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 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

• '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 12 APRP deep-dive webinars & a virtual two-day APRP 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 contains 12 APRP deep-dive webinars, but no APRP 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: Sunday, August 3 - Friday, August 29, 2025

• APRP Exam Registration Deadline: TBD

  • NOTE:  Registration for the 2025 test will open mid-December 2024

• 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 [Coming Soon]

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

Faster payments are here to stay.  With Same Day ACH, FedNow^SM, 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 a Certificate or 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.

Additionally, current AAPs/APRPs will earn Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for participating in each FPP module.

• Module 1 = 2.3 CECs  |  Module 2 = 2.3 CECs  |  Module 3 = 2.5 CECs

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!

UMACHA has begun 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.

• Review the course material and score at least 70% on the final, cumulative quiz.

  • Registrants will be notified once UMACHA makes the final, cumulative quiz available.

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

Click Here to Register for Participation in the FPP Certificate Program