PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast-Track (CFT) Program Specifications Document Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Program Overview Program Goals Program Specifications Program Requirements Program Process Program Costs and Fees Program Overview The PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast-Track (CFT) Program is a PPAI Certification initiative aimed at providing promotional products professionals with a minimum of five years of verifiable industry experience with an avenue for “waiving” CAS certification requirements in consideration of their experience, education, and/or achievements. Many promotional products professionals, who have been working for some time in the industry, already have acquired the core knowledge demonstrated by taking the CAS required courses: Promotional Products Industry Overview, Promotional Programs, Best Practices in Supplier and Distributor Relations, Advertising and Marketing Overview, Product Safety Basics, and Business Ethics. There are also promotional products professionals who currently hold a senior level position with a promotional products industry company, have obtained college and/or graduate education in an industry-related field, or have achieved certification from another qualifying organization. These professionals have confirmed not only their understanding of the core knowledge of a Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS), but also have established their continued commitment to industry education and are eligible to additionally “waive” the CAS elective requirements. Program participants can “waive” the CAS-required courses if they meet one or more of the following criteria: o Bachelors degree or higher in a related field (marketing, business, etc.) Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 1 o o o Ten years or more of promotional products experience Comparable certification from another organization Currently serving in a senior management capacity for a promotional products company Program participants can “waive” the CAS-required courses and the CAS points if they meet two or more of the above criteria By submitting Waivers A and C, all the candidate needs to complete are the additional 60 elective points in order to sit for the CAS exam. By submitting Waiver B and D, the candidate will have met all of the CAS requirements and can immediately register to sit for the CAS exam. Program Goals The goals of the PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program are as follows: Provide an alternate track towards CAS certification for veteran industry professionals to allow them to demonstrate mastery of the CAS core knowledge areas Provide qualified industry professionals with a process for expediting CAS requirements in order to register for the CAS exam Provide qualified industry professionals with an alternate CAS certification track that meets or exceeds national ANSI and or other accreditation standards Program Specifications Waivers PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program is comprised of four applicantsubmitted waivers: Waiver A: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) for the applicant (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript) Waiver B: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) and remaining 60 CAS points for the applicant—qualifies the applicant to immediately sit for the CAS exam (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript) Waiver C: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) for the applicant (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript)—waiver is also given “expedited” status and processed within three business days of submittal to PPAI Waiver D: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) and remaining 60 CAS points for the applicant—qualifies the applicant to immediately sit for the CAS exam (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript)—waiver is also given “expedited” status and processed within three business days of submittal to PPAI Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 2 Criteria PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program participants must meet one of the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit an A or C Waiver: Possess a Bachelors degree or higher in a related promotional products field (marketing, business, advertising, etc.) Possess 10 years or more of promotional products industry experience (does not have to be consecutive years) Possess a comparable certification from another agency or organization Currently serving in a senior management capacity for a promotional products company PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program participants must meet two or more of the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a B or D Waiver: Possess a Bachelors degree or higher in a related promotional products field (marketing, business, advertising, etc.) Possess 10 years or more of promotional products industry experience (does not have to be consecutive years) Possess a comparable certification from another agency or organization Currently serving in a senior management capacity for a promotional products company Program Requirements In order to apply to receive a PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program waiver, a candidate must: Be a member of UPIC ,in order to log into www.ppai.org Possess a minimum of five years of promotional products industry experience Provide verification of one or more of the qualifying criteria: o Possess a Bachelors degree or higher in a related promotional products field Degree must be from an accredited institution of higher learning Approved fields of study includes: o Business o Marketing o Advertising o Sales o Management o Media Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 3 o o o PPAI Staff reserves the right to make a determination of the validity or appropriateness of a submitted credential Possess 10 years or more of promotional products industry experience Experience can be verified by submitting a current resume or CV Experience does not have to include consecutive years of promotional products industry experience Industry experience is defined as employed or operating as a component of the supplier/distributor promotional products supply chain PPAI Staff reserves the right to make a determination of the validity or appropriateness of a submitted credential Possess a comparable certification from another agency or organization Earned credential can be verified by submitting a current resume or CV Must be an earned certification through a course of demonstrated skill mastery (most commonly achieved through a comprehensive examination) Must currently hold the indicated certification (and be in good standing with the certifying organization—credential must not have lapsed) Certificate programs are not eligible for consideration PPAI Staff reserves the right to make a determination of the validity or appropriateness of a submitted credential Currently serving in a senior management capacity for a promotional products company Current position can be verified by submitting a current resume or CV Eligible companies include: Distributors of D5 size and larger Suppliers of S2 size and larger Minimum of five employees Ineligible companies include: Sole proprietorship Independent contractor Multi-Line Rep Less than five employees Must currently hold the eligible role and be in good standing with the organization Eligible job roles are defined as, but not limited to: Director or above Vice President or above President Owner Partner CEO, COO, CFO, or CMO Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 4 o PPAI Staff reserves the right to make a determination of the validity or appropriateness of a submitted credential The CFT program in only available to waive requirements of the Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) certification—Master Advertising Specialist (MAS) designations must be earned in accordance with established program guidelines Program Process How to Submit a Waiver To submit a PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program Waiver A for CAS Course Requirements only: o o o o Make sure the candidate meets at least one of the eligibility requirements for the CFT waiver Complete the Certification Fast Track (CFT) Waiver form and mark “A” on the type of waiver requested Send the form and a current copy of the candidate’s professional resume to certification@ppai.org Pay the associated CFT fee (Please note: CFT waivers cannot be processed until all associated fees have been paid) To submit a PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program Waiver B for CAS Course Requirements and CAS points: o Make sure the candidate meets at least two of the eligibility requirements for the CFT waiver o Complete the Certification Fast Track (CFT) Waiver form and mark “B” on the type of waiver requested Send the form and a current copy of the candidate’s professional resume to certification@ppai.org Pay the associated CFT fee (Please note: CFT waivers cannot be processed until all associated fees have been paid) o o To submit a PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program Waiver C for Expedited CAS Course Requirements: o o Make sure the candidate meets at least one of the eligibility requirements for the CFT waiver Complete the Certification Fast Track (CFT) Waiver form and mark “C” on the type of waiver requested Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 5 o o Send the form and a current copy of the candidate’s professional resume to certification@ppai.org Pay the associated CFT fee (Please note: CFT waivers cannot be processed until all associated fees have been paid) To submit a PPAI Professional Development Certification Fast Track (CFT) Program D Waiver for Expedited CAS Course Requirements and CAS points: o o o o Make sure the candidate meets at least two of the eligibility requirements for the CFT waiver Complete the Certification Fast Track (CFT) Waiver form and mark “D” on the type of waiver requested Send the form and a current copy of the candidate’s professional resume to certification@ppai.org Pay the associated CFT fee (Please note: CFT waivers cannot be processed until all associated fees have been paid) How to Track Wavier Requests Upon submittal of the CFT form, the candidate will receive a confirmation email from PPAI within two business days. Waiver A submittals: o o Upon payment of CFT fees , the waiver will be processed within 10 business days The candidate can view their individual transcript after 10 business days with “CFT” noted on each required course—as below: CAS Required Courses: _CFT_PPI – Promotional Products Industry Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_PRO - Promotional Programs (3 pts req.) _CFT_BEP - Best Practices/Supplier-Distributer Relations (3 pts req.) _CFT_ADV - Advertising and Marketing Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_ART - Sm@rt Artwork Guidelines (1.5 pts req.) _CFT_ETH - Business Ethics (1.5 pts req.) Waiver B submittals: Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 6 o o Upon payment of CFT fees , the waiver will be processed within 10 business days The candidate can view their individual transcript after 10 business days with “CFT” noted on each required course—as below: CAS Required Courses: _CFT_PPI – Promotional Products Industry Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_PRO - Promotional Programs (3 pts req.) _CFT_BEP - Best Practices/Supplier-Distributer Relations (3 pts req.) _CFT_ADV - Advertising and Marketing Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_ART - Sm@rt Artwork Guidelines (1.5 pts req.) _CFT_ETH - Business Ethics (1.5 pts req.) o Under the “Additional Courses” field the transcript will be noted as “CFT Waiver B” o The “Points Needed to Complete CAS” field will display “0” Waiver C submittals: o o Upon payment of CFT fees , the waiver will be processed within 3 business days The candidate can view their individual transcript after 3 business days with “CFT” noted on each required course—as below: CAS Required Courses: _CFT_PPI – Promotional Products Industry Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_PRO - Promotional Programs (3 pts req.) _CFT_BEP - Best Practices/Supplier-Distributer Relations (3 pts req.) _CFT_ADV - Advertising and Marketing Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_ART - Sm@rt Artwork Guidelines (1.5 pts req.) _CFT_ETH - Business Ethics (1.5 pts req.) Waiver D submittals: o o Upon payment of CFT fees , the waiver will be processed within 3 business days The candidate can view their individual transcript after 3 business days with “CFT” noted on each required course—as below: Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 7 CAS Required Courses: _CFT_PPI – Promotional Products Industry Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_PRO - Promotional Programs (3 pts req.) _CFT_BEP - Best Practices/Supplier-Distributer Relations (3 pts req.) _CFT_ADV - Advertising and Marketing Overview (3 pts req.) _CFT_ART - Sm@rt Artwork Guidelines (1.5 pts req.) _CFT_ETH - Business Ethics (1.5 pts req.) o Under the “Additional Courses” field the transcript will be noted as “CFT Waiver D” o The “Points Needed to Complete CAS” field will display “0” Program Costs/Fees Item (Wavier A) Waiver for CAS Course Requirements* (Waiver B) Waiver for CAS Course Requirements & CAS Points** (Waiver C) Expedited Waiver for CAS Course Requirements*** (Waiver D) Expedited Waiver for CAS Course Requirements & CAS Points**** PPAI Member Fee $100 Non-Member Fee $300 $150 $400 $175 $425 $200 $450 *Waiver A: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) for the applicant (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript) **Waiver B: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) and remaining 60 CAS points for the applicant— qualifies the applicant to immediately sit for the CAS exam (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript) Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 8 ***Waiver C: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) for the applicant (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript)—waiver is also given “expedited” status and processed within three business days of submittal to PPAI ****Waiver D: Waives all six CAS-required courses (15 points) and remaining 60 CAS points for the applicant— qualifies the applicant to immediately sit for the CAS exam (each course will show as “Waived” on the applicant’s transcript)—waiver is also given “expedited” status and processed within three business days of submittal to PPAI Revised 10/28/2011 ***For Confidential Use Only*** Page 9