You submitted an application to demonstrate your eligibility. You studied. You took an online, proctored exam. You passed! You're Certified! So, now what? That's a great question. While common in numerous other fields in which we regularly interact, professional certification is new within the world of student affairs and services. Just like in those other fields, Student Affairs Educator Certification is an important distinction to support professionals in both staying current and standing out. Check out this list of 10 concrete recommendations on how to optimize your certification!
1. List ALL your credentials in professional docs and messages
You earned an official credential—the CSAEd. You also earned more credentials if you achieved any Specialty Certifications. The Core and Specialty CSAEd credentials are active for as long you hold your certification. As an active certificant, be sure to display any and all CSAEd credentials in professional documentation. This includes on your resume/CV, email signature, and LinkedIn profile. Here are some examples on how to list the designated certification acronyms.
- Eliza Black, CSAEd
- Graham Thompson, CSAEd, CSAEd-CR
2. Let the Boss Know
Certification signals your knowledge of student affairs, as well as commitment to ethical practice and ongoing learning. These are all important attributes in which a supervisor would take pride. Be sure to inform your supervisor and other senior leaders at your organization about your certification. Want some help with notifying your supervisor? Complete this form and we'll notify them for you by email!
3. Join the Public Directory
Individuals who successfully pass the Core and Specialty CSAEd exams are encouraged to join the Consortium's official Certified Student Affairs Educators Directory! The directory lists the names of all active certificants who opt-in including their credentials. Being listed in the directory is a necessary resource for our founding member organizations to recognize you at their annual meetings, conferences, and more. Opt into the public directory at any time by logging into your Prolydian profile and clicking the Add to Public Registry button under your credential on the main Dashboard.
4. Show that Badge
Digitally display your certification with a digital badge. Upon achieving your certification, you received an email with instructions on accessing badges for all credentials that you've earned. These badges are active for as long as you hold a corresponding certification and can interface directly with your email signature and multiple social media platforms. Have questions or want help with activating your badge? Email us.
5. Pin Pride
Seven different color pins are available representing the seven certification credentials. These pins are a special token to you as an active certficant and we hope you proudly display your pin(s), be it in your work space or on your name badge at professional development events! These pins are available to you in honor of your accomplishment and as an symbol of your commitment to lifelong learning and ethical practice.
Haven't received your pin? We're happy to mail it to you if you complete this form or feel welcome to stop by the Consortium exhibit space at founding member association conferences.
6. Conference Visibility
Our founding member partner associations' annual meetings and conferences provide multiple opportunities for certificant learning, engagement, and recognition. In addition to being able to achieve continuing education credits for attending educational sessions, we're actively working with our founding members to offer additional engagement opportunities for you as an active certificant. From recognition at opening sessions and business meetings to special receptions, each association highlights certificants in various ways. (Don't forget to opt into the public directory to be included in these efforts!)
The Consortium emails active certificants in advance of each respective founding member association's annual conference to highlight specific opportunities at that event. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Feel welcome to email us if you have additional suggestions about certificant opportunities at annual events.
7. Social Media Spotlight
Connect with other certificants through our exclusive LinkedIn community! The group exists to connect active certificants and provide opportunities for professional growth and networking. Active CSAEds can request to join here.
You've probably also picked up that we enjoy recognizing you as a certificant, right? This includes highlighting professional development programs and sessions that certificants are presenting on our social media! Are you presenting at an upcoming Consortium CE provider event and would like us to highlight your session? Let us know.
8. Earn CEs
A critical element of certification is continuing to learn about trends and topics that influence our work. There are multiple organizations offering programs for CE credit including conferences/institutes, workshops, webinars, and short courses. All programs offered for CE credit will say so it the description. Looking for opportunities to earn CEs? Our website contains current listings of approved CE programs for each certification credential.
Does your organization offer in-house professional development for staff? If so, we encourage your organization to consider becoming a CE provider so that these valuable learning opportunities can count as CEs for you and other active certificants.
9. Use Certification in Recruitment
As you're recruiting talent to your department, are you listing CSAEd Core and Specialty credentials as preferred in your position descriptions?
Institutions benefit from hiring qualified applicants with a foundational understanding of the student affairs field and with real-world work experiences. You seek truly exceptional applicants who “hit the ground running” on day one and demonstrate that they understand the day-to-day tasks of our field. We encourage student affairs division and department leaders to use certification as a recruitment tool to identify such adept and knowledgeable staff.
Consider certification as a recruitment incentive. Attract potential staff through supporting them in earning certification, as well as maintaining their current certification through continuing education credits if they currently hold a credential.
10. Use Certification in Recognition
Earning a CSAEd Core or Specialty credential is cause for celebration! Are there other staff in your organization who have earned certification? Include them in your division and department's current recognition efforts such as newsletters, social media, annual reports, and recognition activities. Certification is a means for institutions to formally recognize the talent of their staff, which in turn can support morale as well as fuel new staff retention efforts.