Being a credit professional requires the ability to determine risk, think creatively and adapt to company-wide and industry changes. By earning designations through NACM's six-level Professional Certification Program, credit professionals gain the knowledge and skillset required to not only adapt to changes but expand their role in B2B credit management.
For Vanessa Omura Goncalves, CICP, region credit controller at Volvo Group (Chesapeake, VA), earning the Certified International Credit Professional (CICP) designation demonstrated her knowledge about the credit industry and has opened doors to new career opportunities. "My boss has several titles, including CICP, and she showed me the importance of having it and how it makes a difference in credit management," she said. "I had to balance work and personal commitments with intense study sessions, but it was worth it."
Although some topics were new to her, Goncalves said it was helpful to learn more about other subjects that affect the credit industry. "I'm grateful, proud and happy of my accomplishment," she said. "Earning the CICP designation is a significant achievement, considering all the hard work and dedication that is required."
Goncalves humbly acknowledges the people who helped her along her designation journey. "The NACM mentors and supporters were exceptional, generously sharing their vast knowledge and guiding me with insightful advice," she said. "The diverse perspectives brought by our group discussions further enriched the experience, pushing me to think critically and expand my understanding. As people, we always learn something new, even if the topic is already known. I deepened my knowledge in some topics that I previously knew superficially."
💡A study tip from Goncalves: Practice. Practice. Practice. "I suggest that students complete as many of the quizzes as they can during the course. It helps you gain a deeper understanding of each topic of the module studied."
For more information about each designation within NACM's Professional Certification Program, visit our website.