Approved Activities List

The following list outlines all approved activities that may be used to accumulate Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours.

Ongoing professional development is essential to maintaining the integrity, credibility, and relevance of the payroll designations awarded by the National Payroll Institute. As the payroll landscape continues to evolve—through legislative change, technological innovation and shifting organizational expectations—continuing education ensures that designation holders remain current, competent and confident in their practice.

The Institute’s Competency Framework, defines the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to excel as a payroll professional in Canada. It outlines both core technical competencies—such as Delivering Payroll, Ensuring Compliance—and behavioural competencies, including Communication, Problem-Solving, Collaboration and Strategic Thinking.

To maintain a National Payroll Institute designation, all Continuing Professional Education (CPE) activities must clearly align with at least one of these competencies. This ensures that every learning experience—whether formal training, applied practice, leadership development or knowledge-sharing—directly contributes to strengthening professional capability.

The following list outlines the CPE activities recognized by the Institute, the competencies they support and the maximum hours that may be applied to each category. These maximums are designed to encourage variety in learning, promote balanced skill development and support designation holders in advancing both their technical expertise and their broader professional effectiveness.

By engaging in meaningful and competency-aligned CPE, payroll professionals will continue to uphold the highest standards of the profession and reinforce the trust that employers, employees and Canadians place in payroll excellence.

CPE Activity	Correlation with Competency Framework	Eligible CPE Hours Allocations
Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) courses are considered CPE hours for Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designated members.	Embrace Continuous Learning, Deliver Payroll, Ensures Compliance, Embodies a Service Mindset, Partners Strategically with the Business, Manages Change, Acts with Integrity	Up to the maximum required hours can be applied to both the current annual CPE requirement and the following year's requirement
Complete technology-related training such as completing "Applied Payroll Software (APS)" course.	Ensures Compliance, Delivers Payroll, Embodies a Service Mindset, Manage Change, Embrace Continuous Learning, Leverage Technology	Based on hours participated
Attend professional development seminars and webinars offered by the Institute. There is a full array of learning opportunities that cater to all levels of payroll professionals. For topic information, click here.	Ensure Compliance, Delivers Payroll, Embodies a Service Mindset, Partners Strategically, Embrace Continuous Learning, Seek Innovation	Based on hours participated
Participate in the Institute's Mentorship Program.	Embodies a Service Mindset, Partners Strategically with the Business, Embrace Continuous Learning, Build Relationship	Maximum of six (6) hours per year
Teach a course at the post-secondary level.	Build Relationships, Embrace Continuous Learning, Leverage Technology, Embodies a Service Mindset and Partners Strategically	Based on hours contributed teaching new topics
Instruction of a professional development seminar.	Build Relationships, Embrace Continuous Learning, Leverage Technology, Partner Strategically	Based on hours contributed teaching new topics
Participate in the development of courses for training or post-secondary instruction.	Delivers Payroll, Ensures Compliance, Embodies Service Mindset, Continuous Learning, Seek Innovation, Reasons Critically	Based on hours contributed
Write an article that is published in the Institute's DIALOGUE or other trade publications.	Ensure Compliance, Builds Relationships	Time spent writing the article(s) with a maximum of five (5) hours per year
Reading a professional magazine such as the Institute's DIALOGUE or other trade publications.	Ensure Compliance, Embrace Continuous Learning, Seek Innovation	Maximum of two (2) hours per year
Attend Canada's premier national payroll conference and earn CPE credits at the same time. The Institute's Conference offers payroll and other business professionals valuable networking opportunities and a chance to learn about new developments in payroll, government legislation, management strategies, HR and technology.	Delivers Payroll, Ensures Compliance, Embodies a Service Mindset and Partners Strategically, Embrace Continuous Learning, Build Relationships	Based on annual conference programming, as advertised
Volunteer in your community. Volunteer roles that can be counted in this category fall under skills and competencies that are transferable, such as directly related to payroll, accounting or HR; or soft-skill related, such as organizational capacity building and strategic planning.	Partners Strategically, Embodies a service mindset, Build Relationships	Up to 50 per cent of the total CPE hours required for the year
Participating in communication and leadership development activities such as Toastmasters Club.	Embodies a Service Mindset, Embrace Continuous Learning, Builds Relationships	Maximum of five (5) hours per year
Applied reading of Payroll Best Practice Guidelines and use of the tools and knowledge assessments therein, Institute's Vacation and Privacy publications Q and A's, and other Institute compliance supporting resources.	Delivers Payroll, Ensures Compliance, Act with Integrity, Upholds Confidentiality, Leverages Technology	Maximum of seven (7) hours per year
Participate as a guest speaker on payroll at special events.	Embodies a Service Mindset, Build Relationship, Embrace Continuous Learning	Maximum of five (5) hours per year
Provide/receive internal training courses at work.	Delivers Payroll, Build Relationship, Embrace Continuous Learning, Leverages Technology, Manages Change	Based on hours contributed
Contribute your expertise to the Institute as a subject matter expert or volunteer in various roles.	Ensure Compliance, Partner Strategically, Build Relationships, Embrace Continuous Learning, Acts with Integrity	Based on hours contributed
Participate in conference events sponsored by influencer communities, such as accounting and human resources.	Partners Strategically with the Business, Build Relationships, Embrace Continuous Learning	Maximum of five (5) hours per year
Attend NPI Network & Share sessions on current topics of interest to local payroll practitioners, offered by the Institute 's regional branches.	Ensure Compliance, Delivers Payroll, Build Relationships, Embrace Continuous Learning	Maximum of three (3) hours per year
Attend CRA, ESDC and Service Canada seminars offered to businesses in Canada.	Delivers Payroll, Ensure Compliance, Embrace Continuous Learning	Maximum of five (5) hours per year
Attend events hosted by the Institute, including National Payroll Week (NPW) and Designation Achievement Celebration events.	Partners Strategically with the Business, Build Relationship, Embrace Continuous Learning	Based on the event programming, as advertised
Take a post-secondary courses in influencer communities, such as accounting and human resources.	Ensure Compliance, Embrace Continuous Learning, Seeks Innovation, Manages Change	Up to the maximum required hours can be applied to both the current annual CPE requirement and the following year's requirement
Participate in seminar or webinar events sponsored by influencer communities, such as accounting and human resources.	Ensure Compliance, Embrace Continuous Learning, Seeks Innovation, Manages Change	Based on hours participated
Involvement in large-scale organizational change, such as merging with another organization. Further information may be required by the Institute when claiming these hours.	Partners Strategically with the Business, Manages Change, Act with Integrity, Leverage Technology, Embrace Continuous Learning, Build Relationships, Upholds Confidentiality	Up to 50 per cent of the total CPE hours required for the year
You are involved in the introduction of a new workplace program, such as Group Savings Plans (TFSA/RRSP). Further information may be required by the Institute when claiming these hours.	Ensures Compliance, Delivers Payroll, Embodies a Service Mindset, Partners Strategically with the Business, Manage Change, Act with Integrity, Embrace Continuous Learning, Build a Relationship	Up to 50 per cent of the total CPE hours required for the year
Listen to related podcast topics such as: payroll, accounting, HR or soft-skill related such as organizational capacity building and strategic planning.	Ensure Compliance, Embrace Continuous Learning	Maximum of five (5) hours per year

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