As part of annual recertification, all certified payroll practitioners must provide proof of at least 10 hours of ongoing professional development completed in the previous 12 months.
What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?
CPD is any form of learning or development that benefits you in your professional payroll environment. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Calls to the NZPPA PayTech AdviceLine
- On-the-job learning
- Reading payroll-related publications
- Attending payroll briefings, updates, or conferences
- Payroll networking, where you may have learned something new
- Attending a payroll training course and/or undertaking a payroll qualification
Why is CPD important for certified payroll practitioners?
Things are constantly changing. By providing proof of CPD as part of recertification, you demonstrate your commitment to staying up to date and compliant with evolving legislation. You also show your employer, or future employers, that you are open to change and willing to learn new processes or ways of working that may improve operational efficiency.
CPD Verification
Certified payroll practitioners must be able to show they have participated in CPD activities through evidence such as attendance records, certificates, receipts, letters, firm records, or other documentation. Forms and receipts should be signed by the participant and countersigned by the organiser or a named participant. Completion certificates, attendance records, letters from organisers, and assessment results may also be used for verification.
15 Hours of CPD Activities Are Required Annually
All certified payroll professionals are required to complete at least 15 hours of CPD activities during each full CPD year.
How do I provide proof of CPD?
Each certified payroll practitioner is required to develop and maintain a written CPD plan, and to record, document, reflect on, and verify their CPD activities.
To assist with recording your CPD evidence, we have created the NZPPA CPD Template, available for download from the NZPPA Certification Portal.
Timeframe to submit CPD evidence
CPD evidence must be provided at the time of recertification, which occurs annually in the year following initial certification or the previous recertification.
Recertification takes place after the 1 April changes, as the assessment is based on legislative updates that impact payroll.