Alison Petersen: How CPCM certification validated her experience

Thinking about taking the AICP exam? Preparation is key. 🔑 We have 7 smart strategies to help you prep with confidence and pass with purpose. These tips are designed to help planners work smarter, not harder, on their path to certification. Whether you're just starting or deep into prep, we’ll help you stay focused and reduce stress before the big day. Get our tips for AICP test prep success: https://bit.ly/3AkSlCl

Key Benefits of Certification Testing Standardized evaluation: Certifications offer a consistent, objective way to measure skills and knowledge across the entire workforce. Motivation and engagement: The pursuit of a certification provides a clear goal for employees and can increase engagement by investing in their professional growth. Reduced risk: For roles with high stakes (e.g., in IT or engineering), certification confirms that employees meet a minimum standard of competence, reducing the risk of errors. Increased credibility: An organization that supports certification can attract more qualified applicants and boost its reputation as an employer of choice. Informed decision-making: Certification data provides insights that can inform decisions about training effectiveness, promotions, and succession planning. 

Associations often ask: "Can we really offer both the certification exam AND the certification prep?" The answer: Yes. ✅ The bigger question is how to do it right. 📖 Download our guide to explore best practices and understand how to offer both while aligning with industry standards: https://lnkd.in/g89nJbZN

The Financial Conduct Authority’s looking to trim back some of the red tape around the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR). Their latest Consultation Paper (CP25/21) lays out a suite of proposals designed to make the regime leaner, more efficient, and crucially less of a burden for firms. So, what’s changing? Among other things: • Improve the efficiency of the “12-week rule”, which allows someone to cover for a Senior Manager without being approved;  • Streamline the Senior Management Function (“SMF”) approval process; • Increase the validity period for criminal record checks for SMF applications; • Allow more time to report updates to Statements of Responsibilities;  • Remove overlap in certification roles and provide guidance on annual certification to help firms streamline the process;  • Allow more time for firms to update specified directory information;  • Provide guidance in areas such as: the applicability of key SMF roles; allocation of Prescribed Responsibilities; the application of Conduct Rules and related reporting requirements; • Change guidance about the period in which firms should provide regulatory references about individuals upon request from a hiring firm; and  • Raise the thresholds for becoming an enhanced SMCR firm. We break down the full set of changes in our September newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gFnEyWde

My advice (worth what you paid) on our profiles here: Please proofread your page for jargon. Your company may call you a “Silver Chuck Norris Wannabe,” but that is rather meaningless for anyone outside the specific office. The same goes for abbreviations; many readers will have no idea about your SCNW certification. 🙂

Standardize-Do-Check-Act Credit to Sergio D'Amico, CSSBB. Give him a follow Want a stronger foundation for your team? Standardize first. SDCA builds trust and lasting systems. Stabilization secures progress. Yet many skip it before scaling. Why SDCA first? +It locks in success +It builds a stable base +It preps you for better PDCA cycles Step 1 ➟ Standardize ↳ Write down the new steps ↳ Train your team to follow them ↳ Stick to the same method every time Step 2 ➟ Do ↳ Follow the plan with care ↳ Fix errors as soon as they pop up Step 3 ➟ Check ↳ Match results with your goals ↳ Spot any flaws or gaps Step 4 ➟ Act ↳ Fix root causes ↳ Update the standards if needed ↳ Celebrate the wins as a team SDCA vs. PDCA? ↳ SDCA maintains stability ↳ PDCA sparks fresh progress ↳ Together, they drive real growth Why stabilize? ↳ It prevents backsliding ↳ It builds trust in new processes ↳ It sets a solid stage for big wins P.S. Ready to anchor improvements before scaling up? Start with SDCA! *** Do you want exclusive access to our Gemba Walk checklists? Click here: https://lnkd.in/d424c7rX

Best Way to Study ACA Certificate Level Exams: Preparing for ACA Certificate Level exams requires a structured approach and consistent effort. These foundational exams set the groundwork for your ACA journey, so developing effective study habits early on is crucial. Start with the syllabus. Familiarize yourself with the exam structure and topics covered. The ICAEW provides detailed syllabi that outline what you need to know, so use these as your roadmap. Create a realistic study schedule. Don't cram everything into the last few weeks. Space out your revision over several months, dedicating specific time blocks to each module. Consistency beats intensity every time. Practice Question Bank religiously. There's no substitute for working through QB questions. They help you understand the question format, identify recurring themes and improve your time management under pressure. Join a study group. Discussing tricky concepts with peers can illuminate areas you've misunderstood. Teaching others also reinforces your own understanding. Use active learning techniques. Don't just read passively. Make notes, create flashcards and test yourself regularly. The more actively you engage with the material, the better it sticks. Don't neglect the practical elements. Certificate Level includes workplace learning requirements alongside exams, so stay engaged with your training at work. Remember, passing these exams is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay focused, stay consistent and you'll get there.

If you're sitting R06 next week, here is something important to understand. When you see that the question in front of you has 12 marks, we usually say this means you need to make at least 12 points in your answer, but if you can think of more then write them down. This is true. However, what is important to learn, understand, and remember, is that the CII don't give more than one mark for the same point or similar points worded differently. For example, you may be asked 'what would an adviser need to know to advise on X' (ie, what is missing from the case studies). An answer would usually include 'confirming the ATR'. It would also include knowing the clients' 'CFL'. These are different things but would be shown in model answers as the same point as follows: "Confirm ATR/CFL" - this means you'd only get 1 mark. Similarly, you may want to write 'any expected inheritances', or 'whether they are prepared to downsize' - again, this would likely appear in a model answer as "expected inheritances/prepared to downsize" because both would likely mean receiving a lump sum. So only 1 mark again here. This is something that you can pick up from going through the model answers the CII provides in the exam guides, and it is a really useful part of your revision. Educate yourself on what the CII considers to be making the same/similar points because if you wrote these separately you might think you'd made 4 of your 12 points, but it would actually only be 2. Good luck in the rest of your revision 😊

You're staring at two certification paths, and the decision feels overwhelming. The advice you'll find online ranges from "always start with fundamentals" to "just go for what pays more" – but neither approach considers your specific situation or timeline. The question isn't just which certification is "better" – it's which one aligns with where you actually want to be in two years and gets you there fastest. Read the full article here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g4ivvHPN

CPA Canada has confirmed that a new CPA Certification Program will begin in 2027. Here are the main changes: - Practical work requirement will be 24 months instead of 30 months - The program will have 4 modules instead of 6 - Assessments will take place after each module, with multiple sittings per year - There will be a stronger focus on skills like ethics, problem solving, integration, and critical thinking These updates will change how long it takes to qualify, how assessments are structured, and which skills students should begin developing now. For those already in PREP or PEP, a transition plan will be available. What part of the new program do you think will be the biggest adjustment for students? Article: https://lnkd.in/gRMRDDjH?