Continued credit education challenges professionals to think deeper

With the global credit landscape always in flux, education is a critical tool for credit managers across the field. Earning a designation through one of NACM and FCIB’s Professional Certification Programs prepares credit professionals of all experience levels for the new, unique challenges that appear in the ever-shifting world of business credit.  

For Charity Hüter, CICP, accounts receivable and credit specialist for Empire Pipe and Supply Company (Birmingham, AL), earning her Certified International Credit Professional (CICP) designation was an opportunity to deepen her understanding of international credit. 

“While I had experience in accounts receivable and invoicing management, the credit aspect of my job was new to me,” Hüter said. “There was and still is, so much to learn. When I first heard this course was being offered, I reviewed the modules and thought it would lay a substantial foundation for credit knowledge and a deep dive understanding of practices I was not yet familiar with. Completing this course provided me with everything I thought it would and so much more.” 

With support from her company and a scholarship from NACM, Hüter was prepared to push herself to expand her knowledge of international credit. “One of the biggest challenges was working full-time and still having the drive to sit down every day to review course material,” Hüter said. “With the course being so full of information and having so much detail to absorb, I often wondered if I had been too eager to when committing myself to its completion. Week after week I kept the pace despite not feeling up to it some days. There was a weekly sense of accomplishment in weekly completion.” 

The challenges Hüter faced only made the journey that more exciting, as she relished everything she learned as she prepared for the final exam. “I spent hours creating a study sheet with over 300 possible test questions that I compiled from taking each module exam four to five times to make sure I had been presented with every question I could possibly be asked,” Hüter said. “I spent so much time studying, and halfway through the exam, I felt I wasn’t going to pass and gave myself a little acceptance speech of ‘it’s okay, I still learned a lot.’ The shock and excitement I felt when I saw that passing score was amazing. I was very proud of that accomplishment.” 

📝Study tip: Take studying one step at a time and start early, that way you won’t be swamped cramming days before the final exam.  

“Studying one module at a time really helped me to not feel overwhelmed,” Hüter said. “I cannot stress enough how you should start preparing for the exam from week one. Create a study sheet and use a highlighter. Go back and look over any information that you may not have been able to absorb at the time since reading it all word for word can be a lot. Take your time, schedule the entire week to take it at a pace you are comfortable with and allow time to go back over anything that needs clarification.”