Journey to professional designation reflects dedication to credit field 

The decision to pursue a designation through one of NACM and FCIB’s six Professional Certification Programs is a big one and the journey can be long, but the opportunity to refine your skills and grow professionally makes the big step worth it.  

For Alicia Johnson, CBF, CCRA, credit supervisor at Cleveland Cliffs, (Burns Harbor, IN), it was a long and winding journey to earning her Credit Business Fellow (CBF) designation. When she earned Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation in November 2023, she had already completed the coursework for the CBF as well. But after having her son in the spring of 2024, Johnson took a short hiatus to focus on her family.  

“I finally got back to studying for the exam around the beginning of 2025, and sat for the CBF exam in March,” Johnson said. “Since I waited so long after taking the courses, it was a bit of a challenge to refresh my memory on the nitty-gritty of the topics that were covered. However, I did the online review class, and it really jogged my memory on things. I really credit the review course for being key to my success in passing!” 

The courses required for each designation help deepen your knowledge and understanding of a unique area of business credit. “People may not understand just how complex credit can be, and the coursework really made me appreciate the field even more,” Johnson said. “I definitely learned new things in regard to the legality of extending credit and the intricacies of doing so.” 

Regardless of where you are in your career, professional certification classes can help bring more depth and nuance to your understanding of credit, helping you make strong credit decisions in your day-to-day work.  

📝Study Tip: When it comes to learning the information, make sure you are engaging with it instead of simply memorizing it. “Make acronyms and little sayings or rhymes for things to help you remember them and to physically write things down instead of just reading off of a PowerPoint presentation,” Johnson said. “It really helps to read something and then write it down again for your comprehension and memory.”