Investing in your future: How the CBA certification builds credit expertise

Anyone who’s mastered their craft knows all too well how important it is to invest in education. From foundational principles to nuanced topics, professionals who prioritize learning are that much more successful in their roles. Outside of formal schooling, there are many educational opportunities within reach so long as you’re willing to put in the work.  

Despite having 15 years of experience in credit, Yvonne Garcia, CBA, area credit manager at Minka Lighting/Ferguson (Corona, CA), decided to further her education through the Credit Business Associate (CBA) certification to strengthen her knowledge of credit and collections—a decision fully supported by her employer.  

“When I started in this profession, the credit industry was new to me, and I spent the beginning of my career relying on hands-on experience, and I quickly realized that wasn’t enough,” said Garcia. “When I became a credit manager in 2024, I wanted to enhance my abilities to make informed credit decisions, better support my organization and stay current with industry best practices.” 

For Garcia, her certification journey was a challenging yet rewarding experience. “It pushed me to expand my knowledge beyond my day-to-day responsibilities and gain a deeper understanding of financial statement analysis, credit risk assessment, business law, collections and overall credit management,” said Garcia. 

The biggest challenge she faced was managing her time despite her busy schedule. “There were moments when balancing work, personal life and studying felt demanding but when I focused on each section, quiz and exam at a time, it reinforced that the effort was worthwhile,” said Garcia. “Better yet, it increased my confidence and connected me with other dedicated credit professionals.” 

Study tips: Be consistent, manage your time and believe in yourself. “Try to understand concepts instead of memorizing information,” said Garcia. “For me, many credit concepts became easier to understand and remember when I could relate them to actual accounts, financial reviews, collections situations or credit decisions I encountered in my daily work.”