Earning CBA kickstarts journey of continued education 

Earning a designation through one of NACM’s Professional Certification Programs can help credit managers across industries navigate career changes and promotions. For Michael Pica, CBA, CICP, credit and collections manager at Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc. (Moon Township, PA), the journey to earning his Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation saw him through the transition to a new job.

“My journey towards earning the designation was both challenging and rewarding,” Pica said. “The most difficult part was finding the right balance between work, home, and coursework. Committing to a professional designation requires a strong focus on maintaining equilibrium among these three areas.”

For those pursuing designations, the months spent studying and carefully planning your schedule show your dedication to advancing in your career and refining the skills it takes to make well-rounded and smart credit decisions. “It feels rewarding to see your hard work and dedication payoff,” Pica said. “It gives you additional motivation to continue pursuing the next designation.”

The CBA may be the first step on the journey for a higher certification, but it is an important step, nonetheless. “I was working towards my ICCE when I took a new opportunity to work for an engineering company whose clientele is mostly domestic,” Pica said. “I figured I might as well take the opportunity to start working towards the CCE.”

📝Study Tip: “Create a study schedule, plan your study time in advance and stick to it, consistency is key,” Pica said. “Break down material, divide the coursework into smaller, manageable sections. This makes it less daunting and easier to digest. Lastly, stay positive. Keep a positive mindset and remind yourself of your end goal, visualization can be a powerful motivator.”