AAP Testing Center - Professional Development

Become a leader and authority in the electronic payments industry!

Since its inception in 1993, the AAP Program has recognized 4,200+ ACH professionals. As an AAP, you will join this elite group of professionals who are recognized for their ACH payments expertise.

AAP Exam Dates: Monday, October 6, 2025 - Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025

AAP Topic Areas (Exam Blueprint):

ACH Operations
Rules & Regulations
Risk Management
ACH File Formatting
Other Payment Systems

Click Here to Register for the 2025 AAP Exam Prep Program!

Cost - $1,295 Members / $2,590 Non-Members

Our 2025 AAP Exam Prep Package provides study resources for the exam, including an interactive reading program with biweekly webinars. Also included in the AAP Exam Prep Program is our 3-hour webinar - AAP Exam Review, AND the AAP Preparation Publications Package! Of course, an Accredited ACH Professional from the SFE team is available for email and telephone support. All webinars are recorded and available anytime after the dates below.

This program is excellent for those aspiring to be an AAP, but you do not have to be registered for the current AAP exam to enroll in the AAP Exam Prep Program.

Webinars will be held from 1 PM - 2:30 PM CT on the following dates:
May 15	Kickoff & Orientation
May 29	Rules and Guidelines: General Information: Article One, OG Chapters 1-3, 38-43, Appendix A & B
June 12	Rules and Guidelines: SEC Codes: OG Chapters 44-51
June 24	Rules and Guidelines: ODFIs, Originators, & TPSPs; Article Two, OG Chapters 5-21, Chapter 52
July 10	Rules and Guidelines: RDFIs & Operators; Articles 3-6, OG Chapters 22-35, 55-57
July 24	Rules and Guidelines: ACH File Specifications; Appendix 1-3; OG Appendix J, K
August 7	Rules and Guidelines: Return Entries, NOCs, & Acknowledgements: Appendix 4-6, 10, Article 7
August 21	Rules and Guidelines: The Green Book, Chapters 2-7
September 4	Rules and Guidelines: Compensation, Arbitration, Rules Enforcement: Appendix 7-9, OG Chapters 4, 58
September 11	Nacha's AAP Handbook
September 23-24, 2025 9:00am-10:30am CT	AAP Exam Review

Register for our free on-demand course So You Think You Want to Be An AAP? to learn more about what to expect and how to prepare. This updated on-demand course will be available mid March 2025.

* The AAP Preparation Publications Packages in electronic formats are now included as part of the AAP Exam Prep Program.

Click here - To purchase the AAP Preparation Publications Packages in electronic format.

AAP Continuing Education Credits

An AAP must earn 60 hours of Continuing Education, with no more than 20 hours earned in any one year, during the five-year accreditation period. AAPs also have an option to retest during the fourth or fifth year if the Continuing Education requirements are not met.

Filing Deadline: March 31st (for prior year)
Late Filing Deadline - April 30th (late fee applies)
Contact Southern Financial Exchange to request a paper form (800) 626-4733 option 1 or email education@sfe.org

Testimonials

"Thanks again for selecting me as the recipient of the TPI Scholarship. Attending the Payments Institute and Risk Retreat was a great opportunity to attain the knowledge needed to pass the AAP."

Brooke M. Carriere, CRCM, AAP
AVP/Compliance Officer
American Bank & Trust Company

"I took the AAP test on October 15 and PASSED!!!!!!! [I took all of the last week off just to decompress from studying for this test!]

I wanted to THANK YOU and the entire team at SFE that worked on the Summer Study program! The questions that I got for the actual test were nothing like the practice questions (I swear I didn’t get asked even one IAT question) BUT how the questions were worded and how the questions ‘felt’ was just like the practice tests.

Again, THANK YOU! The Study Program was extremely helpful! I also appreciate all of the hard work that has and does go into making it."

Erica Hare, AAP
Electronic Funds Specialist