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Considering the NCP - Program Details

The National Check Payments Certification (NCPC) is a premier accreditation which enables career enhancement opportunities for the payment professional who earns and maintains it through its continuing education program. The program provides institutions a ready means of developing or enhancing institutional knowledge which helps combat check fraud.

When considering the NCPC,  it is recommended that a candidate have at minimum at 2+ years experience in the financial services industry with a desire to expand your knowledge in check payments operations.

NCP Steps to Success

Exam Blueprint: View the categories covered on the NCP Exam

 

Upcoming Exam Window: Saturday, April 18 – Saturday, May 9, 2026 (registration deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026)

 

Pricing: $500 ECCHO Member / Sponsoring Organization / Education Subscribers ~ $625 Non-Members | Validate Membership | Validate Sponsorship

              Exam fee includes access to the practice test, for more information click here

Payment: Due upon registration or you may choose to be invoiced. Most major credit cards accepted. [Pearson VUE code and practice test links will not be provided until exam registration is paid in full.]

Substitutions: May replace a test-taker with another candidate up to 2 weeks prior to opening of exam window. After that, a substitute test-taker’s registration is automatically transferred to the next exam year.

NCP Program Policies and Procedures

 Register Here

 

You will receive an email from TCH/ECCHO containing instructions on how to access to the following items to begin your journey towards earning your NCP.

Study Center: A collection of resources to help with studying for the exam

NCP Roadmap: Recommended path to a successful study plan 

Jump Start Reading Program: Get a head start on studying

Get a Coach: Let a current NCP help you navigate your journey

Partner Resources: See Payments Association/Partner training NCP exam prep courses.

 

Set Test Appointment with Pearson VUE 

Pearson VUE website opens for testing seats about 3 weeks before testing window opens. 

NCPC program administration provides details on how to set an exam appointment with Pearson VUE along with a registration ID code. (Note: Pearson VUE code will be issued once exam registration payment is received)

Exam registrant completes Pearson VUE process online by selecting a desired date/location for testing nationwide (testing centers) OR exam candidate can register for OnVue online proctoring here: https://home.pearsonvue.com/eccho/onvue.

The NCPC Program is the first national accreditation of its kind to provide online proctoring. The links below provide in-depth information about OnVue Online: 
Recording | PDF | Website | ECCHO FAQs

 

 

View your results

Each examinee will receive immediate exam results at the Pearson VUE testing center or OnVue online. 

Additionally, in mid-June individual reports are provided to each examinee via email. Note: Individual examinee reports include helpful information including an indication of performance in each of the four exam blueprint categories relative to the number of questions in that category. 

All exam results are based on an accumulated total of the questions and indicate only a “pass or no pass” status. Individual scores or results for specific questions are not provided. 

Retest within same exam window: Retesting is available to those who are unable to pass the exam on their first attempt. Specific requirements must be met to qualify for this one-time retest option! For details on the requirements, see Retest Offering information.

We know how hard you worked to achieve your NCP. There is an annual day (first Monday in August) to celebrate your success and earn free NCP CE credits. All NCPs must file for CE credit recognition during the filing window and participation must be validated.  Live or recorded sessions are eligible for CE credits.

National Check Professionals Day
Join us live in 2026 for the next class celebration and a dynamic educational session

To view previous NCP Day recordings, click here
1.2 CE Credits each; ECCHO tracks and validates

Click here for other ways to Recognize your NCPs

Click here to view a list of active NCPs. 

Exam Blueprint

The NCP exam is a 3-hour multiple choice exam which covers 4 main categories and associated knowledge areas related to check payments. 

  • Rules, Laws, and Regulation
  • Fraud and Risk Mitigation
  • Operations
  • Products

Hover over any category to reveal its components or access the NCP Blueprint, a comprehensive downloadable document here.



NCP Exam

Rules, Laws, and Regulations

Fraud and Risk Mitigation

Operations

Products

Category 1: Rules, Laws, and Regulations

Demonstrate knowledge of the following topics as they relate to check with respect to ECCHO Rules (inclusive of Canadian exchange), Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Articles 3 and 4, Regulation CC, Regulation J, Federal Reserve Operating Circular 3 (OC3), generally accepted ACH Rules, and Regulation E.

1.01 Key terms defined in the rules, laws, and regulations

1.02 Items eligible for exchange

1.03 MICR line repair liabilities

1.04 Warranties for Regulation CC/Regulation J

1.05 Warranties for UCC

1.06 Warranties for ECCHO Rules/OC3

1.07 Indemnification

1.08 Error resolution

1.09 Nonimageable items

1.10 Indorsements

1.11 Presentment

1.12 Re-presentment

1.13 Return rules and regulations

1.14 Funds availability

1.15 Settlement and finality

Category 2: Fraud and Risk Mitigation (30%)

Demonstrate knowledge required to identify fraud and mitigate risk associated with check products and collection processes and how they comply with the regulatory requirements, including Regulation CC, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Articles 3 and 4, Federal Reserve Operating Circular 3 (OC3), Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML), and Federal Financial Institution Examination Council (FFIEC) guidance.

2.01 Key provisions of laws, regulations, guidance, and agreements

2.02 Counterfeit and forged items

2.03 Deposit account fraud

2.04 Alterations

2.05 Legal risk (compliance)

2.06 Operational risk

2.07 Other types of risk (e.g., credit risk, strategic risk, liquidity risk, reputational risk)

2.08 Risk mitigation techniques

(e.g., software tools, restrictive indorsements)

2.09 Data security and data breach (e.g., storage/archives, recovery procedures, file transmission)

2.10 Business continuity/disaster recovery
Category 3: Operations

Demonstrate knowledge of all aspects of check operations, including ANSI Check Standards.

3.01 Item capture and processing

3.02 Quality analysis and duplicate detection

3.03 Transaction reconcilement, posting, and account statements

3.04 Clearing, including check conversion (e.g., ACH)

3.05 Settlement and availability (e.g., float)

3.06 File control (e.g., rejected items and files, transmissions/acknowledgements)

3.07 Returns

3.08 Adjustments (e.g., error resolution)

3.09 Reclamations process

3.10 Retention, retrieval, and destruction

3.11 Application of ANSI Check Standards

3.12 Global checks   
Category 4: Products

Demonstrate knowledge of commercial and consumer check products.

4.01 Check types (e.g., remotely created checks, money orders, official checks)

4.02 ACH check conversion

4.03 Account reconciliation products (e.g., positive pay, payee positive pay)

4.04 Controlled disbursement

4.05 Remittance processing (e.g., lockbox)

4.06 Remote deposit capture/mobile banking

Once the NCP designation is earned, there are Continuing Education requirements that must be obtained to maintain the certification. Once these requirements are met for each period, the designation will continue to be automatically renewed.