to train individuals who are currently in financially related roles at Duke. If you are interested in a career in financial services, you should seek a job with financial responsibility and then enroll in the FCP.
- Candidates preregister for a FCP Specialty of interest (e.g. Financial Systems, Human Resources/Payroll, etc.).
- Curriculum Leader assesses eligibility.
- Curriculum Leader sends a Contract of Enrollment to the candidate and his/her listed supervisor. Also provided are expectations for both employee and supervisor.
- Supervisor and Participant sign Contract of Enrollment for program participation. Submission of signed contract verifies confirmation of registration information and agreement to terms of participation.
- Curriculum Leader enrolls candidate in FCP and sends confirmation notification to candidate and supervisor.
- Participant is emailed a verification notice and commitment expectations reminder
** Enrollment is not guaranteed until a candidate has received a Confirmation of Enrollment from the Curriculum Leader of the FCP Specialty of interest
Employees may complete two tracks at one time. However, each Specialty is demanding and is condensed into a short time frame. Therefore, participants enrolling in two Specialties at once need to be fully cognizant of their time commitments and the Failure to Attend Charge.
Course evaluations are available online to provide anonymity. Duke University Financial Services welcomes and appreciates all feedback in an effort to continue to provide excellent programming. We wish to protect your identity in an effort to solicit honest and thoughtful reflection of the course content, delivery and value.
Your certificate will be mailed to you upon successful completion of the Certification Exam.
The Financial Certification Program is open to any Duke University employee who fulfills the following qualifications:
- Full time employee of Duke University
- Employed by Duke University for a minimum of six (6) months
- Has relevant professional responsibilities at Duke, i.e. technical component of job and access to SAP for FSS certification, and payroll rep or back-up payroll rep for Certified Payroll Representative certification
- Has approval of their supervisor to participate
Attendance, Disruptions & Length of Program
The One Time Test Out option was a one-time only option during the first six months of the FCP for the Certified Payroll Representative and Financial Systems Specialist Tracks. Please contact the Curriculum Leader for more information.
If you notify your Curriculum Leader 48 hours prior to class, you will be excused. However, if you do not notify your Curriculum Leader at least 48 hours prior to the class, your department will be charged a $100 per class Failure to Attend Charge.
The One Time Test Out option was a one-time only option during the first six months of the FCP. Please contact the Curriculum Leader for more information.
All participants have six (6) months to complete the program. If you are unable to do so, you must register again and start the program over.
The FCP Curriculum Leaders will make eligibility decisions on an individual basis. Family medical leave is excused; therefore the Curriculum Leaders will work with you to resume your Certification schedule.
Courses, Exams & Testing Out
In lieu of taking a course that has recently been completed (within the past year) or in which an employee is highly competent, the End of Course Test may be passed with an 80% competency level to secure credit for the FCP course. End of Course Test - Out Options are available for the following courses: Prerequisite Courses: Intro to SAP (online), Windows, Excel. Foundational Courses: Intro to Duke Accounting and Business Processes, Intro to Duke G/L Accounts. If you qualify to test out of a Prerequisite or Foundational Course, you will log onto the Adobe Connect system and find your course. Choose the End of Course Test option. Take the test. You must pass the End of Course test with 80% competency in order to be eligible to pass a class via a Test-Out Exam. If you are able to pass, your transcripts will reflect your class completion.
The One Time Test Out option was a one-time only option during the first six months of the FCP for the Certified Payroll Representative and Financial Systems Specialist Tracks. Please contact the Curriculum Leader for more information.
All Specialties may sit for the Certification Exam at the same time. Contact your Curriculum Leader to find out more information about registering for a session.
Your choice of electives should reflect the skills you require for your job responsibilities. If you are unsure of which electives to take, please contact your Curriculum Leader.
You will need to register for the program and then pass the End of Course Exams. If you demonstrate an 80% competency, you will not be required to take the classroom portion again. This applies to the Financial Systems Specialist track, the Certified Payroll Representative track, and the Procure to Pay Specialist track. Please speak to the Curriculum Leader in the area of Specialty you wish to study for more information.
To become a Certified Payroll Representative, you will be required to attend classes, pass end of course quizzes, and pass the final exam. You will be give credit for class attendance for one year prior to enrollment in the certificaiton program.
The Certification Exam will be offered at various times per month in a designated computer lab. The Certification Exam schedule will be posted on our course calendar and is open to all certification tracks.
End of Course exams will be available at the end of your classroom course delivery and also online through the Financial Certification Program website. You may take the online test at your discretion.
Yes. Participants can use class material along with the Financial Services/Corporate Payroll websites and SAP during the Certification Exam. Participants will not be allowed to use material for end of course quizzes. Participants will have three hours to complete the exam. After three hours, unanswered questions will count against the participants final score.
The one-time test out option is no longer available.
The One Time Test Out option was a one-time only option during the first six months of the FCP. Please contact the Curriculum Leader for more information.
Yes. You will given credit for classes you have attended within the past year.
These courses are considered Foundational Courses and do not need to be repeated for other certification programs.