CAP and ACAP Programs
Overview
The National Education Department developed the Credit Administration
Program (CAP) and the Advance Credit Administration Program (ACAP)
to meet the educational needs of today's credit professional.
Both programs are comprised of a series of college-equivalent
courses designed to improve or enhance the credit professional's
skills and knowledge. These courses are not designed to serve
as on-the-job training courses. The CAP and ACAP programs are
offered exclusively through NACM Affiliated Associations.
The
CAP Program
The Credit Administration Program provides participants with a
solid foundation of knowledge and prepares applicants for the
CBA Designation proficiency exam.
The CAP program is comprised of the following courses:
- Basic Financial Accounting
- Financial Statement Analysis I
- Business Credit Principles
(formerly known as Credit & Collection Principles)
There is a required textbook for
each course which may be purchased through the NACM
Bookstore. A complete list of required chapters for each text
can be found on the CBA
Designation Exam Study Guide.
From January 1999 through December 2001, all three CAP classes
were recommended for two credit hours each of college equivalency
by the American Council on Education (ACE). For information on
ACE or confirmation of NACM's status as a participating organization
during that time, please visit ACE's website at www.acenet.edu.
The
ACAP Program
The Advanced Credit Administration Program is a series of college
equivalent courses designed to prepare credit professionals for
additional managerial responsibilities and for the CBF Designation
exam. (A combination of course work and NACM Career Roadmap points
is needed to qualify for the CBF Designation exam.)
The courses required for the ACAP program are:
- Business Law I (Contracts)
- Credit Law
- Financial Statement Analysis II
There is a required textbook for
each course which may be purchased through the NACM Bookstore.
A complete list of required chapters for each text is listed on
the CBF Designation Exam study guide.
CAP
and ACAP Course Standards and Requirements
Each CAP and ACAP course must be at least 30 hours in duration
and include as a minimum a midterm and final exam. Participants
must attend at least 80 percent of the course and achieve a minimum
score of 70 percent to be eligible for a passing grade. Grades
may be either numeric or pass/fail. Your course sponsor will provide
you with a letter notifying you of your grade. Participants are
also required to complete an evaluation of course at its conclusion.
A complete list of required chapters for each text can be found
on the
Designation Exam Study Guide.
Most affiliated associations offer a CAP course over the course
of ten weeks; participants attend one three hour class a week
for ten weeks. Some locations offer the courses in a 15-week format
or 15, two-hour classes.
The basic Financial Accounting course is a prerequisite of the
Financial Statement Analysis course. In other words, the accounting
course must be completed before the analysis course.
Upon successful completion of the CAP program, candidates are
eligible to apply for and take the Credit
Business Associate (CBA) designation exam.
The National Education Department
The National Association of Credit Management
8840 Columbia 100 Parkway
Columbia, MD 21045-2158
Telephone: 410.740.5560
Fax: 410.740.5574
E-Mail:
