Accreditation Programs
UMACHA can help you attain or renew your Accredited ACH Professional (AAP), Accredited Payments Risk Professional (APRP) or National Check Professionals (NCP) designations. We provide a variety of preparation-based training sessions including webinars, tele-seminars, and classroom sessions. Need to earn continuing education credits? Between the Education Calendar & the On-Demand Education Library, UMACHA has all that you'll need to meet your continuing education requirements.
The Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) designation is obtained by passing a nationally administered exam given annually in October. The AAP exam covers a wide range of ACH information including: knowledge of the ACH Network and comparative payment systems; knowledge of ACH rules and regulations; technical ACH skills, including operational requirements; understanding of ACH products and applications; risk management and other policy issues; marketing ACH services; management of electronic payment services; Regulation E and other federal requirements. Learn more about acquiring and maintaining your AAP accreditation.
Did you know those who participate in the UMACHA's AAP Exam Prep Series have a 10-20% improvement on their pass rate compared to the national pass rate? Learn why AAPs are so important and an AAP stands out in the payments industry.
Why Become Certified?
An Accredited ACH Professional (AAP®) designation recognizes professionals who have successfully proven a certain level of understanding of the current ACH payments landscape. This sets you apart by:
- Recognizing your knowledge and comprehension of ACH 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
NOTE: At a minimum, Nacha recommends spending two years working in the payments industry before taking the exam.
Why Have Your Employees Certified?
- The Accredited ACH 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
- Enhanced understanding of industry products, trends, and practices
- Increased understanding of how and why ACH payments continue to provide value for your customers
- Increased industry leaders
- An industry-recognized opportunity for employee professional development and advancement
UMACHA's AAP Exam Training
UMACHA will help you attain the Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) designation. Did you know UMACHA Members who participate in the AAP Exam Prep Series have a better pass rate than the national pass rate?
Many financial institutions and companies want staff to become AAPs to show their commitment to having expert ACH knowledge so that they may ensure safe and efficient processing of customer's electronic payments. AAPs demonstrate experience and expertise in ACH operations, product management and marketing strategies.
UMACHA provides a variety of preparation training sessions for AAP candidates including webinars and classroom sessions.
Helpful Materials to Get Your AAP Training Underway
So You Think You Want to Be An AAP Webinar
Learn what it takes to become an AAP and whether you should consider pursuing the accreditation.
Need some help convincing your supervisor of the benefits of becoming an AAP? Use this sample letter to help justify your reasoning for earning your AAP!
UMACHA's 2023 AAP Training Offerings (Tier Information)
Whether you are looking to purchase an AAP training tier a la carte or are looking to register for the entire AAP Exam Prep Series, this document will help you understand the details of each AAP training tier and the benefits of participating in the entire AAP Exam Prep Series.
Register for AAP Training with UMACHA
Click the preferred training link below to begin registering for UMACHA's AAP training:
Register for the Entire AAP Exam Prep Series
Registration for the AAP Exam Prep Series includes five AAP Blueprint webinars, ten AAP Summer Series webinars, six AAP Open Forum/Mini-Webinars, the choice of either an in-person or virtual two-day AAP Workshop, & an online link to the Nacha Operating Rules & Guidelines.
NOTE: The online link to the Nacha Rule book will be provided to registrants shortly after the start of the AAP Blueprint Series if the invoice related to the AAP Exam Prep Series has been paid in full.
If you plan to register multiple staff members in the AAP Exam Prep Series, please email info@umacha.org before registering to learn more about our Member bulk-pricing discount on the AAP Exam Prep Series.
A La Carte Registrations:
Register for only Tier 1 - Five-part AAP Blueprint Webinar Series
Register for only Tier 2 - Ten-part AAP Summer Webinar Series
Register for only Tier 3 - Two-day AAP Workshop (choose below):
Register for the AAP Exam with Nacha
AAP Exam Testing Window: Monday, October 2 – Saturday, October 28, 2023
Don't forget to register for your AAP Exam with Nacha to pick your testing date and location, and to receive your AAP Handbook.
NOTE: Registering for UMACHA's AAP training does not register attendees with Nacha for the AAP Exam.
Enter the annual Member Discount Code to your Nacha profile to receive direct member pricing on the APRP Exam
- The Member Discount Code can be accessed by Members on the Members Only page after logging into your UMACHA profile.
Click Here to Register for the 2023 AAP Exam with Nacha
Renewing Your Certification
The AAP accreditation is valid for five years. You may maintain your status as an AAP by earning and reporting 60 continuing education credits during the five year period or by passing another exam. Participation in AAP training sessions, Payments University, and select annual conference sessions all qualify as continuing education credits. Check out our Education Schedule for qualifying sessions to maintain your accreditation
Helpful Links
The Accredited Payments Risk Professional (APRP) accreditation demonstrates that a participant has mastered the complexities of risk management for multiple payment types, including, but not limited to ACH, check, wire, debit, credit and prepaid cards, and emerging and alternative payments.
Effectively managing payments risk is crucial for organizations that provide payment services, such as financial institutions, solution providers and processors, businesses and other end-users, and the examiners who oversee such activity. Learn more about acquiring and maintaining your APRP accreditation
Thinking About Taking The APRP in 2023? Check out the Nacha website for certification details
Why Should You Become Certified?
- Propel your business forward
- Recognition throughout the payments industry
- Show that you mastered the complexities of risk management for:
- ACH
- Check
- Wire
- Debit
- Credit & prepaid cards
- Emerging & alternative payments
- Show you’re committed to risk management regulation compliance
- Be the go-to expert in risk management across payment types
Who Should Get Certified?
- Anyone involved in payments
- Financial Institutions
- Corporate end-users
- Regulators
- Service Providers
- Processors
UMACHA Can Help!
UMACHA will help you attain and retain your Accredited Risk Payments Professional (APRP) designation by providing a variety of preparation and recertification training sessions in both in-person & virtual settings. Many of UMACHA's education events qualify for continuing education credits so check out our Education Schedule for these sessions.
Helpful Materials to Get Your APRP Training Underway
APRP Exam Prep Series Orientation Session (2023)
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
2023 APRP Exam Prep Series Training Schedule
Review the schedule of events included in UMACHA's APRP Exam Prep Series.
Register for APRP Training with UMACHA
Click the preferred training link below to begin registering for UMACHA's APRP training:
Register for the APRP Exam Prep Series
Registration for the APRP Exam Prep Series includes two APRP Blueprint webinars, ten APRP webinars, two APRP Open Forum webinars, & the choice of either:
The two-day, virtual APRP Workshop on July 26 & 27, 2023, or
No APRP Workshop
Register for the APRP Exam with Nacha
APRP Exam Testing Window: Monday, August 7 – Saturday, September 2, 2023
Don't forget to register for your APRP Exam with Nacha to pick your testing date and location, and to receive your APRP Handbook.
NOTE: Registering for UMACHA's APRP training does not register attendees with Nacha for the APRP Exam.
Enter the annual Member Discount Code to your Nacha profile to receive direct member pricing on the APRP Exam
- The Member Discount Code can be accessed by Members on the Members Only page after logging into your UMACHA profile.
Click Here to Register for the 2023 APRP Exam with Nacha
Renewing Your 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 Education Schedule for qualifying sessions to maintain your accreditation
Helpful Links
Through the certification process, National Check Professionals® (NCPs) demonstrate a working knowledge of every significant aspect of the check payment system including products and operations, relevant rules and laws that govern checks, industry standards, and fraud and risk mitigation considerations. Additionally, NCPs will explore those characteristics of check payments that make checks unique among payments and that continue to provide lasting value for billions of payments each year valued at tens of trillions of dollars. Did you know UMACHA Members who participate in the NCP Exam Prep Series have a better pass rate than the national pass rate?
Why Get Certified?
A National Check Professional (NCP®) certification recognizes professionals who have successfully proven a certain level of 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?
The National Check Professionals 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
- 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!
In addition to the Helpful Links section below, UMACHA will help you attain and renew the National Check Professionals Certification® by providing a variety of preparation and recertification training sessions for NCP® candidates including webinar and classroom sessions. Review the information below and click the link to register for the 2023 NCP® Exam Prep Series:
2023 NCP® Exam Prep Series
- Consists of 12 webinars*, each one focusing on a specific topic likely to be covered on the NCP® exam.
- Includes two open forum sessions to grant attendees the opportunity to ask questions of NCP-certified speakers.
- The choice to add a two-day, in-person NCP® review workshop** to assist NCP® candidates with their final preparations before sitting for the NCP® exam.
* Individual webinars may be purchased à la carte from the On-Demand Education Library following the addition of each webinar.
** The two-day, in-person NCP® review workshop may also be purchased à la carte from the NCP workshop's registration page. UMACHA does not plan to offer a virtual version of the NCP workshop.
The NCP® Exam
- Upcoming Exam Window: Saturday, April 15 – Saturday, May 6, 2023
- Registration deadline: Friday, March 31, 2023
- 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
Register To Take The 2023 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.
Renewing Your 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, UMACHA's Payments University (in-person or virtual), and select Navigating Payments sessions all qualify as continuing education credits.
National NCP Day
Click here for more information on how this day will be recognized and for ideas on celebrating in your office.
- Next National NCP Day: Monday, August 7, 2023
Helpful Links
- Study Center (login required)
- Jump Start Reading Program
- NCP® Roadmap
- Check Payment System Overview (Intro session)
- NCP Steps to Success
- NCP® Certification Maintenance
- Check Resources
- ECCHO FAQs - Quick Answers to Complicated Check Questions
Faster payments are here to stay. With Same Day ACH, FedNowSM, and RTP® it’s more important than ever to be prepared.
The Faster Payments Professional (FPP) is a first-of-its-kind program providing certificate holders with a holistic view of faster payments and acquainting them with current offerings. Earning this certificate demonstrates competency in payment methods and systems that are fast, secure, efficient, and collaborative.
Is the FPP Certificate an Accreditation?
You may have heard of the AAP and APRP – the Accredited ACH Professional and Accredited Payments Risk Professional accreditations offered by Nacha – and are wondering whether the FPP is the right next step for you. The FPP Certificate is not an accreditation.
The FPP Certificate is distinct from industry accreditations like the AAP and APRP in the following ways:
The FPP Certificate certifies you have completed the Faster Payments Professional training program which consists of three training modules, each containing a quiz that requires a passing score of at least 70%, and one final cumulative quiz assessing your overall understanding of the concepts reviewed that also requires a passing score of at least 70%.
This contrasts with nationally recognized professional accreditations like the AAP and APRP where individuals must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge, often through a combination of practical experience and in-depth studying, and must pass a thorough, more intricate exam.
The FPP Certificate has no continuing education requirement, unlike nationally recognized professional accreditations that require ongoing education to maintain your professional accreditation status.
Nacha and the Faster Payments Council have partnered together with the Center for Payments and announced plans for a formal Faster Payments Professional accreditation that will be forthcoming in the years ahead.
The FPP Certificate is a great way to learn more about faster payments concepts and managing risks that can be distinct from other payment systems. The certificate serves as a bridge to providing important faster payments-related education to industry stakeholders until the formal Faster Payments Professional accreditation is launched.
Why Obtain the FPP Certificate?
A FPP Certificate recognizes professionals who have successfully proven a certain level of understanding of the current faster payments landscape. This sets you apart by:
- Recognizing your knowledge and comprehension of faster payments
- Demonstrating your commitment to faster payments strategy, nomenclature, and an interest in staying on the leading edge of industry trends
- Preparing you to help shape your organization's faster payment strategy
Positioning you for professional advancement
To learn more about the FPP program and the composition of each training module, visit Nacha's Faster Payments Professional webpage.
Who Should Earn the FPP Certificate?
The FPP certificate program is designed for payments industry stakeholders, including individuals employed by financial institutions, financial technology companies, regulatory bodies, and service providers.
UMACHA Can Help!
In 2023, UMACHA will begin offering participation in the training to obtain one's FPP Certificate. Registrants will be required to complete the following to earn their FPP Certificate:
Complete all three training modules and score at least 70% on each module’s final quiz.
Each training module consists of several pre-recorded webinar sessions.
Module One, Two, and Three will be made available in phases later this year. Registrants will be notified as additional training modules become available.
Review the course material and prepare to score at least a 70% on the final, cumulative quiz.
Registrants will be notified once Nacha make the final, cumulative quiz available.
Click Here to Register for Participation in the FPP Certificate Program [coming soon]
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