Seizing opportunities: Kristy Davis’s path to CBA certification and professional growth

In a volatile economic climate with talks of a possible recession, credit professionals are on edge—hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Those looking to reduce risk should turn to NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program, which provides foundational knowledge and skill advancement essential for navigating uncertain economic conditions. 

Kristy Davis, CBA, collections and credit analyst at SAIF (Salem, OR), seized the opportunity to earn her Credit Business Associate (CBA). “After hearing my manager mention the certification programs, I wanted to learn more and advance my career in the credit industry,” Davis said. 

In a way, Davis’s certification journey began about 15 years ago when she took the opportunity to return to school and earn her accounting certificate. “I received a grant to attend school for a year and earned my accounting certificate,” she said. “I also worked for a small finance company and enjoyed learning about credit. Since I only needed one course—Business Credit Principles—to apply for my CBA, I decided to go for it.” 

When Davis received the news that she passed the final exam, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief and accomplishment. “Juggling a new job promotion, studying and family life made preparing for the exam challenging, and I even debated postponing it,” Davis said. “But I pushed through and seeing that I passed made all the hard work worth it.” 

The CBA designation instilled confidence in Davis, helping her make sound credit decisions. “I appreciate that there are professional certification programs to further learning without feeling the need to have a degree,” Davis said. “I didn’t know what my career path was when I graduated high school, but I appreciate being able to continue to learn later in life.”  

Davis is thankful for the support from her family, teammates and employer when earning her CBA. “My manager gave me so much confidence going into preparing for the final exam,” Davis said. “I also value the guidance and experience my teammate, who earned her Certified Credit Executive (CCE) designation, shared with me before retiring.” 

✏️Study Tips: Complete the CBA Practice Exam in preparation for the final exam. “I took the CBA practice exam multiple times and really focused on the questions I got wrong to understand the reason for the correct answer,” Davis said. 

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