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.

The AAP exam testing window is Monday, October 7th – Saturday, November 2nd.

The registration period is Monday, January 22nd - Friday, September 6th. For those who are taking the exam this year, or preparing for the future, we have a study program for you.

AAP Exam Dates: October 7, 2024 - November 2, 2024

AAP Topic Areas (Exam Blueprint):

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

Plan Your Study Course

SFE offers virtual workshops or customized training to suit you.

Click Here to Register for the 2024 AAP Exam Prep Package!

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

Our 2024 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 Package 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 Package.

Webinars will be held from 1 PM - 2 PM CT on the following dates:
May 16	Kickoff & Orientation
May 30	Rules and Guidelines: General Information: Article One, OG Chapters 1-3, 36-41, Appendix A & B
June 13	Rules and Guidelines: SEC Codes: OG Chapters 42-49
June 27	Rules and Guidelines: ODFIs, Originators, & TPSPs; Article Two, OG Chapters 5-21, Chapter 50
July 11	Rules and Guidelines: RDFIs & Operators; Articles 3-6, OG Chapters 22-35, 51-55
July 25	Rules and Guidelines: ACH File Specifications; Appendix 1-3; OG Appendix J, K
August 8	Rules and Guidelines: Return Entries, NOCs, & Acknowledgements: Appendix 4-6, 10, Article 7
August 22	Rules and Guidelines: The Green Book Note: Webinar Time will be 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for this webinar only
September 5	Rules and Guidelines: Compensation, Arbitration, Rules Enforcement: Appendix 7-9, OG Chapters 4, 56
September 19	Nacha's AAP Handbook
October 2 & 3 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 in May 2024.

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

Click here - To purchase the AAP Preparation Publications Packages in various formats separately.

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

"Examiners view having AAPs on staff as extremely important. AAP is the one certification that regulators view as the payments industry standard for accreditation and ongoing education."

Tony DaSilva, AAP, CISA
Supervision & Regulation,
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

"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