Member Spotlight: Build Your Future
NACM's Professional Certification Program gives credit professionals the opportunity to accomplish their educational goals and excel in their career. With six levels of certification, credit professionals can map out their designation journey accordingly to their needs. In fact, those who hold certifications average 6% higher salaries than those who do not, and many credit managers hold more than one certification.
The Credit Business Associate (CBA) is the first level out of the six offered. It is an academic-based designation which signals mastery of three business credit related disciplines: Basic Financial Accounting, Business Credit Principles and Introductory Financial Statement Analysis.
Philip Allen, CBA, is a credit analyst at Komatsu Mining Corp (Charleroi, PA). He decided to pursue the CBA to learn more about the significance behind credit analysis and to build on his knowledge in the credit field. One of the most valuable parts in his designation journey was passing each test knowing it was because of strong study habits and validated his credit knowledge. "Earning my CBA feels amazing after all of the dedication and hard work put in," Allen said. "The feeling of achievement is incredible! It's opened doors for me professionally and gives my customers the stamp of approval letting them know that I am a reliable resource."
For some credit professionals, starting a designation journey can seem intimidating, but the networking aspect alone makes it worth the hard work. Even through some of the more challenging courses, Allen still pushed himself to find a way to complete different equations and concepts. Taking his time to pause module videos and writing down thorough notes were key factors in passing the exam.
💡One study tip from Allen: "Advise a credit professional to read the assigned material before watching the assigned lecture. Dedicate an hour to an hour and a half each day to studying the material and don't be too hard on yourself. Reward yourself for every stride that you take."
For more information about each designation within NACM's Professional Certification Program, visit our website.
