Rediscovering a passion for learning: A professional certification journey 

The world of business credit is unpredictable, with market changes and technological innovations reshaping and reframing the work of a credit manager each day. Earning a professional designation through one of FCIB and NACM’s six Professional Certification Programs is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of credit in preparation for any turn the industry might take. 

For Jennifer LeMaster, CICP, accounts receivable and collections specialist for Lhoist North America (Fort Worth, TX), earning her Certified International Credit Professional (CICP) was a big step towards her career goals as she learned how to best guide her team, her company and international customers.  

“I had a lot of amazing successes along the way,” said LeMaster. “I was able to successfully earn my CICP and complete all three courses for the CBA to become eligible to sit for the exam. The knowledge I learned over the course of the last four months has made me more successful in my everyday role and I was able to help teach my team new things that they were able to use to better perform their jobs.” 

Despite her 15 years of experience in credit, LeMaster learned a lot during her certification journey. “I was not only able to refresh my understanding of financial statements and basic accounting skills, but I was also able to gain deeper knowledge of my role as a credit professional,” LeMaster said. “Despite having been in the credit field for the amount of time I have, I was able to really dig deep into my role and learn new things about current trends, current events within the credit field today, and the impact that credit has on how a business operates.” 

Focusing on learning more about international credit and her role as a credit manager not only deepened her understanding of the field but taught her a lot about herself. “I rediscovered my passion for learning!” LeMaster said. “Each class that I took, I challenged myself, embraced what I was learning and craved the desire to learn more. I would find myself looking for what was the next designation I could obtain, and it left me continuing to want to challenge myself.” 

LeMaster worked towards her Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation alongside her CICP, opening her eyes to how interconnected the two areas of the field are. “My favorite part of experience was when my CBA classes and my CICP classes were the same week,” LeMaster said. “I know that sounds completely bizarre and probably overwhelming to some, but I loved seeing how what I was learning would overlap and how I could relate one course to the other. My most memorable moments were the ‘aha!’ moments when things would come together and just click into place.” 

Study tip: Find the studying style that works best for your learning process. “I am a visual person and work best by taking notes in a way that I can remember certain terminology and organizing the information in a way that works for me,” LeMaster said.