Accreditation Programs

The Accredited Faster Payments Professional (AFPP) designation is obtained by passing a nationally administered exam given annually. The AFPP exam covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to fundamentals of faster payments, faster payments operations and process flows, faster payments risk management, technology considerations for faster payments, and faster payments governance framework. The payment rails in scope for the exam include the ACH Network (Same Day ACH), FedNow, RTP, and Push-to-Card Debit Card Networks. 

Learn more about acquiring and maintaining your AFPP accreditation

Why Become AFPP Certified?

The payments ecosystem is evolving quickly, with significant focus on the benefits and growing demand for instant payments. The AFPP is a rigorous accreditation program that enables payments professionals to demonstrate their expertise across many faster payment types. Becoming an AFPP can set you apart by:

• Recognizing your knowledge and comprehension of faster payment types, including instant payments
• Demonstrating your knowledge of risk management inherent in faster payments
• Demonstrating your knowledge of operational implications, process flows, technology considerations, and the regulatory framework for faster payments
• Strengthening your professional credibility in the payments industry and allowing you to stand out as an expert

Why Have Your Employees Certified?

According to a 2024 survey conducted by Federal Reserve Financial Services, 86% of businesses and 74% of consumers said they used faster or instant payments in 2023. Financial institutions, service providers, and merchants alike are now more focused on determining the role of faster payments in their strategic plans than ever before.

The AFPP accreditation program enhances the credibility of your team and gives you a competitive advantage in a constantly changing and challenging environment with:

• In-house subject matter experts on the evolving nature of faster payments
• Enhanced understanding of the regulatory framework for participants in faster payments rails
• Increased awareness of daily operational needs, process flows, risk management and technology considerations to ensure a successful faster payments program
• Demonstrated commitment to employing nationally recognized faster payments experts

UMACHA Can Help!

Both Nacha and UMACHA highly encourage prospective AFPP candidates to participate in an exam preparation course to best prepare yourself for a successful exam.

The inaugural AFPP Exam will be administered in 2025, and registration for the first year is capped at 250 registrants. You may want to secure your exam registration before enrolling in the Exam Prep Series, although you can still register for the Exam Prep Series even if you do not secure an exam registration.

Step 1: Register for the AFPP Exam with Nacha

• AFPP Exam Testing Window: Monday, February 17 – Saturday, March 8, 2025

• AFPP Exam Registration Deadline: 250 Registrant Cap (registration is open for the first 250 registrants)

  • NOTE:  In future years, there will not be a 250-registrant cap.

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

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

The 2025 AFPP Exam Registration Has Reached Capacity And Is No Longer Available

Step 2: Register for AFPP Training with UMACHA

UMACHA’s AFPP Exam Prep Series includes ten 90-minute webinars covering the blueprint topics on the AFPP Exam. The series begins November 5, 2024, and concludes December 12, 2024.

• NOTE: If you plan to register multiple staff members in the AFPP Exam Prep Series, please email info@umacha.org before registering to learn more about our Member bulk-pricing discount on the AFPP Exam Prep Series.

Maintaining Your AFPP Certification

The AFPP accreditation is valid for five years. You may maintain your status as an AFPP by earning and reporting 60 continuing education credits during the five-year period or by passing another exam. Participation in various educational programs on the topic of faster payments may qualify for education credits. Check out our Calendar of Events for qualifying sessions to maintain your accreditation(s).

Helpful Links Related to Accreditation Maintenance

• Steps for Submitting Continuing Education Credits
• AFPP Program Policies

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 demonstrate a dedicated commitment to identifying and understanding risks comprehensively across all facets of their operations.

• 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

• 'So You Think You Want to Be An APRP' Webinar

  • Learn what it takes to become an APRP and whether you should consider pursuing the accreditation.

• 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

Review the options below & 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 a welcome and orientation webinar, 11 deep-dive webinars, and a virtual two-day workshop on July 8-9, 2025.

    • NOTE: If you plan to register multiple staff members in the APRP Exam Prep Series, please email info@umacha.org before registering to learn more about our Member bulk-pricing discount on the APRP Exam Prep Series.

• Option 2: Register for the APRP Webinar Series

  • The APRP Webinar Series includes a welcome and orientation webinar, along with 11 deep-dive webinars, but does not include a virtual workshop.

• Option 3: Register for the Virtual Two-Day APRP Workshop (no webinars)

  • The virtual two-day APRP Workshop will take place July 8-9, 2025.

Step 3: Register for the APRP Exam with Nacha

• APRP Exam Testing Window: Monday, Aug. 4 – Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025

• APRP Exam Registration Deadline: Friday, June 20, 2025 (late registration available until Friday, Aug. 1, 2025

• 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 2025 APRP Exam

Maintaining 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 2024 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 2025.  We will update these documents once updated by ECCHO.

Step 2: Register for NCP Training with UMACHA

Review the options below & 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 14 NCP webinars, an NCP Open Forum webinar, & a virtual two-day NCP Workshop on April 8-9, 2025.

    • NOTE: If you plan to register multiple staff members in the NCP Exam Prep Series, please email info@umacha.org before registering to learn more about our Member bulk-pricing discount on the NCP Exam Prep Series.

• Option 2: Register for the NCP Webinar Series

  • The NCP Webinar Series includes 14 NCP webinars, one NCP Open Forum webinar, but it does not include an NCP Workshop.

• Option 3: Register for the Virtual Two-Day NCP Workshop (no webinars)

  • The virtual two-day NCP Workshop will take place April 8-9, 2025.

Step 3: Register for the NCP Exam with ECCHO

• NCP Exam Testing Window: Saturday, April 19 - Saturday, May 10, 2025

• NCP Exam Registration Deadline: Monday, March 31, 2025

  • 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 Policies & Procedures

      • Contains important details about preparing for the NCP exam, NCP exam categories, & maintaining an NCP accreditation.

    • ECCHO offers a re-test option with strict restrictions for candidates who attempt and fail the NCP Exam. This option allows candidates to sit for the NCP Exam a second time within the same testing year, provided that certain conditions are met. For questions about re-testing, please reach out to ECCHO at (214) 273-3200 or ncp@theclearinghouse.org.

Click Here to Register for the 2025 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