Taking the first steps on an educational journey 

After 15 years of working in the credit industry, Tami Vitales, CBA, credit analyst at the Imagine Group (Shakopee, MN), decided to pursue her Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation. Vitales story exemplifies how continued education through NACM and FCIB’s six Professional Certification Programs is an invaluable resource to credit professionals, regardless of how long they’ve worked in credit.  

“I wanted to grow my knowledge and pursue additional education opportunities,” Vitales said. “Even though I’ve worked in credit for years, I was able to learn a lot more about the specifics of credit policies and financial statements.” 

Earning your first designation is a big step, with many taking classes for the first time in years. Getting back into the swing of learning can seem intimidating, but the opportunity to immerse yourself in the many intricacies of business credit should not be passed up. Many designation-seekers find that the supportive environment dissuades their fears and rekindles a love of learning. 

“The journey was a bit more challenging than I expected, it’s been a while since I was in classes,” Vitales said. “But the instructors were amazing and so helpful, they really prepared us well for each test and the final exam.” 

Continued education is key to the professional development of credit professionals, especially as the ever-changing nature of the field asks that credit managers be dynamic as each day’s work is unique.  

For Vitales, earning her CBA is only the first step in her educational journey, as she plans to pursue her Credit Business Fellow (CBF) designation next. “My favorite parts were finding out how well the studying paid off, it kept me going,” said Vitales. “It may sound like a lot of time and work, but it is absolutely an amazing feeling when it’s over and you have accomplished this certification.” 

✏️Study tip: Creating a study schedule can help you stay on top of your work without falling off track. “Don’t fall behind on studying and save it all for the end,” Vitales said. “Read a little every night and really focus on the terms, language and case studies.”