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 comprise 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 includes 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 in 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 web site 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 are needed to qualify for the CBF designation exam.)

The courses required for the ACAP program are:

• Business Law I (Contracts)
• Credit Law
• Financial Statements: Interpretation and Credit Risk Assessment

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 in 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 the course at its conclusion. A complete list of required chapters for each text can be found in the Designation Exam Study Guide.

Most Affiliated Associations offer a CAP course over the course of 10 weeks; participants attend one weekly three-hour class 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
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