The National Association of Credit Management: Certification Programs

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CBA

The Credit Business Associate (CBA) is an academic-based designation which signals mastery of three business-credit related disciplines: basic financial accounting, business credit principles and introductory financial statement analysis. There is no minimum work experience requirement for this designation level and the course work needed to qualify for this designation can be obtained through colleges, local NACM Affiliated Association programs, self-study or nationally sponsored programs. There are two plans from which to choose to achieve this designation, Plan A or Plan B.

CBA–Plan A (College, Self-Study and NACM National Programs)

Plan A is best suited for those who wish to complete the required courses at a college, through self-study, an NACM nationally sponsored certificate program or who already have a college degree. A combination of any of these methods (mixing methods) is permitted under Plan A. CBA–Plan A applicants must show evidence of successful completion (with a C average or better for each course) of the following three courses:

Basic Financial Accounting
Financial Statement Analysis I
Business Credit Principles

How to Complete the THREE Required Courses under Plan A

The basic financial accounting course should be completed before the financial statement analysis course. The Basic Financial Accounting course requirement can be fulfilled two ways:

By successfully completing either one full semester or two quarters of basic financial accounting at a college (four year, community or junior college), or
NACM-National's is offering an online accounting course. This option will replace the self-study method. The online accounting course is an appropriate method of study for those with some accounting experience or a basic working knowledge of accounting. This method of study is not recommended to those with little or no accounting experience.

There are three ways to satisfy the Financial Statement Analysis I course requirement:

By successfully completing either one full semester or two quarters of basic financial statement analysis at a college (four year, community or junior college), or
By successfully completing the self-study course, How to Read and Interpret Financial Statements. This course is available through the NACM Education Department, or
Convention Certificate Session: Course equivalency may be earned by attending the certificate session, Financial Statement Analysis I, when offered. To earn course equivalency, you must attend all parts of the course and pass a final exam.

The Business Credit Principles course requirement can be completed three different ways:

This course requirement can be fulfilled by successfully completing the Principles of Business Credit independent study course through the Credit Learning Center, available here. This option replaces the Self-Study Course on CD-Rom. Course equivalency for completion via the former CD-Rom Course will still be granted to those who purchased he course before it was discontinued.
This course requirement can be fulfilled by successfully completing the certificate session, Business Credit Principles, offered during NACM’s annual convention. To earn course equivalency, all 30 hours and a final exam must be successfully completed.
CAP Method: Successfully completing the Affiliated Association sponsored course, Business Credit Principles, will fulfill this course.

CBA–Plan B: The Credit Administration Program (CAP)

Many NACM Affiliated Associations sponsor the Credit Administration Program (CAP), which is a series of courses designed to prepare candidates for the CBA exam. By successfully completing CAP with a “C” average or better for each course, you may apply to take the CBA exam. Please be aware that regardless of the composition of the CAP program you completed, you are now responsible for the completion of the current requirements.

Basic Financial Accounting
Financial Statement Analysis I
Business Credit Principles

Each CAP course comprises of at least 30 hours of class time. Your local CAP sponsor will furnish you with end-of-course grades, grade transcripts or certificates of completion. Click here to learn more about the Credit Administration Program.

How to Apply for the CBA Designation

Once you have completed the course work under either Plan A or Plan B, you should:

Register with the NACM Education Department.
Complete and send the CBA Designation Application form to the NACM Education Department. You should submit your course grade transcripts with this application.

Once you’ve qualified, you may take the CBA Designation Exam. The three-hour exam is offered three times a year nationwide at local NACM Affiliated Association offices and once a year at the NACM Annual Convention. Click here to access the CBA Exam Study Guide.