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Best banker certifications

Banker certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an banker to employers. However, not all banker certifications provide the same value for job seekers.

The best certifications for a banker are Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Sales Professional (CSP), and Certified Bank Auditor (CBA).

Below is a list of the best banker certifications. Obtaining an banker certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

7 best banker certifications

1. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)

2. Certified Sales Professional (CSP)

The Certified Sales Professional (CSP) program gives a thorough understanding of consultative selling. From business creation to improved time and territory management; goal-setting to prospecting, and everything in between, attendees return to the territory with a renewed enthusiasm for selling.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

3. Certified Bank Auditor (CBA)

The purpose of the Certified Bank Auditor (CBA) Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Program is to promote professional development and to provide a means for recognizing CBAs to keep current with industry changes or furthering their own development in banking, technology, auditing, or other disciplines that contribute to a CBA's growth and development. This program is designed to ensure that the skills, knowledge and expertise originally required to become a CBA, are maintained on a continuing basis.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Bank Auditor
Certifying organization
BAI Center for Certification

4. International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA)

ACAT seeks to ensure that all accredited individuals possess both the theoretical knowledge and the practical knowledge necessary to be successful practitioners. For that reason, candidates for accreditation must satisfy an experience requirement before becoming fully credentialed: three years of related work experience, up to two of which may be satisfied through college credit. Related work experience includes verifiable experience in accounting, financial services, or other field requiring a practical and theoretical knowledge of the subject matter covered on the ACAT Comprehensive Examination for the International Accredited Business Accountant. Those who pass the exam but who have not met the experience requirement may market themselves as having passed the ACAT Comprehensive Examination for International Accredited Business Accountant, but are not entitled to use the IABA designation.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? No

5. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Certified Public Accountant candidates must pass a national exam certifiying that they are eligible to be licensed in the state(s) of their choosing. Information about state licensing requirements is made available in the Licensed Occupation tool.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Certified Public Accountant
Certifying organization
American Institute of Certified...

6. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

The Certified Financial Planner designation covers investments, income taxation, insurance and financial planning, and retirement and estate planning.Individuals must complete the following required curriculum and pass the CFP exam to earn this designation.HS 300: Financial Planning HS 311: Fundamentals of Insurance Planning HS 321: Income Taxation HS 326: Planning for Retirement Needs HS 328: Investments HS 330: Fundamentals of Estate Planning

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? No
Certifying organization
ABTrainingCenter

7. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

The CFP certification process, administered by CFP Board, identifies to the public that those individuals in the U.S.who have been authorized to use the CFP certification mark have met rigorous professional standards and have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)

What is the best certification for a banker?

The best banker certification is Certified Management Accountant (CMA). The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is awarded by the The Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this banker certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Management Accountant (CMA), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 1 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for bankers?

The most in-demand banker certification is Certified Public Accountant based on all active job postings. Having this banker certification will give you access to more banker jobs with higher salaries.

Best certifications

The most common combination of banker certifications include: Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Sales Professional (CSP), and Certified Bank Auditor (CBA).

Online courses for bankers to earn certifications

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