Professional certification journey strengthens experienced credit professionals  

Credit professionals may decide to pursue a designation through one of FCIB and NACM’s six Professional Certification Programs for a host of different reasons. Whether you want to brush up on an area of credit you may be less familiar with or you want to start out strong at a new job, a professional designation reflects your dedication to the credit field. For Chris Michael, CBA, credit manager at Archer Daniels Midland Company (Decatur, IL), earning his Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation was an opportunity to further his knowledge of credit and advance his career.   

For many working credit managers, earning a designation can be a bit of a balancing act as you squeeze in study sessions between your work and personal life. But the extra time spent crafting weekly to-do lists will prove worth it in the end when your designation boosts your career and helps you grow exponentially.   

“The journey wasn’t too bad honestly, I did have to balance working through the modules and studying with keeping up with my day-to-day responsibilities,” Michael said. “Making a schedule to follow and having a plan helped me get through the modules in a timely manner.” 

Regardless of how long a credit manager has been in the industry, a professional certification can help them deepen their understanding of the field. “I learned that a lot of what I was experiencing as a credit manager is a normal part of the job,” Michael said. “However, the courses went into further detail that helped build a better foundation for me as I continue my career in the credit field.” 

Study tip: Don’t try and cram all your studying in at once; take your time and create a schedule that works for you. “I would just suggest planning to take the modules at a pace that works for you and stick to that plan,” Michael said. “Stay focused on the end goal and think about how good it will feel to achieve it. That helps keep the motivation flowing.”