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Best sales professional certifications
Sales professional certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an sales professional to employers. However, not all sales professional certifications provide the same value for job seekers.
The best certifications for a sales professional are Certified Sales Professional (CSP), Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI), and Automotive Sales Professional.
Below is a list of the best sales professional certifications. Obtaining an sales professional certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
9 best certifications for sales professionals
| Rank | Sales professional certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Sales Professional (CSP) | MRERF |
| 2 | Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) | LOMA |
| 3 | Automotive Sales Professional | NADA |
| 4 | Sales Management | SIOR |
| 5 | Certified Sales Representative (CSR) | WQA |
| 6 | Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) | MS |
| 7 | Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) | AMA |
| 8 | Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) | IPMA-HR |
| 9 | Certified Purchasing Card Professional (CPCP) | NAPCP |
9 best sales professional certifications
1. 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.
- 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)
2. Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI)
The Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) Program is a three-course education program in Bahasa Indonesia specifically designed to meet the industry education requirements of professionals in Indonesia. Recognized by the Insurance Directorate, Ministry of Finance and the Life Assurance Association of Indonesia (AAJI), who also requested LOMA create the program, the CPLHI Program provides a comprehensive business education for life and health insurance professionals.
- 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? No
3. Automotive Sales Professional
This is a tremendous opportunity for everyone who has an interest in automotive sales to become a knowledgeable, ethical and customer-focused trained individual and enjoy great career success.
- 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)
4. Sales Management
The SIOR designation is a professional achievement for highly qualified commercial real estate practitioners with a strong transactional history in brokerage, fee-based services, or executive management.
- 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?
5. Certified Sales Representative (CSR)
For individuals responsible for sale of water quality improvement products.
- 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? Every 3 year(s)
6. Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification validates IT professional and developer technical expertise through rigorous, industry-proven, and industry-recognized exams. MCP exams cover a wide range of Microsoft products, technologies, and solutions.
- 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
7. Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
Being a top marketer means continually enhancing your skills as well as highlighting your accomplishments. The American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) program gives you a tangible, convenient way to do both. You can earn the PCM designation by passing a comprehensive exam covering the key areas of marketing. Developed with input from hundreds of marketing experts, the PCM program meets strict national professional certification criteria and standards for excellence in marketing.
- 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? Every 3 year(s)
8. Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)
IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.
- 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)
9. Certified Purchasing Card Professional (CPCP)
The CPCP credential is awarded to P-Card professionals who have demonstrated experience and understanding of the body of knowledge necessary to administer a Purchasing Card program. This credential focuses on individual skills and knowledge of specialized P-Card functions. Achieving this designation allows P-Card professionals to be recognized for their exemplary level of expertise.
- 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)
What is the best certification for a sales professional?
The best sales professional certification is Certified Sales Professional (CSP). The Certified Sales Professional (CSP) is awarded by the Manufacturers Representatives Educational Research Foundation. 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 sales professional certification:
- To become a certified Certified Sales Professional (CSP), you need to pass the exam.
- This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 3 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for sales professionals?
The most in-demand sales professional certification is Certified Sales Professional based on all active job postings. Having this sales professional certification will give you access to more sales professional jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a sales professional career and salary?
The Sales Management certification will help you to secure a district sales manager position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A district sales manager's average salary is $75,563 whereas sales professionals make an average salary of $68,809.
The most common combination of sales professional certifications include: Certified Sales Professional (CSP), Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI), and Automotive Sales Professional.
Online courses for sales professionals to earn certifications
1. HubSpot Sales Representative
Whether you're completely new to sales and looking to start a new career, or you want to grow in your current sales role, this five-course career training program from the inbound sales experts at HubSpot can help you reach your career goals.\n\nYou’ll start by learning the basics of sales enablement and how sales and marketing teams can collaborate to create and keep relationships with their targeted buyers. You’ll develop data-driven sales goals and influential content to enable you to...
2. The Complete B2B Sales Masterclass: 6 Courses in 1
1. Generate Leads, 2. Pitch, 3. Close & Handle Any Objection: Get Certified in Cutting Edge, Non-Pushy B2B Sales System...
3. Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques
Sales Hacking: Essential sales skills, sales strategies and sales techniques to sell just about anything!...
4. Sales Skills: 9 Sales Training Courses In 1
Develop Extraordinary Sales Skills With The Ultimate Sales Training (Taught By 5 Top Sales Experts)...
5. Sales Training: How To Close More Sales
Closing Sales: Sales Training Course: Sales Skills; Selling Techniques; Sales Strategies for B2B, B2C Direct Sales...
6. Sales Machine: The Sales Training B2B Master Course
Learn Sales Strategies & Sales Techniques to Sell ANYTHING for Entrepreneurs, Startup, B2B Sales, & Business Development...
7. Sales Training Pro: The Complete Sales Presentation Course
Practical, Hands-on Sales Techniques and Tools to Effortlessly Engage your Customers In Your Sales Presentations...
8. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups
The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...
9. Sales Training: Become A Sales Superstar
Develop Advanced Sales Skills To Sell Anything Like A Champ (Taught By A World-class Salesman)...
10. Sales Funnels Masterclass: Increase Sales With Sales Funnels
Learn to create highly converting sales, conduct professional email marketing & 10X your sales with sales funnel fast!...
11. Sales Skills Mastery 1: Sales Training For Beginners
Selling Techniques and Sales Strategy that Every Salesperson Ought to Know - Sales Training For the Modern World...
12. Professional Sales Training - Compelling Conversations
Sky rocket your sales performance through persuasive sales messages and compelling sales conversations...
13. Sales Training - Everyone sells!
This course will give you extensive knowledge about the whole sales process...
14. Business Development & B2B Sales for Startups- Sales Valley
The Complete Startup Playbook for Business Development & B2B Sales to learn Lead Generation, Pitching, & Closing Deals...
15. Sales Methodologies: Best Practices for Enterprise Selling
Apply sales methodology and sales process best practices to the modern enterprise selling organization...
16. Sales Fundamentals
Learn how to sell with core, proven techniques that have generated millions in sales revenue...
17. The Complete Sales Skills Master Class - Sales Marketing B2B
Master Sales Skills, Marketing Strategy, B2B Sales, Business Development, Lead Generation Using Top Social Skills...
18. NLP For Sales, Persuasion & Influence: Certified NLP & Sales
NLP Sales Skills: Powerful NLP Techniques For Sales, Persuasion & Influence Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Sales...
19. Supercharge Your Sales with Body Language
Win business, craft a killer sales pitch and learn how to close every deal with advanced nonverbal sales techniques...
20. B2B Sales Skills: LinkedIn Lead Generation, Cold Email Sales
High-ticket B2B sales and marketing. Generate leads, sell to big companies, and win large deals. Learn sales skills!...