Top 10 Bookstore Manager Certifications

Certifications for a bookstore manager are important in the job market because they demonstrate to employers that the candidate has a specific set of skills and knowledge in bookselling. Certifications can help showcase knowledge and expertise, which can give an applicant an edge over other potential candidates. Certified booksellers are seen as more reliable, knowledgeable, and experienced in the field than those who lack certification. Additionally, certifications may be required by some employers when applying for certain positions or promotions. Finally, certifications may also provide access to professional networks and industry resources, which can be invaluable for career advancement.

The purpose of this article is to review the top certifications for Bookstore Managers and explain how they can help enhance a bookstore manager's career.

What are Bookstore Manager Certifications?

Bookstore manager certification is a professional credential that recognizes individuals who have the knowledge and skills to manage a bookstore. This certification is awarded by the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and requires completion of an approved course of study, as well as passing an exam. With this certification, bookstore managers can demonstrate their commitment to excellence in the industry and show potential employers that they have the necessary skills to successfully lead a bookstore team.

Bookstore managers certified by the ABA are knowledgeable in both retail operations and bookselling topics, such as inventory management, customer service, merchandising, marketing, financial management, personnel management, and technology. This certification ensures that certified professionals are up-to-date on best practices for managing a successful bookstore business. It also provides an advantage for those seeking employment in the field or for those looking to advance their career.

Overall, earning a bookstore manager certification from the ABA can be beneficial for those looking to break into or advance within the bookselling industry. The certification signifies dedication to professional development and demonstrates expertise in retail operations and bookselling topics.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research the requirements for bookstore manager certification in your state or country before beginning the process. Certification requirements may vary depending on the jurisdiction, so it is important to be aware of any specific qualifications you need to meet. Additionally, look into any continuing education courses or other resources that may help you stay current with the industry.

Related: What does a Bookstore Manager do?

Top 10 Bookstore Manager Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Bookstore Managers today.

1. Certified Bookstore Manager (CBM)

Certified Bookstore Manager (CBM) is a certification program designed to help booksellers and bookstore managers develop their skills in the areas of store management, customer service, inventory control, financial management, and marketing. The CBM program is administered by the American Booksellers Association (ABA).

The CBM program consists of four courses that must be completed within two years. The courses are: Introduction to Bookselling; Store Management; Customer Service & Marketing; and Financial Management. Each course includes online modules and an in-person workshop. Upon completion of all four courses, individuals receive the Certified Bookstore Manager designation.

To become certified, individuals must complete an application form and pay a fee of $395. This fee covers the cost of all four courses as well as the certification exam. Once an individual has completed all four courses, they can take the certification exam at any ABA-approved testing center or online through Pearson VUE. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

Upon successful completion of the exam, individuals will receive their Certified Bookstore Manager certificate from ABA and will be eligible for discounts on products and services from ABA vendors.

2. Certified Professional Bookstore Manager (CPBM)

Certified Professional Bookstore Manager (CPBM) is a professional certification program for bookstore managers. The program is offered by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), the national trade association of independent bookstores in America. The CPBM certification program is designed to give bookstore managers the knowledge and skills they need to effectively manage their stores, while also helping them stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices.

The CPBM program consists of an online course, followed by an onsite assessment at the ABA headquarters in White Plains, New York. The online course takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete, depending on the individual’s learning style and experience level. The cost of the online course is $295.

In order to become certified as a CPBM, individuals must successfully complete both the online course and the onsite assessment. The onsite assessment includes a written exam that tests knowledge of store management topics such as customer service, inventory management, marketing, financials, legal issues, and more. It also includes an interview with an ABA representative who will assess candidates’ ability to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

The cost of taking the onsite assessment is $200 per person and it typically takes about two hours to complete. Once candidates have passed both components of the certification process they will receive their official CPBM certificate from ABA.

3. Certified Retail Bookstore Manager (CRBM)

Certified Retail Bookstore Manager (CRBM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of retail bookstore managers. The CRBM certification is offered by the National Association of College Stores (NACS).

The CRBM program consists of an online course and a proctored exam. The online course covers topics such as store operations, customer service, marketing, inventory management, finance, and human resources. It takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete the course. After completing the course, candidates must pass a proctored exam in order to receive their CRBM certification.

To get started with the CRBM program, applicants must first register for the online course on the NACS website. The cost of registration is $199 USD for members of NACS and $249 USD for non-members. Once registered, applicants will have access to all materials needed for the course and exam. Upon successful completion of both components of the program, applicants will be awarded their Certified Retail Bookstore Manager certificate from NACS.

4. International Bookstore Management Certification (IBMC)

International Bookstore Management Certification (IBMC) is an online certification program designed to help booksellers, librarians, and other professionals in the book industry gain the skills and knowledge needed to manage a successful bookstore. The program provides comprehensive training on topics such as inventory management, customer service, marketing, financial analysis, and more.

The IBMC program consists of six courses which can be completed in as little as six months. Courses include Introduction to Bookstore Management, Inventory Management for Bookstores, Customer Service for Bookstores, Financial Analysis for Bookstores, Marketing Strategies for Bookstores, and Professionalism in the Workplace. Each course includes lectures from experienced instructors as well as quizzes and assignments to test your understanding of the material.

To get certified through the IBMC program you must complete all six courses with a passing grade. After completing each course you will receive a certificate of completion that can be used towards your certification. You will also need to submit an application form with evidence of your completion of the courses before you can receive your official IBMC certification.

The cost of the IBMC program varies depending on where you take it but typically ranges from around $500-$1000 USD.

5. National Association of College Stores Bookstore Management Certificate Program (NACS BMCP)

The National Association of College Stores Bookstore Management Certificate Program (NACS BMCP) is a comprehensive online training program designed to help bookstore professionals gain the knowledge and skills needed to manage their stores effectively. The program consists of eight modules that cover topics such as retail operations, financial management, marketing, customer service, and store layout. Each module takes approximately two hours to complete and includes interactive activities, quizzes, and case studies.

To get the NACS BMCP certification, you must complete all eight modules and pass a final exam with a score of 75% or higher. The entire program can be completed in as little as four weeks or up to six months depending on your schedule.

The cost for the NACS BMCP program is $395 for members of the National Association of College Stores (NACS) and $495 for non-members. This fee covers access to all eight modules, the final exam, and a certificate upon successful completion of the program.

6. American Booksellers Association's Certified Store Manager Program (ABACSM)

The American Booksellers Association’s Certified Store Manager Program (ABACSM) is a comprehensive training program designed to help booksellers develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively manage their stores. The program consists of three courses, each one focusing on a different aspect of store management. The first course covers topics such as customer service, merchandising, inventory control, and marketing; the second course focuses on financial management; and the third course covers human resources management.

The program takes approximately six months to complete, depending on the individual's availability for study and practice. Participants must pass an online assessment at the end of each course in order to receive certification.

To get started in ABACSM, booksellers must be members of the American Booksellers Association (ABA). After joining ABA, booksellers can register for the program by visiting the ABA website or contacting ABA staff directly.

The cost of ABACSM varies depending on whether a participant is an individual member or part of an organization that has purchased a group membership with ABA. For individual members, the cost is $395 for all three courses combined; for group members, it is $295 per person for all three courses combined.

7. Barnes & Noble College Store Management Certification Program

The Barnes & Noble College Store Management Certification Program is a comprehensive training program designed to prepare store managers for success in the college retail environment. The program consists of four modules that cover topics such as customer service, merchandising and inventory management, human resources, and financial management. It also includes an online certification exam to assess the knowledge acquired through the coursework.

The program can be completed in as little as one month, depending on the individual’s availability and commitment. To get started, individuals must register online at the Barnes & Noble College website. Upon completion of registration, they will receive access to all four modules of the program.

Each module requires approximately two hours of study time and comes with a corresponding quiz that must be passed before moving onto the next module. After completing all four modules, participants must take an online certification exam to demonstrate their understanding of the material covered in each module. Upon successful completion of this exam, participants will receive their Barnes & Noble College Store Management Certification.

The cost for participation in this program is $199 USD per person or $299 USD for two people registering together.

8. Independent College Store Management Certification Program

The Independent College Store Management Certification Program (ICSMC) is an industry-recognized certification program designed to provide college store managers with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage their stores. The program consists of five levels of certification, each focusing on a different area of store management.

Level 1: Introduction to College Store Management

This level provides an overview of the college store industry, including the roles and responsibilities of a college store manager, trends in retailing, customer service strategies, and merchandising techniques.

Level 2: Operations Management

This level focuses on operational aspects such as inventory control, pricing strategies, marketing plans, and financial analysis.

Level 3: Human Resources Management

This level covers topics such as recruiting and hiring employees, developing job descriptions, training staff, and managing performance.

Level 4: Leadership & Strategic Planning

This level focuses on developing leadership skills and strategic planning for the store’s future success. Topics include goal setting, budgeting, and decision making.

Level 5: Professional Development & Ethics

This level covers professional development topics such as communication skills and ethical practices in the workplace. It also includes a review of current issues facing college stores today.

The ICSMC program takes approximately 18 months to complete depending on how quickly you are able to complete each level's coursework. To get certified, you must successfully complete all five levels of the program within three years from your initial enrollment date. Each level requires you to pass an exam with a score of 80% or higher in order to advance to the next one. The cost for the entire ICSMC program is $1,495 USD plus applicable taxes if any.

9. Amazon Books Store Operations and Leadership Certificate

Amazon Books Store Operations and Leadership Certificate is a program designed to help Amazon Books Store employees gain the skills they need to become successful leaders. The program is offered through Amazon’s online learning platform, Amazon Learning. It consists of four courses that cover topics such as customer service, store operations, leadership, and problem solving. Each course is self-paced and can be completed in approximately six weeks.

To get the certificate, you must complete all four courses with a passing grade. You will also need to pass an exam at the end of each course. Once you have successfully completed all four courses and passed the exams, you will receive your certificate from Amazon Learning.

The cost of the certificate varies depending on how many courses you take. Each course costs $29.99 USD per month or $179.94 USD for a one-time payment for all four courses.

Overall, the Amazon Books Store Operations and Leadership Certificate is a great way for employees to gain valuable skills that will help them become better leaders in their stores and advance their careers within Amazon Books Stores.

10. Follett Higher Education Group Store Management Certification

Follett Higher Education Group Store Management Certification is a program designed to develop and recognize store managers who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to effectively manage a college bookstore. This certification requires completion of an online course that includes topics such as customer service, inventory management, merchandising, financial management, personnel management, and more.

The course takes approximately 10-12 hours to complete and can be done at your own pace. Upon successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of completion from Follett Higher Education Group.

To get started with the certification process you must first register for the program by visiting Follett's website. Once registered you will be able to access the online course materials and begin your journey towards becoming a certified store manager. The cost for this certification is $99 USD.

Do You Really Need a Bookstore Manager Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual. For some people, it might be necessary to obtain a Bookstore Manager Certificate in order to obtain a job or promotion in the field. However, for others, obtaining the certificate may not be necessary.

For those who wish to pursue a career in bookstore management, having a Bookstore Manager Certificate can certainly be beneficial. The certificate demonstrates that an individual has taken the time and effort to gain knowledge of the industry and is qualified for such a position. It can also provide an edge over other applicants when applying for jobs and promotions. Additionally, many employers view the certificate as proof of dedication and skill in managing bookstores.

On the other hand, there are some circumstances where obtaining a Bookstore Manager Certificate may not be necessary or even beneficial. For example, if an individual already has extensive experience managing bookstores, they may not need to go through the process of obtaining a certificate in order to demonstrate their qualifications for such positions. Furthermore, certain managerial roles may require different certifications that are more specific to that particular role or industry. In these cases, obtaining the Bookstore Manager Certificate would not necessarily be required or beneficial for the individual’s career goals or objectives.

Ultimately, whether or not someone needs a Bookstore Manager Certificate will depend on their individual circumstances and career goals. If an individual is looking to pursue a career in bookstore management and believes that having this certification might help them achieve their goals then it could certainly be worth pursuing. However, if they already have extensive experience managing bookstores or are seeking employment in another field then obtaining such a certificate may not be necessary or beneficial for them at all.

Related: Bookstore Manager Resume Examples

FAQs About Bookstore Manager Certifications

1. What are the eligibility requirements for a Bookstore Manager Certification?

Answer: The eligibility requirements vary depending on the specific certification program, but generally require at least two years of relevant work experience as well as a high school diploma or equivalent.

2. How long does it take to complete a Bookstore Manager Certification?

Answer: Most programs can be completed in six months to one year, depending on the amount of time you’re able to dedicate to studying and completing coursework.

3. What topics are covered in a Bookstore Manager Certification program?

Answer: Common topics covered include inventory management, customer service, marketing, financial management, merchandising, and leadership skills.

4. How much does it cost to obtain a Bookstore Manager Certification?

Answer: Costs vary depending on the certification program and may include tuition fees, books and materials fees, and exam fees.

5. Are there any online options for obtaining a Bookstore Manager Certification?

Answer: Yes, many certification programs offer fully online courses that can be completed from the comfort of your own home or office.