The Mark of Excellence in Professional Sales

For over 20 years, Certified Sales Professionals (CSP^®) have represented the gold standard in sales, demonstrating a commitment to excellence that opens the door to better career opportunities and higher earning potential.

CSP^® Minimum Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the CSP^® designation, you must have:

• College Diploma + 35 hours of accredited pre-requisite education in sales aligned to the Sales Professional Competency Framework. You can see which courses are aligned to the CSP^® here. 
• Minimum 4 years of verified experience independently managing client accounts.
• Evidence of meeting/exceeding targets for at least 2 of those years (can be included as part of your reference letter, proprietary documents from your employer are not required).

If you have 6 years of verified sales experience, you are exempt from the education requirements listed above, however, we do suggest you take our Sales Professional Assessment to see if you need to improve in any competency areas before attempting the exam. 

 

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Application Process

• You must be a CPSA member in good standing ($199)
• Meet experience and education requirements
• Provide the required documents
  • An up-to-date CV or link to updated LinkedIn profile
  • Transcripts/evidence of College Diploma
  • Evidence of 2 years of meeting or exceeding sales targets (this can be included in your reference letter to protect your employer's proprietary information)
  • 2 signed Letters of Reference from immediate supervisors or customers. Use our template reference letter!
  • Evidence of 35 hours professional development in sales aligned with the CPSA professional sales competencies
• Pay one-time Application and Exam Fees ($598)
• Pass the Certified Sales Professional exam
• Sign an agreement to abide by the CPSA Institute Code of Ethics

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CSP^®s know what top performers know, and have the skills and follow-through to get consistently good results. A professional designation marks their commitment to being the best.

• 72% of CSP^®s rank in the top 25% of sales within their organizations
• The majority surpass their annual sales quotas
• Almost 50% earn more after completing the program
• Read the case study of a real CSP^® here

It’s no wonder that more and more employers are demanding certification as the standard for new hires.

We’ve updated our CSP^® program, in close collaboration with industry leaders, making the CSP^® designation more valuable today than ever.

Who Should Become a Certified Sales Professional?

CSP^® designation is for sales professionals who want recognition for excellence in how well they handle the largest accounts, with the most strategic customers, and consistently meet or exceed sales targets. 

CSP^® candidates may currently hold titles such as:

• Account Manager
• Business Development Manager
• Account Leader
• Account Director

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Maintain Your Designation

• Get at least 30 units of recognized professional development each year
• Remain a member in good standing of the Canadian Professional Sales Association
• Adhere to the CPSA Institute Code of Ethics