Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP)

Every workplace that has employees needs someone to take care of the payroll. As a Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) you’ll have the skills to ensure it’s done right.

There are three separate courses in the program, and you’ll need to register for each separately

Payroll Professional courses

This is the first core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP)

Course details

Spring 2026 Delivery
Course Code: MGPC 001 | Section Code: S26W70
Dates: Mar. 3 to Apr. 23, 2026 | Tuesday and Thursdays | Duration: 8 weeks
Times: 5:45 pm to 9:00 pm
Exam schedule: Mar. 24, 2026 (Mid-term), Apr. 23, 2026 (Final)
Delivery: Online, synchronous
Fees: $550 + GST

Fall 2026 Delivery (Registration opens May 1, 2026)
Course Code: MGPC 001 | Section Code: F26W70
Dates: Sep. 15 to Nov. 5, 2026 | Tuesdays and Thursdays | No Classes Oct. 1 & Nov. 3
Times: 5:45 pm to 9:00 pm
Exam schedule: October 6, 2026 (Mid-term), November 5, 2026 (Final)
Delivery: Online, synchronous
Fees: $550 + GST

Register for Payroll Compliance Legislation

This is the second core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation program.

Course topics

When you complete this course, you will be able to:

calculate regular individual pay
calculate non-regular individual pay
calculate termination payments
complete a Record of Employment (ROE)
communicate all aspects of individual pay requirements to stakeholders.

Course details

Spring 2026 Delivery (Registration is open)
Course Code: MGPF 001 | Section Code: I26W70
Dates: May 5 to June 18, 2026 | Tuesdays and Thursdays | Duration: 6 weeks
Times: 5:45 pm to 9:00 pm
Exam Schedule: May 26, 2026 (Mid-term); June 18, 2026 (Final exam)
Delivery: Online, synchronous
Fees: $550 + GST

Fall 2026 Delivery (Registration opens May 1, 2026)
Course Code: MGPF 001 | Section Code: F26W70
Dates: September 1 to October 13, 2026 | Tuesdays and Thursdays | Duration: 6 weeks
Times: 5:45 pm to 9:00 pm
Exam Schedule: September 22, 2026 (Mid-term); October 13, 2026 (Final exam)
Delivery: Online, synchronous
Fees: $550 + GST
Register for Payroll Fundamentals 1

This is the final core payroll course in the Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) program.

Course topics

When you complete this course you will be able to:

calculate organizational remittances to federal, provincial and third party stakeholders
prepare accounting documentation for payroll
complete year-end documentation
communicate all aspects of organizational remittances, accounting, and year-end requirements of internal, external and government stakeholders.

Course details

Fall 2026 Delivery Schedule (Registration open May 1, 2026)
Course Code: MGPF 002 | Section Code: F26W70
Dates: October 27 to December 10, 2026
Times: 5:45 pm to 9 pm; Tues. & Thur.
Exam Schedule: November 17, 2026 (Mid-term); December 10, 2025 (Final exam)
Delivery: Online, synchronous
Fees: $550 + GST

Register for Payroll Fundamentals 2

Steps to becoming a Payroll Compliance Professional

The first step in becoming a payroll professional is to register for a payroll course at Vancouver Island University. You can register for each course individually by clicking the Course Registration button located within each course listing above.

There are no prerequisites for the first course, however, course must be taken in order as each course is a pre-requisite for the next one.

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Please note: A minimum grade of 65% on the final exam and 65% overall is required to successfully complete each course.

In addition to completing the three payroll courses, you must complete an approved introductory accounting course.

Vancouver Island offers two approved accounting courses in the Faculty of Management.

ACCT 101 Accounting for Non-Financial Managers
ACCT 100 Financial Accounting I
GCIB 504 Foundations of Financial Accounting

Check the Generate Timetable to determine when accounting courses are available. You must apply to be admitted to the course as non-regular students.

Contact the Koren Bear, Program Coordinator for more information on how to apply for an accounting course at VIU, Email; koren.bear@viu.ca.

You may also take an accounting course at another approved institution. Check the list of NPI approved accounting courses. If you have already taken an introductory accounting course you can use it as your accounting course by completing a transfer credit application.

The National Payroll Institute has a dual registration process. This means in addition to paying VIU tuition for the course, you must also register with the Institute and pay their registration fee for each course. You must also register for a 1-year "candidate" membership fee to receive access to the learning platform. You will pay the membership fee the first time you enroll in a course.

You should register with the Institution no later than ten business days before the start date of the course to access to the online learning platform. For all registrations processed by the deadline described above, you will be granted access to the learning platform 1-2 business days prior to the course start date. All course materials will be accessed through the online platform. You can choose to purchase hardcopies of the manuals directly from National Payroll Institue for an additional cost.

You can register with the Institute two ways:

Download the course registration form from the National Payroll Institute, under Payroll Education/ Payroll Designations / Designation Forms / Scroll down to PCP Classroom / Click on PCP Classroom General - Part-time. Students enrolled at VIU shall be considered part-time students with the National Payroll Institute. Please download and fill in the part-time form application for each course.
You can also enroll directly on the Institute's website by going to Payroll Education/ Payroll Designations / Scroll down to Payroll Compliance Practitioner / Click on Register / Click on the name of the course you are registering for (eg; Payroll Fundamentals 1) / Scroll down to the course associated with Vancouver Island University. Click on Register and then click on Register Myself and pay with your credit card.

Complete one year of weighted experience.

To obtain your Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation you must complete a minimum of one year of weighted payroll work experience. You will fill out a Work Experience Requirement Application (WERA).

Note: You have five years to complete all the certification requirements to obtain your Payroll Compliance Professional designation.

Instructors

Dawn Irmscher , CPM, CPHR, CPA, CMA

Dawn has taught continuing education courses for more than fourteen years. During Dawn’s professional career, she has developed a solid track record as a payroll professional, speaker and educator. Dawn was presented with the National Payroll Institutes' inaugural Instructor of the Year Award in 2014, a testament to her teaching excellence. Dawn is currently the Director, Payroll Operations for a large University paying over 30,000 employees and is responsible for Payroll Operations and Control. She facilitates professional development seminars for the National Payroll Institute. Dawn is a member of the Institute’s Education Advisory Council and currently serves as Chair. Dawn received her undergraduate degree at the University of New Brunswick, holds the National Payroll Institutes Certified Payroll Manager (CPM), the Chartered Professional in Human Resources Designation (CPHR) and the Chartered Professional Accounting, Certified Management Accounting Designation (CPA, CMA).

Marilyn Pignotti, PCP, PLP

Ms. Pignotti is a Payroll /HR professional with over 25 years of experience working with union and non-unionized organizations in Global Payroll Management, Human Resources, operations and benefits. Her work history includes Concert Properties, Microsemi Corporation, PMC Sierra, Ledcor Industries Inc. BCCSS with PHSA in the health sector leading 26 employees. In a global payroll capacity, Ms. Pignotti also worked in Senior roles responsible for Payroll/HR in 20+ countries and currencies where she held the position of Global Payroll Manager at CHC Helicopters Inc.in Richmond, BC.

Ms. Pignotti holds both Payroll Compliance Professional, PCP and the Payroll Leadership Professional, PLP designation. She is a registered Subject Matter Expert (SME) and an active member of the National Payroll Institute who currently holds the position of Chair for the Pacific Regional Council, working closely with NPI volunteers. In addition, she has been an instructor for over a decade teaching the PCP – Payroll Compliance Legislation program for over a decade.