Top 11 Territory Sales Representative Certifications

Certifications are important for a territory sales representative in the job market because they demonstrate to employers that the individual has a certain level of knowledge and skill related to the position. Certifications can also help a prospective employee stand out from other candidates and show potential employers that they have taken the initiative to gain additional skills and knowledge in their chosen field. Additionally, certifications may provide access to exclusive opportunities or discounts on products, services, or training which can be beneficial for those seeking to develop their career further.

The purpose of this article is to review the top certifications for Territory Sales Representatives and explain how they can enhance their career opportunities.

What are Territory Sales Representative Certifications?

Territory Sales Representative Certification is a professional certification program designed to provide sales professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively develop and manage sales territories. It is intended for those who are responsible for managing the sales process from start to finish, including prospecting, cold calling, lead generation, account management, and closing deals. This certification will help sales representatives become more efficient in their job duties by teaching them how to identify customer needs, develop relationships with prospects and customers, create effective presentations, negotiate pricing and contracts, use technology tools to increase productivity, and analyze data to measure performance. With these skills in place, territory sales representatives can maximize their effectiveness and help increase company profits.

Pro Tip: To become a certified territory sales representative, you should consider taking courses that focus on customer service and sales skills. Additionally, gaining experience in the field is essential as it will help to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the industry.

Related: What does a Territory Sales Representative do?

Top 11 Territory Sales Representative Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Territory Sales Representatives today.

1. Certified Sales Professional (CSP)

Certified Sales Professional (CSP) is a professional certification program designed to recognize sales professionals who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in sales skills, knowledge, and practices. It is offered by the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP).

The CSP certification requires applicants to have at least three years of professional sales experience and pass an exam that covers topics such as customer service, communication, negotiation, closing techniques, and product knowledge. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

To obtain the CSP certification, applicants must submit an application form along with proof of their sales experience. Once approved, they can register for the exam and pay the fee ($295 USD). After passing the exam, they will receive their CSP certificate in the mail.

The CSP certification is valid for three years from the date it was issued. To maintain their certification status, certified professionals must complete continuing education credits every three years.

2. Certified Professional Salesperson (CPSP)

Certified Professional Salesperson (CPSP) is a professional certification program offered by the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP). The CPSP certification is designed to recognize excellence in sales and demonstrate a commitment to professional development. It is the only nationally recognized sales certification program for sales professionals.

The CPSP certification requires applicants to pass a comprehensive exam covering topics such as sales process, customer service, product knowledge, communication skills, and negotiation techniques. The exam consists of two parts: an online assessment and an in-person proctored exam. The online assessment takes approximately three hours to complete and the in-person proctored exam lasts four hours.

To be eligible for the CPSP certification, applicants must have at least two years of full-time sales experience or equivalent part-time experience. They must also complete at least 12 hours of approved continuing education courses within the last three years.

The cost of obtaining the CPSP certification varies depending on your location and whether or not you are already a member of NASP. Generally speaking, it costs between $500-$700 USD to become certified.

3. Certified Sales Manager (CSM)

Certified Sales Manager (CSM) is a professional certification program offered by the American Management Association (AMA). The CSM certification program is designed to help sales professionals develop their skills and knowledge in order to become more successful in their roles.

The CSM certification program consists of three courses: Introduction to Sales Management, Advanced Sales Management, and Professional Selling Skills. Each course must be completed within six months of enrolling in the program. In order to earn the CSM certification, all three courses must be successfully completed with a passing grade of 70% or higher.

To get certified as a Certified Sales Manager, you must first complete an online application form with the AMA. Once your application has been accepted and approved, you will be given access to the online courses. Once all three courses have been completed with a passing grade, you will receive your official CSM certificate from the AMA.

The cost for the Certified Sales Manager program varies depending on which package you choose. The basic package includes all three courses and costs $1,495 USD. The premium package includes additional resources such as webinars and one-on-one coaching sessions and costs $2,495 USD.

4. Certified Professional Selling Skills (CPSS)

Certified Professional Selling Skills (CPSS) is a professional certification program designed to help sales professionals develop and enhance their selling skills. The program is offered by the American Society of Professional Sales (ASPS), an international professional organization for sales professionals.

The CPSS program consists of two parts: a self-study course and an exam. The self-study course covers topics such as customer service, communication, negotiation, closing techniques, product knowledge, and more. It takes approximately 10 hours to complete the course.

The exam is administered online and consists of multiple-choice questions based on the material covered in the self-study course. It takes about 2 hours to complete the exam. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your official CPSS certificate from ASPS.

The cost for the CPSS program varies depending on whether you are a member of ASPS or not. For non-members, the cost is $395 USD; for members, it is $295 USD.

5. Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE)

Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) is a professional designation offered by the Real Estate Negotiation Institute (RENI). It is designed to equip real estate professionals with the skills, knowledge, and strategies needed to become successful negotiators in real estate transactions.

The CNE program includes an online course, a live seminar, and a final exam. The online course consists of six modules that cover topics such as understanding negotiation styles, communication strategies, and how to handle difficult conversations. The live seminar is conducted by experienced real estate professionals who provide hands-on training and practice in negotiation techniques.

To obtain the CNE designation, individuals must complete both the online course and the live seminar. The entire program typically takes between four and six weeks to complete depending on individual schedules.

The cost of obtaining the CNE designation varies depending on location but typically ranges from $1,000 - $2,500 USD. This fee covers all materials needed for the program including the online course, live seminar, and final exam.

6. Certified Account Executive (CAE)

Certified Account Executive (CAE) is a professional designation for sales professionals who specialize in account management. It is awarded by the Sales Management Association, a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the practice of sales management. The CAE designation recognizes individuals who have demonstrated expertise in developing and managing customer relationships, as well as understanding the principles of effective sales management.

It typically takes between six months and one year to complete the requirements for the CAE designation. To get started, applicants must have at least three years of experience in account management or sales management and must pass an exam that covers topics such as customer relationship management, sales process improvement, and team development. Applicants also need to provide evidence of their professional experience through references or other documentation.

The cost for obtaining the CAE designation varies depending on a number of factors including country of residence, membership status with the Sales Management Association, and whether or not an applicant is taking an online or in-person course. Generally speaking, it can cost anywhere from $500-$2,000 USD to obtain the CAE designation.

7. Certified Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Specialist

Certified Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Specialist is a designation that is awarded by the CRM Institute of America to individuals who have demonstrated mastery of customer relationship management principles and practices. The certification is designed to help professionals gain a deeper understanding of how to use CRM tools and strategies to improve customer relationships, increase sales, and drive business success.

The Certified Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Specialist program consists of two courses: one focused on the fundamentals of CRM and another on advanced CRM topics. The courses are offered both online and in-person, with the length of each course depending on the individual's learning preferences. In order to become certified, an individual must complete both courses within six months.

In order to get certified as a Certified Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Specialist, an individual must first register for the program through the CRM Institute of America website. After registering, individuals will receive access to the online course materials as well as instructions on how to complete the coursework. Once all coursework has been completed, individuals must pass an online exam in order to be certified.

The cost for becoming a Certified Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Specialist varies depending on whether or not you choose to take the courses online or in-person. The cost for taking both courses online is $1,495 USD while taking them in-person will cost $2,995 USD.

8. Certified Business Development Professional (CBDP)

Certified Business Development Professional (CBDP) is an internationally recognized certification program that provides professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to develop and implement successful business development strategies. The CBDP program is designed to help individuals gain a comprehensive understanding of business development, including the principles, processes, and methods used in this field.

The CBDP certification requires individuals to pass a three-hour exam that covers topics such as market analysis, sales planning, customer relationship management, project management, and financial analysis. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and can be taken online or at a testing center.

To get the CBDP certification, individuals must first complete an application form and pay a fee of $395 USD. Once approved for the program, individuals must then complete all required coursework within one year from the date of enrollment. Upon successful completion of the coursework and passing the exam, individuals will receive their CBDP certification.

9. Certified Solution Selling Professional (CSSP)

Certified Solution Selling Professional (CSSP) is a certification program designed to help sales professionals become more effective in their roles. The program focuses on teaching the fundamentals of solution selling and how to use those skills to build relationships, identify customer needs, and close deals. It is offered by the Solution Selling Institute (SSI), an organization dedicated to helping salespeople increase their effectiveness and success.

The CSSP certification requires a minimum of 20 hours of instruction, which can be completed through self-study or instructor-led courses. The cost for the course varies depending on the provider, but typically ranges from $500-$1000 USD. After completing the coursework, students must pass a written exam in order to receive their certification.

The CSSP certification is valid for two years from the date of completion, after which recertification is required. Recertification requires attending additional training sessions or completing additional self-study courses. There are also continuing education requirements that must be met every year in order to maintain active status as a certified professional.

Overall, obtaining the CSSP certification can be an invaluable tool for sales professionals looking to increase their effectiveness and success in their roles. It provides valuable insight into best practices for solution selling and can help salespeople better understand customer needs and close more deals.

10. Certified Consultative Selling Professional (CCSP)

Certified Consultative Selling Professional (CCSP) is a certification program designed to help sales professionals improve their consultative selling skills. The certification is offered by the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP).

The CCSP program consists of three parts: an online course, an assessment exam, and a final project. The online course covers topics such as customer needs analysis, communication strategies, and building relationships with customers. It takes approximately 16 hours to complete the course.

The assessment exam is a multiple-choice test that assesses the knowledge gained from the online course. It takes about two hours to complete the exam.

The final project requires the candidate to demonstrate their ability to apply what they learned in the online course by completing a case study or creating a presentation on a particular topic related to consultative selling. This part of the certification process can take up to four weeks to complete.

To get certified as a CCSP, candidates must pass both the online course and assessment exam with a score of 70% or higher, and successfully complete the final project.

The cost of becoming certified as a CCSP varies depending on where you purchase your materials from but typically ranges from $500-$1,000 USD.

11. Certified Strategic Selling Professional (CSSS).

Certified Strategic Selling Professional (CSSS) is a certification program designed to help sales professionals develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful in today's competitive sales environment. It is offered by the American Association of Professional Sales (AAPS).

The CSSS program consists of an online course, which takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete. The course covers topics such as relationship building, communication and negotiation strategies, customer service, and more. Upon completion of the course, students must pass an exam in order to receive their certification.

To get certified as a CSSS, you must first register for the online course and pay the associated fee. The cost of the course varies depending on whether you are an AAPS member or non-member, but typically ranges from $500 to $700. After completing the course and passing the exam, you will receive your certification within 4-6 weeks.

Once certified as a CSSS, you will have access to exclusive resources such as webinars, newsletters, job postings, discounts on products and services related to sales, and more. Additionally, you will be able to use your certification as a way to demonstrate your commitment to professional development and enhance your career prospects.

Do You Really Need a Territory Sales Representative Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual and their current level of experience in sales. If you are currently working in a sales role and are looking to expand your knowledge and skills, then a Territory Sales Representative Certificate can be beneficial. It can provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage sales territories, create customer relationships, and use data-driven strategies to increase sales.

However, if you already have a strong knowledge of sales and territory management, then a certificate may not be necessary. It would depend on the job requirements for the position that you are applying for. For instance, if the job requires specific certifications or qualifications, then it may be beneficial to obtain one of these certificates in order to demonstrate your expertise. Additionally, if you have been working in a sales role for some time but want to further specialize in territory management or other areas of sales, then obtaining a certificate could help set you apart from other applicants.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a Territory Sales Representative Certificate will depend on your individual circumstances. If it is required for the job that you are applying for or if it would help round out your skill set and make you more marketable as an applicant then it could be worth pursuing.

Related: Territory Sales Representative Resume Examples

FAQs About Territory Sales Representative Certifications

1. What is a Territory Sales Representative Certification?

Answer: A Territory Sales Representative Certification is a professional certification that recognizes the skills and knowledge of sales representatives in their respective territories. The certification verifies an individual’s ability to effectively manage customers, develop relationships, understand markets, and make informed decisions to ensure success.

2. What are the benefits of becoming certified?

Answer: Becoming certified as a Territory Sales Representative provides several benefits, including increased credibility with employers and customers, improved job opportunities and higher salaries, access to exclusive professional development opportunities, and recognition within the industry as an expert in sales.

3. How do I become certified?

Answer: There are several options for becoming certified as a Territory Sales Representative. Depending on your experience level, you may be able to take an online course or attend a training seminar. For more experienced professionals, taking the exam offered by the National Association of Territory Sales Representatives (NATSR) is recommended.

4. How long does it take to become certified?

Answer: The amount of time it takes to become certified depends on your experience level and how much preparation you put into studying for the exam. Generally speaking, most people can complete the certification process within 6-8 weeks if they commit enough time and effort into preparing for the exam.

5. Is there any cost associated with becoming certified?

Answer: Yes, there is usually a fee associated with taking the exam offered by NATSR or other certifying organizations as well as any courses or training seminars you may choose to take in order to prepare for the exam. However, these costs are typically offset by increased job opportunities and higher salaries once you have obtained your certification.