Top 10 Customer Account Specialist Certifications

Certifications are important for customer account specialists in the job market because they demonstrate to potential employers that the individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the role. Certifications can also help customer account specialists stand out from other applicants and make them more attractive to employers. In addition, certifications may provide access to industry-specific resources and networks, which can be beneficial for career advancement. Finally, certifications can help customer account specialists increase their credibility and marketability by providing evidence of their professional qualifications.

The purpose of this article is to review and explain how certifications for Customer Account Specialists can help advance their career.

What are Customer Account Specialist Certifications?

Customer Account Specialist Certification is a professional designation for those who specialize in customer account management and customer service. It is awarded by the National Institute for Customer Account Management (NICAM). The certification demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in customer account management, customer service, and customer-facing communication.

This certification can be beneficial to anyone who works in a customer service or account management role. It provides recognition of an individual’s expertise in the field as well as a competitive edge when looking for new job opportunities. Furthermore, it can provide employers with assurance that their staff has the necessary skills to effectively manage customers’ accounts and provide excellent customer service.

The certification program covers topics such as understanding customer needs, developing customer relationships, providing quality service, managing customer accounts, problem solving & conflict resolution and communication techniques. Additionally, individuals must pass an exam to receive their certification.

Overall, Customer Account Specialist Certification can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively manage customers’ accounts and provide superior levels of customer service. It also provides recognition of an individual’s expertise in the field and provides them with a competitive edge when looking for new job opportunities.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research the customer account specialist certification requirements for your state or region. Many certifications require additional education and/or experience in order to be eligible. Additionally, certain certifications may have prerequisites that must be met prior to taking the exam, such as completing a certain number of hours of customer service training.

Related: What does a Customer Account Specialist do?

Top 10 Customer Account Specialist Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Customer Account Specialists today.

1. Certified Customer Account Specialist (CCAS)

Certified Customer Account Specialist (CCAS) is a certification that demonstrates proficiency in customer account management. It is designed to help professionals who work with customers in the financial services industry understand and apply best practices for customer service, account management, and compliance. The certification is offered through the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP).

The CCAS certification requires successful completion of a comprehensive exam which covers topics such as customer service, account management, compliance, risk assessment, and more. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours to complete. Candidates must have at least two years of experience in the financial services industry to be eligible for the exam.

To register for the CCAS exam, candidates must submit an application form along with a fee of $375 USD. Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will receive their CCAS certification. The certification must be renewed every three years by completing continuing education credits or retaking the exam.

The cost to take the CCAS exam is $375 USD plus any applicable taxes or fees.

2. Certified Professional Customer Account Specialist (CPCAS)

Certified Professional Customer Account Specialist (CPCAS) is a certification program developed by the American Institute of Professional Accountants (AIPA). This certification is designed to recognize and validate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of those who work in customer account management.

The CPCAS program consists of two parts: an online course and a certification exam. The online course covers topics such as customer service, customer relationship management, financial analysis, and problem solving. The course takes approximately 10-12 hours to complete.

Once the online course is completed, candidates can take the certification exam. The exam consists of multiple choice questions that cover the material presented in the online course. Candidates must pass with a score of 70% or higher in order to receive their CPCAS certification.

The cost for the CPCAS program varies depending on where you purchase it from. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150-$250 for the entire program.

3. Certified Customer Service Professional (CCSP)

Certified Customer Service Professional (CCSP) is a certification program that recognizes customer service professionals who have demonstrated their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the field of customer service. The CCSP certification is offered by the National Customer Service Association (NCSA).

The CCSP program consists of four core competency areas: customer service strategies, customer service operations, customer service technology, and customer service management. To earn the CCSP certification, applicants must pass an exam that covers these four competency areas.

The exam typically takes two to three hours to complete and requires a passing score of 80% or higher. The cost of the exam varies depending on where it is taken; however, most locations charge between $150 and $200 for the exam.

In order to be eligible to take the CCSP exam, applicants must have at least two years of experience in a customer service role or equivalent education. Additionally, applicants must have completed at least 40 hours of training in one or more of the four core competency areas within the past five years.

Once certified as a CCSP professional, individuals are required to renew their certification every three years by completing at least 20 hours of continuing education related to customer service topics.

4. Certified Customer Relationship Manager (CCRM)

Certified Customer Relationship Manager (CCRM) is a professional certification program designed to help customer service professionals enhance their skills and knowledge in the areas of customer service, relationship management, and customer experience. The CCRM certification is awarded by the Customer Relationship Management Institute (CRMI).

The CCRM certification program consists of two levels: Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 focuses on foundational concepts, such as customer service fundamentals, communication strategies, and problem-solving techniques. Level 2 covers more advanced topics such as customer segmentation, data analysis, and customer loyalty programs.

It typically takes up to six months to complete the CCRM certification program. To get started, you must first register with CRMI and pay a registration fee of $250 USD. You will then need to complete an online application form that includes questions about your education level, job history and experience in customer service. Once your application is approved, you can begin working through the course material at your own pace.

The total cost of the CCRM certification program depends on which level you choose to pursue. For Level 1 certification, it costs $1,000 USD; for Level 2 certification it costs $2,500 USD; and for both levels combined it costs $3,500 USD.

5. Certified Professional in Customer Management (CPCM)

Certified Professional in Customer Management (CPCM) is a professional certification program offered by the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI). It is designed to recognize customer service professionals who have achieved a high level of expertise and knowledge in customer management. The CPCM certification demonstrates that an individual has the skills, experience, and knowledge necessary to effectively manage customer service operations.

The CPCM program consists of four core courses: Customer Service Fundamentals, Customer Relationship Management, Customer Experience Design, and Advanced Customer Service Strategies. Each course is designed to equip individuals with the skills needed to successfully manage customer service operations. The courses can be taken either online or in-person at an ICMI-approved training center.

It typically takes between 6-12 months to complete the CPCM certification program depending on how quickly you are able to complete the coursework. To get certified, individuals must pass all four core courses as well as the final exam with a score of 70% or higher.

The cost for the CPCM certification program varies depending on which format you choose. The online version costs $1,295 while the in-person version costs $2,795. Both versions include access to all four courses as well as one year of membership in ICMI’s Professional Community which provides additional resources and support for those pursuing their certification.

6. Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP)

Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) is a certification program offered by the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA). The CCXP certification is designed to recognize professionals who have demonstrated expertise in customer experience management and strategy.

The CCXP requires applicants to have at least three years of professional experience in customer experience, as well as a minimum of two years in a leadership role. Applicants must also demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of customer experience principles through an online exam.

The online exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three hours to complete. The exam covers topics such as customer journey mapping, customer segmentation, customer feedback management, and more.

The cost for the CCXP certification is $495 USD for CXPA members and $595 USD for non-members. Additionally, there is an annual renewal fee of $95 USD for members and $145 USD for non-members.

Overall, the Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) certification provides recognition to professionals who have demonstrated expertise in customer experience management and strategy. It requires applicants to have at least three years of professional experience in the field, as well as passing an online exam that covers topics related to customer experience principles. The cost for the certification is relatively affordable and there is an annual renewal fee associated with it as well.

7. Certified Salesforce Administrator (CSA)

Certified Salesforce Administrator (CSA) is a certification program offered by Salesforce, the world’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform. The CSA certification is designed to validate the skills and knowledge of professionals who are responsible for managing and administering Salesforce applications.

The CSA certification program consists of two exams: Salesforce Administrator Certification Exam and Advanced Administrator Certification Exam. Both exams are multiple-choice tests that cover topics such as user management, data management, security, reporting, and analytics. To become certified, candidates must pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher.

The time it takes to get the CSA certification depends on the individual’s preparation level. However, most people can expect to complete the process in about 6-12 months.

To get started with the CSA certification process, candidates should review the exam objectives for each exam and begin studying for them using resources such as online tutorials, practice tests, study guides, and more. Additionally, candidates can take advantage of free resources from Salesforce University such as webinars and online courses to help them prepare for their exams.

The cost of obtaining a CSA certification varies depending on which exam you choose to take and how many times you need to retake it if necessary. Generally speaking, however, you can expect to pay around $200 - $400 USD per exam attempt.

8. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement Certification

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement Certification is a certification program that demonstrates the ability to use the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform to create customer engagement solutions. It validates a person’s knowledge and skills in developing, deploying, and managing customer engagement solutions with Dynamics 365. The certification covers topics such as creating custom entities, building workflows and dialogs, integrating with other systems, and more.

The certification exam takes approximately two hours to complete. To get certified, you must pass the MB-200 exam which covers core concepts of Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $165 - $200 USD.

9. Oracle CX Cloud Suite Certification

Oracle CX Cloud Suite Certification is an industry-recognized credential that validates a professional’s knowledge and skills in the Oracle CX Cloud Suite. It demonstrates a professional’s ability to design, implement, and manage Oracle CX Cloud Suite solutions.

The certification requires passing a series of exams that cover topics such as customer experience management, marketing automation, sales force automation, service management, and analytics. The exams are available online and can be taken at any time.

It typically takes about two months to prepare for the certification exams. To get certified, you must pass all four exams with a minimum score of 70%. The cost of the certification varies depending on the country where you take the exam. In the US, it costs around $1,000 for all four exams.

10. Zendesk Support Certification

Zendesk Support Certification is a professional certification program that validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in providing customer service and support through the Zendesk platform. The certification program includes four levels of certification: Associate, Professional, Expert, and Master.

The Associate level is designed for individuals who are new to the Zendesk platform. It takes approximately 2-4 hours to complete this level of certification. To get certified at the Associate level, you must pass an online exam that tests your knowledge of the Zendesk platform.

The Professional level is designed for individuals with more experience using the Zendesk platform. It takes approximately 4-6 hours to complete this level of certification. To get certified at the Professional level, you must pass an online exam that tests your knowledge of advanced features on the Zendesk platform as well as your ability to troubleshoot common support issues.

The Expert and Master levels are designed for experienced professionals who have mastered all aspects of using the Zendesk platform. It takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete these levels of certification. To get certified at these levels, you must pass an online exam that tests your knowledge of advanced features on the Zendesk platform as well as your ability to troubleshoot complex support issues.

The cost for each level of certification varies depending on where you take it from, but generally ranges from $50-$200 USD per exam.

Do You Really Need a Customer Account Specialist Certificate?

If you are considering a career in customer account specialist, then the answer is yes. A customer account specialist certificate is a useful tool for building your resume and getting ahead in the competitive job market. It can demonstrate to employers that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the field of customer service.

The certificate provides an opportunity to learn about customer service best practices, how to interact with customers, and how to resolve customer issues effectively. It also teaches you how to use software programs such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems, which are essential for managing customer accounts. Additionally, the coursework will teach you how to analyze data and create reports that track customer satisfaction levels and other metrics. This knowledge can be used to improve customer service operations and develop better strategies for meeting customer needs.

Getting certified may also give you an edge over others who are applying for the same position because it shows employers that you have taken the initiative to gain additional education related to your field of work. Employers may be more likely to hire someone with a certification than someone without one because it demonstrates dedication, hard work, and commitment to professional development.

Ultimately, earning a certification in customer account specialist can help you stand out from other candidates when looking for jobs in this field or even other related positions. It will give employers confidence that they are hiring someone who has advanced knowledge of their industry and is prepared to take on any challenge that comes their way.

Related: Customer Account Specialist Resume Examples

FAQs About Customer Account Specialist Certifications

1. What types of certifications are available for Customer Account Specialists?

Ans: There are several certifications available, including Certified Customer Account Manager (CCAM), Certified Customer Account Professional (CCAP), and Certified Professional in Customer Account Management (CPCAM).

2. How do I become certified as a Customer Account Specialist?

Ans: To become certified as a Customer Account Specialist, you will need to complete an accredited training program or course and pass the certification exam.

3. Are there any prerequisites for becoming certified?

Ans: Yes, most certifying bodies require that applicants have at least two years of experience in customer account management before applying for certification.

4. How long does it take to become certified?

Ans: The amount of time it takes to become certified depends on the type of certification you are pursuing and the program or course you choose to complete. Generally, most programs can be completed within 8-12 weeks.

5. What are the benefits of becoming a Certified Customer Account Specialist?

Ans: Becoming a Certified Customer Account Specialist can help demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in customer account management to employers, clients, and peers. It also provides opportunities for career advancement and increased job security by helping you stand out among other professionals in your field.