November 1st was the cutoff for registration for the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA)’s Certified Payments Professional (CPP™) exam, which will be administered at various times this December.

The CPP™ Program was created in 2012 as a means to standardize the payments industry and create a systematic approach to merchant services. The CPP™ program sets the standard for performance in the payments world, and the certification can be pursued by any industry professional with at least 1-3 years of experience, and those who are certified must maintain their credential by earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. These credits include attendance at industry conferences, webinars, and speaker sessions. The CPP™ credential is valid for three years, and industry professional must sit for the exam again to maintain the certification.

Heather Petersen, CEO and founder of National Merchants Association, was in the first class of industry professional to become certified, thus she will be sitting for the exam once again in June of 2015.

A handful of National Merchants Association Team Members are preparing to sit for the exam next month, and are diligently studying in anticipation at the office. Pablo Nuñez, Risk Analyst for National Merchants Association, has worked in the payments industry for more than two years and is excited to add the CPP™ credential to his wealth of knowledge.

“I’m looking forward to testing my skills in the industry and becoming CPP™ certified,” Mr. Nuñez said. “I’ve learned a lot about the bankcard industry, and I can’t wait to prove it!”

Many Team Members in different departments at National Merchants Association are eligible for the CPP™ credential. Kandace Carrasco, ISO Relations, is taking the exam in December as well.

“This certification means that I can distinguish myself from others in the industry,” Ms. Carrasco explains. “The ability to have a professional advantage in the payments world motivates me to become a CPP™.”

To learn more about the CPP™ certification, visit ETA’s website: electran.org