From the diamond ring on your finger to your collection of designer handbags to the house you call home, fixed assets can be found all around us. Just like our fixed assets like property and personal items add value to our lives, companies and businesses own assets. Property professional specialists manage a company’s fixed assets to ultimately contribute to the bottom line of the company’s profits. The National Property Management Association offers the only designation for property specialists, the Certified Property Professional Specialist credential.
Reap the Benefits
Not only does the CPPS designation look great on a resume, going through the certification process gives you additional education and knowledge as a property management specialist. The NPMA credential gives you a leg up on the competition when looking for jobs, as employers prefer to hire those with the CPPS credential. Along with giving your resume a boost, certification from the NPMA opens up all kinds of networking doors to find jobs, meet colleagues and expand your professional horizons.
Follow the Steps
Earning CPPS certification starts by submitting an application to the NPMA. You’ll also have to pay an application fee, as well as exam fees, with the NPMA offering discounts to members of the organization. When applying, you’ll have to indicate who will be your test proctor, but the NPMA helps out by offering an online database of approved test proctors. Once NPMA accepts your application, it’s time to hit the books and prepare for the certification exam.
Take the Test
The NPMA gives you plenty of resources to help study for the test, like a study guide, CPPS manual, study groups through local NPMA chapters, certification courses and test material review sessions at NPMA conferences. The test covers a variety of topics including acquisition, asset control, physical inventory, receiving, record keeping, inventory management, risk management and audits. You’ll take the two-part test online through an approved proctor. Each portion of the tests consists of 50 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit for each part.
Maintain the Credential
You’ve got the CPPS certificate in your hand, but the work isn’t over yet. The NPMA mandates that candidates renew their certification every five years. The certification continuation process requires filling out a renewal application, paying a $75 processing fee and having no lapses in your certification that are longer than three months. You’ll also be expected to fulfill certain professional activities. All candidates for recertification must take part in three professional activities in the five years between renewals. NPMA outlines nine categories of accepted professional activities. Permitted activities include participating as a speaker or instructor of a property management course; attending two industry conferences; earning 15 continuing education credits; taking five online webinar courses; authoring an industry paper or published piece; participating in a property council; serving as an officer in a property association; attending four chapter meetings; or working in a property-related position in the last five years.
