Standing out in credit with professional certifications 

Earning a professional certification can be a transformative milestone in a credit professional’s career, opening doors to career growth and advancement. In recent years, hiring managers have increasingly valued certifications over traditional four-year college degrees. NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program helps both new and experienced credit professionals gain the practical knowledge and skillset needed to stand out and thrive in the B2B credit industry. 

The Professional Certification Program is an essential first step for newer credit professionals and an opportunity for experienced credit managers to refine their skills. The Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation offers comprehensive knowledge on key credit topics, such as Business Credit Principles, Basic Financial Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis. “Earning my CBA also provided me a fresh perspective on credit and helped me learn new concepts outside of my industry,” said Adam Fink, CBA, credit operations manager at Elite Roofing Supply (Glendale, AZ). 

Fink first learned about the certification program over 10 years ago while working at a previous job. However, it wasn’t until his current manager, Nicole Hicks, encouraged him to pursue the CBA designation that he decided to take the leap. “She is an incredible leader who consistently provided excellent encouragement,” he said. “She always pushed us to expand our knowledge and improve ourselves.” 

Earning the CBA was challenging for Fink, but the reward was worthwhile. “It’s a great accomplishment and an uplifting experience,” he said. “I’m happy to have invested the time and effort to learn new things and now hold this distinguished professional certification. Since then, the CBA has added value to my role in the credit industry and I’m confident it will help advance my career in the future.” 

✏️Study Tips: Fink recommends taking a step-by-step approach to learning the material and avoiding rushing through some of the more complicated topics. Re-reviewing the subject matter was key to getting the most out of each course. 

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