Studying smarter and stressing less 

Studying for an exam can be stressful, no matter how detailed your notes are. As designation seekers sit for exams next month as part of NACM and FCIB’s Professional Certification Programs, it’s important to build and refine study habits that not only help prepare for the exam, but also ease anxieties.

There is no one right way to study for a certification exam. For some students, it helps to re-listen to recorded lectures while others make flash cards. Whether your approach is as simple as reading over your notes or you’re taking advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to supercharge your studying, exam preparation can take many different forms.

“I’m a fan of color coding my notes by highlighting,” said Tracy Mitchell, CBA, CCRA, director of accounts receivable for Trinity Logistics (Seaford, DE). “It helps to keep my notes organized. I still use note cards to write definitions or practice questions to review. I also like to feed my notes into an AI chatbot and have it generate a study guide that helps me organize all the different subjects.” 

No matter the method, it’s critical to stick to a consistent schedule. “I focused on consistency over long study sessions,” said Krista Snarr, CBA, CICP, credit analyst, credit and collections for Advanced Energy Industries (Denver, CO). “The most effective methods were completing practice questions, taking mock exams and using active recall techniques to test my understanding rather than just rereading materials.” 

It’s natural to feel nervous leading up to a big test. You might feel like studying would only feel overwhelming, it might actually ease your nerves. “Preparation was the biggest confidence booster,” said Snarr. “By simulating exam conditions through timed practice tests, I became more comfortable with the format and felt less intimidated on exam day. If there is something you keep getting tripped up on, make it your mission to understand it fully and become an expert on that specific topic.” 

When it feels like you can’t kick the pre-exam nerves, take a moment to decompress and reflect. “I manage my nerves by taking a moment before the exam to consider everything I have done to prepare myself to get to where I am now,” said Mitchell. “I remind myself that I have done the best I can to prepare for this exam and I am not going to let my fear override my confidence or knowledge.” 

Pursuing a designation is an opportunity to deepen ties within the credit community. For every exam you take, there are classmates studying alongside you. Leaning on other credit professionals in the field, whether they’re classmates, coworkers or professional connections, can make exam prep collaborative. 

“I found discussing challenging concepts with my coworker helped with understanding the material and gaining different perspectives,” said Snarr. “I would recommend taking the exam with peers in your office as it creates a built-in support system.” 

When exam prep becomes overwhelming, take a step back and remember the importance of what you’re doing. By embarking on a journey of credit education, you are challenging yourself to broaden your credit knowledge and refine key skills that bring a new level of expertise to your day-to-day work.

“Looking back, earning the designation was worth every hour of studying, every practice exam and every moment spent preparing,” said Snarr. “While the process can feel overwhelming in the moment (especially if you’re juggling a full-time job, a family and just life), the knowledge, professional growth, credibility and sense of accomplishment that come with achieving your certification make it a worthwhile investment.”