Certifications &
Digital Badging
For Sales Representatives,
Agency Partners, Managers & Owners
The Institute for Professional Advancement (IPA) is the delivering body of programs developed by the Manufacturers’ Representatives Educational Research Foundation (MRERF) or partnered with other organizations.
For programs such as the Certified Professional Manucaturers’ Representative (CPMR) or the Certified Professional Sales Consultant (CPSC), IPA certifies the individual has completed the course of study and successfully exhibited the necessary skills through examinations to receive the certification.
Individuals that earn the CPMR or CPSC certification are required to recertify their designation(s) annually. This includes payment of dues, report continuing education activities to IPA, following and affirming the Institute for Professional Advancement’s Code of Conduct annually. To view the IPA Code of Conduct, please click here.
Why earn a certification?
Learn New Skills & Knowledge
Shows Commitment to Professional Development
Validates Skills & Capabilities
Sets You Apart from Competitors
Gain Credibility
Elevates Your Commitment to Your Profession
Digital Badging
What is Digital Badging?
We are committed to providing you with the tools necessary to achieve your professional goals and we understand that communicating your credentials in an ever-expanding online marketplace can be challenging. That is why we have partnered with Credly’s Acclaim platform to provide you with a digital version of your credentials.
Digital badges can be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. This digital image contains verified metadata that describes your qualifications and the process required to earn them.
FAQs
Q: What is an open badge?
A: Open badges are web-enabled versions of a credential, certification or learning outcome which can be verified in real-time, online.
Q: How does my certification get displayed as a badge?
A: We have partnered with Credly to translate the learning outcomes you’ve demonstrated into a badge, issued and managed through the company’s Acclaim Platform. The technology Credly uses on its Acclaim Platform is based on the Open Badge Standards maintained by IMS Global. This enables you to manage, share and verify your competencies digitally.
Q: What are the benefits of a badge?
A: Representing your skills as a badge gives you a way to share your abilities online in a way that is simple, trusted and can be easily verified in real time. Badges provide employers and peers concrete evidence of what you had to do to earn your credential and what you’re now capable of. Credly’s Acclaim Platform also offers labor market insights, based on your skills. You can search and apply for job opportunities right through the Acclaim Platform.
Q: Who is Credly?
A: Credly is the end-to-end solution for issuing and managing digital credentials. Credly works with credible organizations to provide digital credentials to individuals, worldwide.
Q: How will I know if I’ve earned a badge?
A: You will receive an email notification from the Acclaim Platform (admin@youracclaim.com) with instructions for claiming your badge and setting up your account.
Q: What if I don’t want my badge to be public?
A: You can easily configure your privacy settings in the Acclaim Platform. You’re in complete control of the information about yourself that is made public.
Q: Is there a fee to use Credly’s Acclaim Platform?
A: No. This is a service we provide to you, at no cost.
Q: What’s to keep someone else from copying my badge and using it?
A: While badges are simply digital image files, they are uniquely linked to data hosted on Credly’s Acclaim Platform. This link to verified data makes them more reliable and secure than a paper-based certificate. It also eliminates the possibility of anyone claiming your credential and your associated identity.
Q: Where and how can I share my badge through Credly’s Acclaim Platform?
A: You can share your badge directly from the Acclaim Platform to LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook; over email; embedded in a website or in your email signature.
Q: What are labor market insights and how can I access them through Credly’s Acclaim Platform?
A: Labor market insights are pulled from live job requisitions. Based on your skills you can learn which employers are hiring, what job titles you might be qualified for, salary ranges and more. Search active job listings and even apply for them with just a few clicks through the Acclaim Platform. Access the labor market insights from your badge details page by clicking on Related Jobs, or by clicking on the skill tags assigned to your badge.
Q: Can I export badges issued through Credly’s Acclaim Platform to other badge-storing platforms?
A: Yes, you can download your badge from the Share Badge page. Your downloaded badge contains Open Badge Infrastructure (OBI) compliant metadata embedded into the image. This allows you to store your badge on other OBI-compliant badge sites, such as the Mozilla backpack.
Q: Can I import badges issued from other platforms into Credly’s Acclaim Platform?
A: Not at this time.
Q: I have a question about the Acclaim Platform. Where can I find support?
A: You can find answers to frequently asked questions here: support.youracclaim.com
