Education and Available Certifications

• Many forward-looking speakers recognize the value of education in this competitive field, and they seek to educate themselves to the fullest. In the United States, the entity best known for speaker education and certification, the National Speakers Association (NSA), does confer a certificate to those who pass its rigorous coursework --- the Certified Speaking Professional certificate (CSP).
  
  

Earning the Certified Speaking Professional Certificate

• Before applying to the program, you must be a member of either the National Speakers Association (NSA) or another Global Speakers Federation group, each of which already has certain responsibilities members must carry out for at least three years to improve their speaking specialty. They must also endure a rigorous application process.
  
  

Goal of the Certified Speaking Professional Certificate

• It takes five years to complete this course, and the goal is to provide speakers with a strong education and background to succeed in this industry. Graduates will be prepared to demonstrate their competence in a number of professional fields, including business management, education and association with other professionals. What's more, during the five-year course, they must prove their proficiency by regularly getting good ratings and testimonials from their clients, conducting and documenting hundreds of presentations, demonstrating they can serve a breadth of clientele, and giving samples of their promotional materials to the NSA. The aim is to become as well rounded and proficient in motivational speaking as possible.
  
  

Competitive Edge

• According to the National Speakers Association, only 10 percent of all motivational speakers have earned this CPS certificate. The certification brings with it a perception of credibility. When organizations seek to hire a professional speaker, they often look for this certification, as it demonstrates they're likely to get a professional, effective speech in the field they are seeking. Certified motivational speakers also are more likely to command a higher speaking fee.