Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Continuing Education

McMaster Continuing Education Payroll Program
Explore Courses

Payroll Program

Overview

Work towards your Certificate in Payroll Compliance Practitioner or your Certificate in Canadian Payroll Management today

Whether you are pursuing a new career in Payroll or working towards your PCP or CPM designation, our Payroll programs can help get you there. Gain the latest in-demand skills you need to succeed in this rewarding profession.

  • Developed in affiliation with the National Payroll Institute (NPI) – formerly Canadian Payroll Association
  • Gain the knowledge, tools and skills to enhance operations, comply with legislative requirements and utilize emerging technologies
  • Course credits can be used towards an undergraduate degree at McMaster University

Information Box Group

McMaster Continuing Education Business Program Highlights

Program highlights Learn More

  • Earn one of two Certificate options
  • Taught by payroll experts
  • Open enrolment program
McMaster Continuing Education Business Learning Outcomes

What you'll learn Learn More

  • Payroll and compensation fundamentals
  • Payroll management, compliance and legislation
  • Accounting, business finance and communications

Learn more about our Payroll programs

  • Entry-level payroll professionals
  • Bookkeepers
  • Small business owners
  • Anyone interested in pursuing a Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) or Certified Manager (CPM) designation

Earning a Certificate in Payroll Compliance Practitioner or a Certificate in Canadian Payroll Management can lead to a range of rewarding careers including:

  • Payroll Specialist
  • Payroll Administrator
  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Benefits Officer
  • Salary Administration
  • Payroll Compliance Practitioner*
  • Certified Payroll Manager*

*Upon earning your PCP or CPM designation

The National Payroll Institute has been representing employers’ payroll interests since 1978. As the source of payroll education and advocacy, the National Payroll Institute delivers professional designation courses, professional development seminars, and products and services that enable payroll practitioners to enhance operations, comply with legislative requirements and utilize emerging technologies.

McMaster University’s Certificate in Payroll Compliance Practitioner and Certificate in Canadian Payroll Management, offered in affiliation with the National Payroll Institute, provide learners with the opportunity to receive a McMaster University certificate, while working towards  their payroll designation!  A Two-In-One credential!

Payroll Designations

Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP)

Qualified payroll professionals are in demand and Payroll Compliance Practitioner designation is the foundation. Understand legislation, keep your organization compliant, and leverage the resources and support of a community of over 43,000 members nationwide.

For those pursuing the National Payroll Institute’s PCP designation by taking course equivalencies through McMaster Continuing Education without pursuing our academic certificate, please note the following requirements.

The PCP designation requires three core payroll courses, an Introduction to Accounting course transfer credit and one year of weighted payroll work experience:

  • Payroll Compliance Legislation (PAY 101)
  • Payroll Fundamentals 1 (PAY 102) – Prerequisite: Payroll Compliance Legislation
  • Payroll Fundamentals 2 (PAY 103) – Prerequisites: Payroll Compliance Legislation and Payroll Fundamentals 1
  • Introduction to Accounting (ACC 925)
  • PCP Work Experience Requirement Application (a minimum of one year weighted payroll work experience)

Certified Payroll Management (CPM)

National Payroll Institute Certified Payroll Manager LogoAspire to manage? A Certified Payroll Management designation extends your reach and elevates your career. You’ll gain comprehensive payroll compliance knowledge and management skills that will enhance your job prospects and drive career success.

For more information regarding PCP or CPM designations, visit National Payroll Institute or e-mail certification@payroll.ca

 

Check out our latest Program Preview webinar to learn more about the Payroll program

What our recent graduates say

↗︎

I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career.

Adam
Business Administration graduate

↗︎

I appreciated the opportunity to discover my full potential and strengths, which inspired me to do better.

Judelyn '23
Business Administration with a concentration in Finance/Accounting

↗︎

I am constantly reinventing myself. McMaster Continuing Education has been transformative.

Tracy
Project Management graduate

Other programs you may be interested in

McMaster Continuing Education Accounting Program

Accounting Program

McMaster Continuing Education Project Management Program

Project Management Program

McMaster Continuing Education Business Administration Human Resources Concentration Diploma

Human Resources Management Program

Discover more Business programs

Certificates in Payroll

Payroll Compliance Practitioner Certificate

Pursue your Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) Certificate with McMaster Continuing Education

Explore the requirements below and register today!

Information Box Group

Courses (complete all 5)

3.0 UNITS

ACC 925
Introductory Financial Accounting

$737.60

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

BUS 850
Business Communications

$730.85

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

PAY 101
Payroll Compliance Legislation

(Currently Not Available)

 

3.0 UNITS

PAY 102
Payroll Fundamentals 1

(Currently Not Available)

 

3.0 UNITS

PAY 103
Payroll Fundamentals 2

(Currently Not Available)

 

Canadian Payroll Management (CPM) Certificate

Pursue your Canadian Payroll Management (CPM) Certificate with McMaster Continuing Education

Explore the requirements below and register today!

Information Box Group

Courses (complete all 4)

3.0 UNITS

HRM 821
Organizational Behaviour

$771.08

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

HRM 898
Compensation

$771.08

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

PAY 201
Introduction to Payroll Management

(Currently Not Available)

 

3.0 UNITS

PAY 202
Applied Payroll Management

(Currently Not Available)

 

Courses (complete 1 of 2)

3.0 UNITS

ACC 928
Introductory Management Accounting

$737.60

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

HRM 817
Business Finance & Accounting

$771.08

Register Now

Payroll Courses

Payroll Courses

Advance your career with online Payroll courses

Explore course options below and register today!

Payroll Compliance Practitioner Certificate

3.0 UNITS

ACC 925
Introductory Financial Accounting

$737.60

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

BUS 850
Business Communications

$730.85

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

PAY 101
Payroll Compliance Legislation

(Currently Not Available)

 

3.0 UNITS

PAY 102
Payroll Fundamentals 1

(Currently Not Available)

 

3.0 UNITS

PAY 103
Payroll Fundamentals 2

(Currently Not Available)

 

Canadian Payroll Management Certificate

3.0 UNITS

HRM 821
Organizational Behaviour

$771.08

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

HRM 898
Compensation

$771.08

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

PAY 201
Introduction to Payroll Management

(Currently Not Available)

 

3.0 UNITS

PAY 202
Applied Payroll Management

(Currently Not Available)

 

3.0 UNITS

ACC 928
Introductory Management Accounting

$737.60

Register Now

3.0 UNITS

HRM 817
Business Finance & Accounting

$771.08

Register Now

*Students may choose elective course ACC 928 or HRM 817 to complete the Canadian Payroll Management certificate requirements.

Payroll Schedule

Payroll Schedule

This schedule table displays courses planned to be offered this year and is a guide to planning your courses for the academic year. Please note: Spring term registration opens mid-March and Fall/Winter term registration opens mid-July. The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information. The cost for Payroll courses is $618.48 – $771.08 per course. 

Learning format definitions:

  • VC = Virtual Classroom learning format
  • O = Online learning format
  • OSS = Online Self-Study learning format

For more information about our learning formats and to choose a format that works best for you, please visit our Learning Formats page.

Payroll Schedule
Course Name (Course Code) Winter 2023 Spring 2023
Introductory Financial Accounting (ACC 925) Date: Thu, Jan 12 – Apr 6

Time: 6:30 – 9:45 p.m.

Format: VC

 Date: Wed, May 3 – Jul 26

Time: 6:30 – 9:45 p.m.

Format: VC
Date: Jan 15 – Jun 15

Format: OSS

 Date: May 15 – Oct 15

Format: OSS
Date: Mar 15 – Aug 15

Format: OSS

 Date: Jul 15 – Dec 15

Format: OSS
Business Communications (BUS 850) Date: Jan 16 – Apr 16

Format: O

 Date: May 8 – Aug 6

Format: O
Date: Feb 13 – May 14

Format: O

 Date: Jun 19 – Sept 17

Format: O
Payroll Compliance Legislation (PAY 101)  

 

 
Payroll Fundamentals 1 (PAY 102) Date: Jan 11 – Apr 5

Time: 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Format: VC
Payroll Fundamentals 2 (PAY 103)  

 

 

 Date: Wed, May 3 – Jul 26

Time: 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Format: VC
Organizational Behaviour (HRM 821) Date: Jan 16 – Apr 9

Format: O

 Date: May 8 – Jul 30

Format: O
Date: Feb 13 – May 7

Format: O

 Date: Jun 19 – Sep 10

Format: O
Compensation (HRM 898) Date: Jan 16 – Apr 9

Format: O

 Date: May 8 – Jul 30

Format: O
Date: Feb 13 – May 7

Format: O

 Date: Jun 19 – Sep 10

Format: O
Introduction to Payroll Management (PAY 201)  

 
Applied Payroll Management (PAY 202)  

 
Introductory Management Accounting (ACC 928) Date: Thu, Jan 12 – Apr 6

Time: 6:30 – 9:45 p.m.

Format: VC

 Date: Mon, May 1 – Aug 14

Time: 6:30 – 9:45 p.m.

Format: VC
Date: Jan 15 – Jun 15

Format: OSS

 Date: May 15 – Oct 15

Format: OSS
Date: Mar 15 – Aug 15

Format: OSS

 Date: Jul 15 – Dec 15

Format: OSS
Business Finance & Accounting (HRM 817) Date: Jan16 – Apr 9

Format: O

 Date: May 8 – Jul 30

Format: O
Date: Feb 13 – May 7

Format: O

 Date: Jun 19 – Sep 10

Format: O

 

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.

To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:

  • Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent
  • Be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University or
  • Be deemed an exceptional case

To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.

Language Requirements

If your first language is not English, you must meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements. Completion of TOEFL exam with a minimum acceptable score of 20 on each of the four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening), valid for 2 years.

Expandable List

  • Visit continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs to find your program of choice
  • Click on each tab on the program page to learn about credential options and requirements, schedule and fees, and a list of all courses in the program
  • Select a course and then select an available offering, noting important information such as cost, delivery format, and start/end dates; then click ‘add to cart’
  • Once you have added your courses, click the shopping cart icon at the top right-hand corner of the page (bottom of the browser screen on mobile)
  • Review your cart and, once you’re ready to proceed with enrolment, click ‘proceed to checkout’
  • As the next step, you will be redirected to Mosaic – McMaster’s Administrative Information and Enrolment system
  • Once you are in Mosaic, select ‘new to McMaster’ or log in with your existing MacID and password (if applicable)
  • Complete all required fields and select a program of study when prompted (i.e., a specific program or open studies for standalone courses)
  • Finally, payment is required in full to secure a spot in your course(s)

A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.

For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.

  • Payment must be made in full at the time of enrolment
  • Online credit card or debit payments are preferred
  • Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express
  • Accepted debit cards: Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard
  • Google Pay is available for faster checkout
  • Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution and can take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in your McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, you can register for your course. Please note that if the amount of the course fees owing is more than what was transferred to your student account, you will be dropped from the course.

Ready to get started?

Visit the Courses tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.

  • Cart 0