NCP Roadmap

Version 7 Updated June 2016

For 2017 NCP Exam April 15 – May 6, 2017

Your Roadmap to Success An Action Plan for

Achieving your NCP

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Register for NCP Exam

(deadline March 31st)

http://store.eccho.org/

See the value of getting your NCP.

Check out Blueprint to see exam categories http://www.eccho.org/ncpc_exam_blueprint

ECCHO Study Aids (available to registered test

takers)

Develop a study plan

Sign up for NCP Exam preparation training

www.eccho.org/ncpc_training

Consider your schedule and if you have time to

study for NCP

Take a Training Class

Take The Exam

Study, Study, Study, Repeat

EXIT 1

EXIT 2

EXIT 7

EXIT 5

EXIT 9

EXIT 8

EXIT 6

EXIT 4

EXIT 3

The NCP exam covers a lot of material and test takers often ask

about the best approach to studying

for the exam.

The Roadmap provides suggestions for how to study but

it is up to each individual to

ultimately determine the approach best suited for them.

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EXIT 1

Discover EXIT 2

Assess EXIT 3

Register EXIT 4

ECCHO EXIT 5

Study Plan

Check out the NCP exam blueprint

http://www.eccho.org/ncpc_exam_blueprint

Discover the four areas of exam content

Review the percentage of test questions that come from each area

Check your schedule to see if you have the time to study for the NCP exam

Most NCPs studied more than 90 hours

to pass the exam

Most NCPs took an exam preparation

training course

Register for the exam http://store.eccho.org

Exam window is April 15 – May 6,

2017 http://www.eccho.org/

ncpc_exam_info

Exam fees $400 ECCHO Members &

Sponsoring Orgs $500 non-Members

To find out if your FI is an ECCHO member:

http://www.eccho.org/

memberships and use search box on left.

You can pay for the exam with a credit card or check. You

can pay for more than one registrant at a

time.

Check out ECCHO’s helpful study aids which

are offered to all NCP Exam Registrants

P.R.E.P. Guide with: • Program logistics • Training info • Study tips • Quiz questions • Sample test questions

Personalize study plan. Map accordingly on calendar and create

checklist with ample time on each Blueprint subject.

Review PREP Guide. Content sections could

create study plan/guide. Read more than once.

Purchase CheckPro testing tool & Check Flashcards

https://www.eccho.org/partner_resources

Form study group for phone or in-person meetings. Set

up email study chain for reinforcement.

Review Question of the Day: • Review and repeat daily until confident • Integrate into study group

Make own flash cards of study materials

QOD Sign

Question of the Day email initiates in January • 1 question/business day • Answer from yesterday with info on topic • Consolidated each week in online reference • Keeps NCP front-of-mind • Open-ended; different style than test Q&A • Use level of detail as appropriate study level

Study with potential questions in mind.

Consider the type of info you are studying and how that info might translate into a question. Tactical info will result in more

detailed questions than

strategic info.

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For Roadside Assistance Call 855-359-6539

EXIT 6

Select Training EXIT 7

Training Class EXIT 8

Study, Repeat EXIT 9

The Exam

Sign up for NCP Exam Preparation Training

Select your training program from our Educational Partners http://www.eccho.org/ncpc_t

raining

Consider what type of training is most effective for you:

• Webinar or in-person • Program with more/less time between each class • Program that is closer/ farther from test window

Determine requirements: • One or more test takers • Single or multiple locations

Discuss needs with the NCP training provider.

Take NCP Training Class

Take notes in class. Highlight most important points on the slide deck.

Ask questions in class.

Steal bits of study time: • When commuting or traveling • When waiting for a conference call to begin • On coffee break & lunch

Plan more intense study sessions just before test. Suggest

dedicating an entire day to study shortly before the exam.

Spend more time on materials you do not know and just

refresh on topics you know well.

Spend more time on sections with higher # of test questions: • Rules & Regs (34%) • Operations (33%) • Fraud & Risk (25%) • Check Products (8%)

Review materials following class. Ensure

that you understand everything covered.

Create flash cards from major points.

Familiarize yourself with the

look of the exam and the facility keyboard especially if

you have never taken an online exam.

https://candidate.psiexams.com/tutorial.jsp

Be sure of location & parking at test site prior to day of exam. Know how long it takes to get

there at exam time of day (consider possible delays).

Get to the test site early with your IDs and paperwork. Take a few minutes to go through

key flashcards one more time and then relax. Leave cell

phone & personal belongings in your car.

Review materials before each session. Write down

any questions.

Subjects covered in class highlight subjects covered

on the exam Be consistent and intentional

with your study time

Listen to recordings of training sessions to review materials

During the exam: • Mark questions that you are unsure of to go back after you have completed answering all • Enlist proctor to resolve issues

Get plenty of sleep the night before the exam. ZZzzzz…

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GPS Study Guide A hands on tool to navigating

The NCP Exam topics

STUDY STOP 1: Approaching Blueprint

STUDY STOP 2: Rules and Regulations

(34% of exam)

STUDY STOP 3: Operations

(33% of exam)

STUDY STOP 4: Fraud and Risk (25% of exam)

STUDY STOP 5: Regulation CC Review

STUDY STOP 6: Understanding UCC 3 & UCC 4

STUDY STOP 7: Mapping the Fed Operating

Circular 3 (OC3) and ECCHO Rules

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STUDY STOP 1

Blueprint STUDY STOP 2

Rules/Regs STUDY STOP 3

Operations STUDY STOP 4

Fraud & Risk

Determine the best approach for covering all topics within

the NCP Blueprint

Create your plan guided by your level of expertise and the

# of questions in each area: • Rules & Regs (34%) – See Stop 2 • Operations (33%) – See Stop 3 • Fraud & Risk (25%) – See Stop 4 • Product (8%) - below

Check Products (8%) Understand: types of checks,

ICL, ARP, controlled disbursement, positive pay, RCC,

lockbox, RDC, ACH check conversion

Rules & Regs (34%) Reference materials:

http://www.eccho.org/ncpc_training

Operations (33%) Understand: Understand high level:

payment system overview, item processing, Day 1, Day 2, parts and

parties of a check, MICR line, RT, indorsements, collections, clearing,

settlement, float, returns & adjustments

Fraud & Risk (25%) Understand Fraud: payments, preventative measures, check

schemes, account, identity, telemarketing,

Understand Risk: types, mitigation, strategies and RDC If you don’t use a partner

training program, we advise you to study these

reference materials in more detail.

The NCP exam is designed to demonstrate an expert level

of knowledge. The exam tests your understanding through

application to business situations. Many questions

are in scenario form.

Review Regs and Rules as outlined in

STUDY STOPS 5, 6 & 7

Understand FFIEC : • What is it? • What is its purpose? • Who participates?

FFIEC Guidance of RDC risk: http://www.ffiec.gov/pdf/pr011409

_rdc_guidance.pdf

FFIEC Guidance on Authentication

http://www.ffiec.gov/pdf/Auth-ITS-Final%206-22-

11%20%28FFIEC%20Formated%29.pdf

FFIEC Guidance on Retail Payment Systems:

http://ithandbook.ffiec.gov/it-booklets/retail-payment-

systems.aspx

Review Standards/Report: • IRD/Substitute Checks X9.100-140 • Image Exchange X9.100-187 • TIFF X9.100-181 • TR-2 Technical Report in the P.R.E.P. Guide and other training materials

Review UCD – Universal Companion Document (developed

for use with X9 standard) http://www.checkimagecentral.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/UCD-X9-

100-187-2013-Version-1-3-2014-Final.pdf

Understand cash letter preparation, record types, RTs, and

substitute checks

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Some info is strategic while some is detailed. Study at an

appropriate level.

There is more detail devoted to Rules & Regs because it has been the

source of more questions from prior test takers

STUDY STOP 5

Reg CC STUDY STOP 6

UCC 3 & UCC 4 STUDY STOP 7

OC3 & ECCHO Rules

Review Regulation CC Reg CC Online version

(online version can be easier to navigate / paper version has comments)

Learn the four subparts of Reg CC, what is contained in them, why they are

important

Review the content covered in the Appendices

Understand purpose, definitions and processes (not limited to):

• Availability • Returns • Check • Bank day and Business Day • Substitute checks • Disclosures • Warranties • Indemnifications • Remotely created checks • Indorsements • All local checks now • Collection of checks and all parties and their responsibilities • Expedited Recredit

Understand UCC 3 and UCC 4 Utilize this online version for convenient

scanning: http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/3/article3.htm http://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/4/article4.htm

Understand ECCHO Rules and Fed Operating Circular 3 (OC3) https://www.eccho.org/cc/index.php?p_sector=cc_rules&p_matter=cc_login_rules http://www.frbservices.org/files/regulations/pdf/operating_circular_3_07122012.pdf

Click on the UCC table of contents to scan what is covered in each of the parts

Familiarize yourself with all definitions

Important topics (not limited to): • Negotiable instrument – definitions, requirements, provisions • Negotiation • Holder in due course • Warranties • Indemnification • Indorsement • Enforcement of instruments • Liability of the parties • Collection of funds • Relationship between payor bank and its customers

Understand the purpose and importance of UCC 3 and UCC 4

Understand the differences between the rules and the regulations

Understand the need for rules/regs in image exchange, when each applies,

forward and return scenarios for ECCHO Rules/OC3, high level warranties and

indemnifications

Understand various types of exceptions within ECCHO Rules and Fed OC3 and

how to handle (at a high level)

Understand ECCHO Return Hierarchy, Chain of Warranties, Rule 8, Rule 9.

Reading ECCHO Rules Summary can be helpful in understanding high level Rules. https://www.eccho.org/cc/index.php?p_sect

or=cc_rules&p_matter=cc_login_rules

Understand what a Banking Practice Agreement is and its components

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