Accreditation Programs

The Accredited Payments Risk Professional (APRP) accreditation is obtained by passing a nationally administered exam given annually in August. The APRP exam covers a wide range of risk-related information, including the risk types associated with each payment system, fundamentals of risk management, management of risk through controls, risk policy and governance, physical and information security risk, and regulatory guidance as it relates to risk management.

Learn more about acquiring and maintaining your APRP accreditation

Why Become APRP Certified?

The APRP exam demonstrates that a participant has mastered the complexities of risk management for various payment types, including but not limited to ACH, check, wire, debit, credit, prepaid cards, and emerging and alternative payments.

• Allowing you to more effectively identify inherent risk, implement effective controls, and monitor residual risk for your organization
• Empowering your organization to advance by gaining a deeper understanding of the risks associated with strategic objectives
• Earning national recognition across the payments industry as a distinguished expert in risk management
• Showing your committment to risk management regulation compliance
• Making you a go-to expert in risk management across payment types

Why Have Your Employees Certified?

Effectively managing payments risk is crucial for organizations that provide payment services, such as financial institutions, solution providers, processors, businesses, and other end-users, as well as for examiners who oversee such activities. Many financial institutions and organizations encourage their staff to attain APRP accreditation to signal a dedicated commitment to comprehensively identifying and understanding risks across all facets of their organization.

• The APRP accreditation program enhances the credibility of your team and gives you a competitive advantage in a constantly changing and challenging environment with:
  • Improved strategy performance
  • Enhanced understanding of industry products, trends, and practices
  • Increased understanding of risks present within each payment system
  • Increased industry leaders
• An industry-recognized opportunity for employee professional development and advancement

UMACHA Can Help!

UMACHA is your partner in achieving your APRP designation, offering a range of training resources tailored to prepare you for success in the APRP exam.

Step 1: Review These Helpful Materials to Get Your APRP Training Underway

• APRP Exam Prep Series Orientation Session [coming soon]

  • View this year's APRP orientation webinar to meet this year's APRP instructors, review facts about the APRP exam, learn what the APRP training entails, & learn some study tips in preparing to sit for the APRP exam.

• APRP Exam Reference Sources

  • Review this list of resources provided by Nacha that may be covered on the APRP exam.

Step 2: Register for APRP Training with UMACHA

Click the preferred training link below to register for UMACHA's APRP training:

• Option 1: Register for the APRP Exam Prep Series

  • The APRP Exam Prep Series includes two APRP Primer webinars, ten APRP deep-dive webinars, two APRP Open Forum webinars, & the choice of either:

    • A virtual two-day APRP Workshop on July 31 & August 1, 2024, or

    • No APRP Workshop (webinars only)

• Option 2: Register for the Virtual Two-Day APRP Workshop (no webinars)

Step 3: Register for the APRP Exam with Nacha

• APRP Exam Testing Window: August 2024 [actual dates TBD]

  • After completing your registration on www.nacha.org, an email will be sent by Nacha to provide you with your copy of the APRP Handbook. Pearson Vue testing facilities will also contact you via email when you are permitted to setup a testing location and date.

    • Note: Registering for UMACHA's APRP training does not register attendees with Nacha for the APRP Exam.

Click Here to Register for the 2024 APRP Exam

Maintaning Your APRP Certification

The APRP accreditation is valid for five years.  You may maintain your status as an APRP by earning and reporting 60 continuing education credits during the five year period or by passing another exam.  Participation in APRP training sessions, Payments University, and select annual conference sessions all qualify as continuing education credits.  Check out our Calendar of Events for qualifying sessions to maintain your accreditation(s).

Helpful Links About Certification Maintenance

• FAQs about Maintaining Your Accreditation
• Filing Continuing Education Credits

The National Check Professional (NCP) designation, also known as National Check Payments Certification (NCPC), is obtained by passing a nationally administered exam given annually in April and May. The NCP exam covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the most significant aspects of the check payment system, such as products and operations, relevant rules and laws governing checks, industry standards, and considerations for fraud and risk mitigation. Additionally, NCPs will explore the distinctive characteristics of check payments that set them apart among various payment methods and that continue to provide value for billions of transactions each year, valued at tens of trillions of dollars.

Why Become NCP Certified?

A National Check Professional (NCP) certification recognizes payments professionals who have successfully proven a masterful understanding of the current check payments landscape. This sets you apart by:

• Recognizing your knowledge and comprehension of check payments
• Recognizing you as a leader in your field
• Strengthening your professional credibility
• Demonstrating your commitment to customer service
• Demonstrating your commitment to stay on the leading edge of industry trends and topics of interest
• Positioning you for professional advancement
  

To learn more about the NCP® certification program, click to view the NCP Certification Program Brochure.

Why Have Your Employees Certified?

Despite the number of checks written each year continuing to slowly decrease, financial institutions and businesses alike continue to report that check-fraud and other operational issues are increasing. The National Check Professional Certification program enhances the credibility of your team and gives you a competitive advantage in a constantly changing and challenging environment with:

• Improved customer service
• Improved audit performance
• Increased understanding of check fraud mitigation techniques and assignment of liability
  
• Enhanced understanding of industry products, trends, and practices
• Increased understanding of how and why check payments continue to provide value for your customers
• Increased industry leaders
• An industry-recognized opportunity for employee professional development and advancement 

UMACHA Can Help!

Did you know that those who participate in UMACHA's NCP Exam Prep Series often achieve a statistically higher pass rate compared to the national average?  UMACHA is your partner in achieving your NCP certification, offering a range of training resources tailored to prepare you for success in the NCP exam.

Step 1: Review These Helpful Materials to Get Your NCP Training Underway*

• ECCHO's Jump Start Reading Program

  • A reading list designed to give you a head start in studying for the NCP exam.

• ECCHO's NCP Roadmap

  • A guide to help you navigate your journey towards exam day.

• Check Payment System Overview (Intro Session)

  • A PDF covering many of the basic concepts related to the check payment system.  Many of these concepts should be familiar to a candidate preparing to take the NCP exam.

*Several of these resources may have dates related to 2023 or earlier.  While these dates will change for the current year, these resources are still beneficial for the review of those considering the NCP exam in 2024.  We will update these documents once updated by ECCHO.

Step 2: Register for NCP Training with UMACHA

Click the preferred training link below to register for UMACHA's NCP training:

• Option 1: Register for the NCP Exam Prep Series

  • The NCP Exam Prep Series includes ten NCP webinars, two NCP Open Forum webinars, & the choice of either:

    • A virtual two-day NCP Workshop on April 10-11, 2024, or

    • No NCP Workshop (webinars only)

• Option 2: Register for the Virtual Two-Day NCP Workshop (no webinars)

Step 3: Register for the NCP Exam with ECCHO

• NCP Exam Testing Window: Saturday, April 20 - Saturday, May 11, 2024

  • Additional details:

    • Three-hour computer-based exam

    • 120 multiple choice questions (100 scored)

    • Nationwide test centers (for in-person testing)

    • Online proctoring optional

    • NCP Exam Blueprint

Click Here to Register for the 2024 NCP Exam

Note: UMACHA does not offer any discounted/member pricing on the NCP exam.  Candidates should speak with their supervisor to determine if their organization is a member of ECCHO to receive discounted pricing on the exam.

Maintaining Your NCP Certification

The NCP certification is valid for five years. You may maintain your status as an NCP by earning and reporting 50 continuing education credits and by completing any three mandatory annual ECCHO NCP workshops during the five-year period or by passing another exam. Participation in NCP training sessions, Payments University, and select Navigating Payments sessions all qualify as continuing education credits.  Check out our Calendar of Events for qualifying sessions to maintain your accreditation(s).

Helpful Links About Certification Maintenance

• NCP® Certification Maintenance