Top 11 Customer Success Manager Certifications

Certifications are important for customer success managers in the job market because they demonstrate a mastery of the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the role. Companies that are looking to hire customer success managers want to ensure they are hiring someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in managing customer relationships and providing exceptional service. Having certifications in customer success management, such as those offered by the International Customer Success Association or Salesforce, can help potential employers assess a candidate’s qualifications quickly and easily. Additionally, certifications provide a way for customer success managers to stay up-to-date on industry best practices, trends, and tools that can help them better serve their customers.

This article reviews the most beneficial certifications for Customer Success Managers, and explains how they can help to advance a customer success manager's career.

What are Customer Success Manager Certifications?

Customer Success Manager Certification is a certification designed for professionals who want to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to manage customer success initiatives within an organization. Customer Success Managers are responsible for managing customer relationships and providing solutions to customers’ needs, while also working closely with other departments such as sales, marketing, product development, and customer service. With this certification, professionals can learn the best practices of customer success management and how to apply them in their roles.

The certification offers an in-depth understanding of key topics such as customer segmentation, account management, product adoption strategies, customer retention strategies, and more. By gaining valuable insight into these topics, professionals will be able to provide better solutions for their customers and ensure that they remain satisfied with their products or services. Additionally, the certification provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of customer success management so that professionals can understand how to effectively coordinate efforts between different teams within an organization.

By obtaining this certification, professionals will be able to demonstrate their expertise in managing customer success initiatives and show employers that they are highly qualified for positions involving customer success management. Furthermore, having this certification can help individuals stand out from other applicants when looking for jobs or promotions involving customer success management roles. Ultimately, the Customer Success Manager Certification can help professionals gain the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful in their careers while also helping employers identify qualified candidates who have what it takes to succeed in this field.

Pro Tip: Before enrolling in a customer success manager certification program, make sure to research the organization offering the course and ensure their curriculum is up-to-date with best practices in the field. Additionally, look for courses that offer practical applications of the material being taught so you can gain real-world experience and apply your knowledge immediately.

Related: What does a Customer Success Manager do?

Top 11 Customer Success Manager Certifications

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

1. Certified Customer Success Manager (CCSM)

Certified Customer Success Manager (CCSM) is a certification program designed to recognize and validate the expertise of customer success professionals. The CCSM certification is offered by the International Customer Success Association (ICSA).

The CCSM program consists of an online, self-paced course that covers topics such as customer success fundamentals, customer journey mapping, customer health metrics, and more. The course also includes a final exam that must be passed in order to become certified.

The course takes approximately 20-30 hours to complete and the cost of the course is $495 USD. To get certified, you must first register for the CCSM course on ICSA's website. Once registered, you will receive access to the online learning portal where you can begin your studies. Upon completion of the course, you will be required to take and pass the final exam in order to become certified.

Once certified, you will receive a digital certificate that can be used for professional development purposes and as proof of your knowledge and expertise in customer success management.

2. Certified Professional in Customer Success Management (CPCSM)

Certified Professional in Customer Success Management (CPCSM) is a certification program that provides professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful customer success managers. The CPCSM certification is designed for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of customer success management and its related processes.

The CPCSM certification requires applicants to have at least two years of experience in customer success management, as well as a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. The program consists of four modules: Introduction to Customer Success, Managing Customer Relationships, Optimizing Customer Experience, and Measuring & Analyzing Performance. Each module includes lectures, case studies, and practical exercises.

The entire program takes approximately six months to complete. During this time, applicants must complete all four modules and pass an online exam in order to receive the certification. The cost of the program varies depending on which provider you choose but typically ranges from $1,200-$2,000 USD.

3. Certified Customer Success Strategist (CCSS)

Certified Customer Success Strategist (CCSS) is a certification program designed to help customer success professionals develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be successful in their field. It is an online certification program offered by the International Association of Customer Success Professionals (IACSP). The program focuses on developing customer success strategies and tactics that drive business growth.

The CCSS certification program consists of two components: a self-paced online course and an exam. The online course covers topics such as customer segmentation, customer journey mapping, customer experience management, customer success metrics, and more. The exam is designed to test the applicant’s knowledge of these topics.

The program takes approximately 6-8 weeks to complete depending on how quickly you work through the course material. The cost of the CCSS certification program is $399 USD.

4. Certified Customer Relationship Manager (CCRM)

Certified Customer Relationship Manager (CCRM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have achieved proficiency in customer relationship management (CRM). The CCRM certification is offered by the International Institute of Certified Customer Relationship Managers (IICCRM), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the CRM profession.

The CCRM certification program consists of two parts: an online course and an exam. The online course covers topics such as customer service, sales, marketing, operations, and analytics. The exam tests the candidate’s knowledge and skills related to CRM principles and best practices.

To become certified, candidates must complete the online course and pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher. The online course typically takes about 40 hours to complete, while the exam takes approximately 2 hours.

The cost for the CCRM certification program is $399 USD for both the online course and exam.

5. Certified Professional in Customer Experience Management (CPCEM)

Certified Professional in Customer Experience Management (CPCEM) is a certification program designed to recognize professionals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage customer experience initiatives. The CPCEM certification is offered by the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA).

The CPCEM certification requires a minimum of two years of professional customer experience management experience, as well as successful completion of a comprehensive exam. Candidates must also complete an application that includes an essay about their customer experience management background and accomplishments.

The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed within three hours. The exam covers topics such as customer service, customer journey mapping, customer feedback analysis, customer segmentation, and more.

The cost for the CPCEM certification is $495 USD for CXPA members and $595 USD for non-members. This fee includes access to the online study materials and practice tests, as well as the actual exam fee.

To get started on your path to becoming a Certified Professional in Customer Experience Management (CPCEM), you can visit the CXPA website at www.cxpa.org/certification/.

6. Certified Professional in Client Engagement (CPCE)

Certified Professional in Client Engagement (CPCE) is an industry-recognized certification that demonstrates a professional’s ability to effectively engage with clients and build relationships. It is designed to help professionals understand the core principles of client engagement, such as building trust, communication, and collaboration.

The CPCE program requires a minimum of 40 hours of coursework and training. The program covers topics such as customer service, relationship management, negotiation skills, and sales techniques. Upon completion of the program, participants must pass an exam to become certified.

To get the CPCE certification, individuals must first complete the required coursework and training. After completing the coursework, individuals must register for the exam online or through their local testing center. The exam fee is $395 USD.

Once registered for the exam, individuals will receive instructions on how to prepare for the test. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within two hours. After passing the exam with a score of 70% or higher, individuals will be awarded their CPCE certification.

7. Certified Professional in Account Management (CPAM)

Certified Professional in Account Management (CPAM) is a certification program offered by the American Association of Account Management (AAAM). CPAM is designed to provide professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage customer accounts. It is intended for those who are currently working in account management roles or those who are looking to transition into this field.

The CPAM certification program consists of two parts: an online course and an exam. The online course covers topics such as customer relationship management, account planning and strategy, sales process management, and performance measurement. It takes approximately 10-12 hours to complete the course. After completing the course, candidates must pass a proctored exam in order to receive their certification.

To get certified, candidates must first register for the CPAM program through AAAM's website. Registration costs $295 USD. Once registered, candidates will have access to the online course materials and can begin studying for the exam at any time. Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will receive their CPAM certification from AAAM.

The CPAM certification is valid for three years from date of issue and needs to be renewed every three years in order to remain current. Renewal fees are $95 USD per year after initial registration fee has been paid.

8. Certified Professional in Customer Retention and Loyalty (CPCRL)

Certified Professional in Customer Retention and Loyalty (CPCRL) is a certification program designed to help professionals develop the skills and knowledge necessary to build and maintain customer loyalty. The certification is offered by the International Customer Loyalty Professionals Association (ICLPA).

The CPCRL certification program consists of three core courses: Fundamentals of Customer Retention, Advanced Strategies for Customer Retention, and Measurement & Evaluation of Customer Retention. Each course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of customer retention strategies, tactics, and best practices.

The program takes approximately six months to complete, depending on individual study habits. To get certified, applicants must successfully pass all three courses with a minimum score of 80%.

The cost for the certification program varies based on the number of courses taken. The full program costs $1,499 USD. There are also discounts available for ICLPA members.

Once certified, individuals will have access to exclusive resources such as webinars, workshops, and networking opportunities with other Certified Professionals in Customer Retention and Loyalty.

9. Certified Professional in Service Excellence (CPSE)

Certified Professional in Service Excellence (CPSE) is a certification program designed to recognize professionals who demonstrate a high level of expertise and knowledge in the service industry. It is offered by the International Customer Service Association (ICSA).

The CPSE certification requires applicants to have at least five years of experience in customer service or related fields, such as sales, marketing, operations, or human resources. The applicant must also pass an online exam that covers topics such as customer service policies and procedures, customer service strategies and techniques, communication skills, problem solving and conflict resolution.

The certification process typically takes 3-6 months to complete. After passing the exam, applicants must submit a portfolio of their work demonstrating their expertise in customer service. This portfolio should include examples of successful customer service initiatives they have implemented as well as any awards or recognition they have received for their work.

The cost of obtaining the CPSE certification varies depending on the type of membership you choose with ICSA. Membership fees range from $50-$400 per year depending on your chosen level of membership. Additionally, there is a one-time fee for the exam which is currently $295 USD.

10. Certified Professional in Salesforce Administration & Support (CPSA&S)

Certified Professional in Salesforce Administration & Support (CPSA&S) is a certification program designed to help individuals demonstrate their expertise in the administration and support of Salesforce applications. This certification is offered by the Salesforce Certification Program and is available to both experienced professionals and those new to the field.

The CPSA&S certification consists of two exams: The Salesforce Certified Administrator (ADM-201) exam and the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator (ADM-211) exam. Both exams are multiple choice, with a total of 60 questions each. To earn the CPSA&S certification, you must pass both exams within 18 months of each other.

To get started on your path to becoming a CPSA&S certified professional, you will need to purchase an exam voucher from the Salesforce website. The cost for each exam voucher is $200 USD, so it will cost $400 USD total for both exams. Once you have purchased your vouchers, you can register for your exams at any Pearson VUE testing center worldwide.

Once you have passed both exams, you will receive an email notification from Salesforce confirming that you have earned your CPSA&S certification. You can then access your digital badge and certificate through the Success Community portal on the Salesforce website.

11. Certified Professional in Customer Journey Mapping and Analysis (CPCJMA).

Certified Professional in Customer Journey Mapping and Analysis (CPCJMA) is a certification program offered by the International Customer Experience Institute (ICXI). The program is designed to help professionals develop their skills and knowledge in customer journey mapping and analysis.

The CPCJMA certification requires applicants to demonstrate their expertise in customer journey mapping and analysis, as well as their understanding of customer experience principles and best practices. To become certified, applicants must complete a series of courses, exams, and projects that are designed to assess their knowledge and skills.

The certification process typically takes between 6-12 months to complete depending on the applicant’s level of experience and commitment. The cost of the program varies depending on the number of courses taken, but typically ranges from $2,000-$4,000 USD.

To get started with the CPCJMA certification program, applicants must first register for an ICXI account at www.icxi.org/register. Once registered, applicants can select which courses they would like to take and begin the process of completing the required coursework and exams.

Do You Really Need a Customer Success Manager Certificate?

No, you do not need a Customer Success Manager Certificate in order to become a successful customer success manager. While having a certificate may help demonstrate to employers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to be an effective customer success manager, it is not a requirement for the job. In fact, many employers are more interested in your experience and ability to build relationships with customers than they are in any certificates or degrees you may possess.

The most important thing when it comes to being an effective customer success manager is having the right attitude and understanding of how to work with customers. This includes understanding their needs, providing solutions, and building strong relationships with them. Your education or certifications may give you some background knowledge on the industry but it cannot teach you the interpersonal skills needed for this job. It is these skills which will allow you to excel in your role as a customer success manager.

Therefore, while having a certificate may help show potential employers that you have some knowledge of the industry, it is not necessary for becoming an effective customer success manager. The most important factor here is demonstrating that you have the right attitude and skillset needed for this job.

Related: Customer Success Manager Resume Examples

FAQs About Customer Success Manager Certifications

Q1: What is a Customer Success Manager Certification?

A1: A Customer Success Manager Certification is a professional recognition that demonstrates expertise in customer success management. It typically involves completing courses and exams that cover topics such as customer relationship management, customer service best practices, and product knowledge.

Q2: How do I become certified as a Customer Success Manager?

A2: To become certified as a Customer Success Manager, you must typically complete an accredited certification program that covers the necessary skills and knowledge related to customer success management. This may include taking classes or online courses, completing tests, and submitting documentation of prior experience.

Q3: What are the benefits of becoming a Customer Success Manager?

A3: Becoming certified as a Customer Success Manager can help you to stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs and promotions. It also demonstrates your commitment to providing excellent customer service and can help you develop new skills related to managing customer relationships.

Q4: What topics are covered in the certification program?

A4: Topics covered in the certification program may include customer relationship management, customer service best practices, product knowledge, problem-solving techniques, communication strategies, data analysis methods, and more.

Q5: How long does it take to become certified?

A5: The amount of time required to become certified varies depending on the particular certification program you choose. Generally speaking, completion of most certification programs takes between 6 months and 1 year.