ACA Designations: Earn Credentials Representing Excellence as a Credit and Collection Professional
ACA offers seven professional designations that are highly recognized and regarded in the accounts receivable management industry. Start with the fundamentals by earning a Professional Collection Specialist designation, then build your expertise by pursuing credentials specific to collector, compliance, operations, leadership, health care, attorney, and other industry roles.
ACA Designation Options
Professional Collection Specialist® (PCS)
Learn essential compliance requirements and negotiation skills to show consumers, clients, and colleagues your dedication to collecting effectively and respectfully in compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA).
This essential designation is suitable for onboarding new staff, as well as updating experienced collection professionals with these must-have skills.
Target Audience
- Collectors
- Anyone with consumer interactions
- Anyone new to the collection industry
Difficulty Level
- No previous collection experience required
Trainer Specialist® (TS)
Calling all trainers! Unlock your training superpowers with ACA’s exclusive training kit for onboarding or continuing collector education. Become an ACA Trainer Specialist and teach ACA’s FDCPA Essentials for the ARM Industry and Essential Collection Skills and Techniques courses in your own company to prepare your collectors for ACA’s Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) designation examination.
Target Audience
- Anyone responsible for training new hires who will have consumer interactions
Difficulty Level
- Specialty; Experience in training, HR, and the collection industry beneficial
- The TS designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit TS renewal application with fee and:
- Complete and pass the PCS exam with 85% or better in the allotted time.
- Achieve four Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
Collection Industry Professional® (CIP)
This management designation teaches leaders the fundamentals of regulatory compliance, team building, and business management.
Target Audience
- Team leaders, supervisors, and managers
Difficulty Level
- Intermediate; Some collection industry experience beneficial
- The CIP designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit CIP renewal application with fee and documentation of an active PCS designation plus eight Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
Professional Collection Manager® (PCM)
Level up from the Collection Industry Professional (CIP) designation by adding skills in collection floor management and key performance indicators to drive the business.
Target Audience
- Team leaders, supervisors, and managers
Difficulty Level
- Intermediate; Some collection industry experience beneficial
- The PCM designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit PCM renewal application with fee and documentation of an active PCS designation plus 12 Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
Credit and Collection Compliance Professional® (CCCP)
Perfect for the junior compliance officer or people new to compliance responsibilities, this designation offers fundamentals of regulatory compliance, risk management, and designing policies and procedures.
Target Audience
- Anyone with a leadership role in compliance or risk management
Difficulty Level
- Intermediate; Some collection industry experience beneficial
- The CCCP designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit CCCP renewal application with fee and documentation of eight Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
Credit and Collection Compliance Officer® (CCCO)
Designed for the advanced professional—typically a chief compliance officer—the CCCO designation lets your colleagues and clients know that you have the advanced, in-depth compliance strategy knowledge necessary to thrive in the industry.
Target Audience
- Anyone performing senior compliance officer or executive risk management duties
Difficulty Level
- Advanced; Collection industry experience beneficial
- The CCCO designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit CCCO renewal application with fee and documentation of 12 Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
Healthcare Collection Manager® (HCM)
Health care collection is complex and this designation spells out critical requirements and special circumstances for working with consumers and clients in the healthcare space. Topics include working with third-party payers related to charitable care, 501(r), insurance, and building strong relationships with your medical clients.
Target Audience
- Team leaders, supervisors, and managers in the medical debt collection space
Difficulty Level
- Advanced; Health care or medical collections experience beneficial
- The HCM designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit HCM renewal application with fee and documentation of 12 Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
Designation Badge Images
Once you have passed your exam or Capstone, ACA will send you an award letter that includes instructions on how to access your designation badge image.
You can use this image on your email signature block or on your social media to tell the world about your accomplishments.
If you already have a designation and need your designation badge image, go to https://me.acainternational.org/MyACA. Log in and click on the transcript button, you will see your digital badge at the bottom of the page.
Training Zone: All-Access Training Resources
Did you know you can access all online webinars and webinar recordings for one low price? ACA’s All-Access Training Zone is a one-stop-shop, giving users full access to ACA’s education library.
