The Accounts Payable Network - Accounts Payable Professional Certification

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Accounts Payable Professional Certification

With corporate expectations of today's payables professionals at an all-time high, The Accounts Payable Certification Programs offer comprehensive certification programs for AP departments, managers and specialists.

The Accounts Payable Network (TAPN) and IOMA developed The Accounts Payable Certification Programs in 2003, pooling their collective knowledge of the field and resources to develop an authoritative certification program for the accounts payable profession.

The training program and certification plan is designed to help managers and their staff meet standards for the profession and recognize those who, by possessing related work experience and passing a comprehensive exam, have met stringent requirements for mastering the accounts payable body of knowledge.

AP managers can pursue three levels of professional certification:

Accredited Payables Manager (APM) for themselves;
Accredited Payables Specialist (APS) for their key staff; and
Accredited Payables Department (APD) to meet the demands of Sarbanes-Oxley and senior management.

Register for Certification
Register Multiple Candidates for Certification
Or call TAPN at 866-827-6389.

"All accounts payable professionals will benefit from this opportunity to prove their expertise and advance their careers, as employers begin to recognize and reward those who attain certification," says TAPN CEO Phil Binkow.

Other professions, such as payroll, treasury, purchasing and credit, have long offered professional accreditation. The demand for certification in the accounts payable field has intensified in light of the recent accounting scandals and the need to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and other regulatory requirements.

Program Overview
The Accredited Payables Specialist (APS) designation is for the professional who has been working for several years and has demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to excel in the accounts payable function. Individuals performing at an unusually high level on the exam are awarded certification "with distinction."

The Accredited Payables Manager (APM) is designed for the individual who not only has mastered the basics of accounts payable but also has demonstrated the knowledge and skills required at the managerial level. As with the APS, those who perform at an unusually high level on the exam are awarded certification "with distinction."

To earn departmental certification, a minimum of 60 percent of the members of an organization's accounts payable department, excluding clerks, must have earned the APS or APM certification. Departments achieving an 85 percent certification rate may hold Platinum certification.

The open exam is available online at any time. A live open exam is scheduled at a variety of locations and conferences during the year as well. The exam comprises 100 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 90 minutes.

Read more about the certification program levels including departmental certification, the prerequisites, examination content, certification with distinction, registration information, the certification review manual and book, ordering & registration, and continuing education.

Or contact us via email at getcertified@TheAPNetwork.com or by phone at 866-827-6389.

Learning Objectives – Certification through The Accounts Payable Certification Programs can be achieved through self-study of the Accounts Payable Certification Programs Manual and completion of the online APS or APM certification examination. (There are also AP Training and Certification Seminars available, for learning and review in an instructor-led live group session, including proctored examination.) The self-study manual reviews the entire scope of the accounts payable function. The objective of self-study is to prepare candidates for the certification exam. The certification manual is designed to expand as well as refresh the knowledge and understanding of the seasoned accounts payable manager or specialist, and instruct less-experienced payables staff in the myriad issues that must be understood and mastered for successful payables operations. The content is organized into sections in the Manual according to these general accounts payable topics:

Controls
Processing Functions
Vendor Master File and Vendor Relations
Technology
Tax & Regulatory Issues
Travel & Entertainment
Management of Accounts Payable

The prerequisites for certification eligibility are:

Accredited Payables Manager (APM)
no degree	5 years related work experience
2-year degree	4 years related work experience
4-year degree	2 years related work experience
Advanced degree	1 year related work experience

Accredited Payables Specialist (APS)
no degree	3 years A/P experience
2-year degree	2 years A/P experience
4-year degree	1 year A/P experience

Current APM or APS holders retain their certification by meeting Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit hour requirements.We will make every effort to help members maintain their CEU requirements, though it is the reponsibility of each APM or APS to contact The Accounts Payable Network or IOMA to report their professional training activities. Click here for CEU activities available from TAPN. CEU activities must be reported on the CEU Request Form.

For information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact TAPN Membercare at 866-827-6389 or email GetCertified@TheAPNetwork.com.

Register for Certification
Register Multiple Candidates for Certification

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