Member Spotlight: Mastering the Fundamentals

Excelling in the credit management field means being adaptable to change at any time—but one factor that remains constant is the basic building blocks of credit. Through NACM’s Professional Certification Program, credit professionals have up to six levels of certification tailored to their needs of knowledge through education. The first of six levels is the Credit Business Associate (CBA), an academic-based designation which signals mastery of three business credit related disciplines: basic financial accounting, business credit principles and introductory financial statement analysis.

Dallas Kleiboeker, CBA, retail credit and membership manager at MFA Incorporated (Columbia, MO), just recently passed his final exam for the CBA at NACM’s 128^th Credit Congress. “My favorite part of earning the CBA was getting to do it at the same time as a co-worker,” he said. “He and I were able to work to keep up with each other, take the review together and take the exam together. It was fun just grinding through it and earning our designations at the same time.” 

As a three-year removed college graduate, getting back into the groove of studying and taking detailed notes was a challenge for Kleiboeker, but his persistence and dedication helped him follow through to the end. “I’m really thankful for the opportunity to obtain this designation,” Kleiboeker said. “I think this is a great tool to have under my belt, and I’m anticipating moving on to other designations in the future. More than anything, I think it’s just good to refresh information you already know, and help you learn things about the credit industry that you may not use a lot in your specific role.”

💡Study Tip: Take the practice exam on the NACM website at least two times before taking the test. “It does a great job of giving you an idea of what questions to expect,” said Kleiboeker. “For anyone who seeks getting a designation, I say rip the band aid off and get it done. It can be easy to push off because we’re all busy with our jobs and personal lives already, but once you start, you realize making the time here and there really isn’t all that difficult.”

For more information about each designation within NACM’s Professional Certification Program, visit our website.