New and tenured consultants alike ask the question, "Why should I become certified and what do all those letters mean anyway?" First of all, for those who are new to the profession, let's explain what these letters mean.
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Training & Accreditation Program (TAP)
This program is open to anyone in the personnel industry and does not require minimum experience. It is NOT a certification program and there are no letters that will be earned to use after your name. The purpose of this program is to acquire knowledge of ethics, laws and procedures used in the personnel recruiting industry. The program is self-study and very relaxed in format. Students can order TAP materials from the Texas Association of Personnel Consultants (TAPC). Contact Lynne Von Villas - Education Chair for TAP Training sessions. CPC and CTS certification holders can earn 2.4 CEU credit hours upon completion of this valuable training.
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Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC)
This program is open to individuals with permanent placement experience who are currently employed as an owner, manager, partner or placement consultant of a permanent placement firm. The exam consists of legal knowledge, business situations, standards of business practices, and NAPS program rules. It is composed of 150 multiple choice and true/false questions. The exam is given twice a year, once in the spring and then again in the fall. Registration and study materials can be obtained from National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS). Certified personnel consultants are required to receive 50 hours or 5.0 units of continuing education credits every three years dating from the date of their certification.
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Certified Temporary Staffing Specialist (CTS)
This program has the same requirements as the CPC exam, but individuals must be working full-time in the temporary service business. This exam is also composed of 150 multiple choice and true/false questions but these are based on the temporary services industry. Registration and study materials are also obtained from NAPS. Individuals passing the CTS are also required to receive 50 hours or 5.0 units of continuing education credits every three years dating from the date of their certification.
Many clients today are looking for the "specialist" in their marketplace. Someone who knows the legal issues of hiring, someone who can advise them on sexual harassment and discrimination policies, and someone they can call on for sound business advice.
For more information on any of the above mentioned educational programs or associations, call Lynne Von Villas at (972) 221-5566.