An advanced Certified Business Advisor® program for those CBA counselors who:

• have successfully completed CBA , and
  
  
• who understand the quest for self-improvement and self-fulfill-ment is never ending,

either personally or professionally…

What is Certified Business Advisor® II and III?

CBA II and CBA III are motivating and career-building professional development tracks designed by and for SBDC CBA counselors who understand learning never stops.  The programs are individually tailored to the counselor’s field(s) of interest.  The counselor, in consultation with his/her supervisor, chooses the major and curriculum s/he wishes to pursue.  In sum, it is a program as unique as the counselor!   

What is the time and cost commitment?

Flexibility is the key in administering the CBA II and III programs in all aspects from the initial selection of a major and approval by the counselor’s supervisor to the timing in which these tracks are completed.  Consequently, CBA counselors will be able to achieve CBA II and CBA III status while completing their normal, annual CBA continuing ed requirement.   Of the continuing education required to maintain CBA certification, up to 2/3 can be applied toward the CBA II or III “major” in any given year.  And, there are NO exams! 

Plus, there is no cost to achieving CBA II and CBA III status outside of the registration fee of any course that the CBA counselor takes.  Some of the courses may be available as Advanced CBA webinars, one- to two-hour webinars offered to CBA counselors throughout the country.  (For more information on Advanced CBA webinars, click on Advanced CBA webinars on the home page.) The fee for these webinars for CBA graduates will either be free or nominal. 

NOTE:  When seating is available, other state SBDC counselors are welcome to participate in these Advanced CBA webinars to fulfill their continuing education requirement.  The registration fee will be included in future webinar announcements.  

CBA II will be comprised of 30 (one major) to 60 (two majors) hours of concentrated study  in one (1) or two (2) “majors” or areas of specialized interest.  Each major will consist of:

• 15 hours of training in a “major,” plus
  
  
• 15 hours of proof of competency (a choice of either 15 hours of client training in the major, or 15 hours of client counseling in the major, or 15 hours of collaboration related to the major.  Hours from client training, client counseling or collaboration can be combined to achieve the necessary 15 hours of competency.). 
  
  
• Submission of a “success story” is required for the proof of competency requirement to be fulfilled.    

NOTE:  The majors and curriculums listed under Advanced CBA webinars are not all-inclusive.  More majors and additional curriculums can be identified by the CBA counselor and his/her supervisor with consideration given to their service area’s needs.  Some may fall under more than one major.  

What are the CBA III requirements?

CBA III is awarded after the CBA counselor completes three (3) or more majors.  That’s it! 

Why register for CBA II and III?

Participants will discover that CBA II and III:

• Expands the counselor’s knowledge base by helping his/her develop relevant competencies and expertise in specific field(s) of interest. 
  
  
• Enhances the counselor’s reputation as an advanced business advisor throughout the SBDC network and business community.
  
  
• Helps organize and guide individual professional development plans to help the counselor achieve his/her learning goals. 
  
  
• Provides a personal sense of accomplishment by helping develop capabilities to their fullest potential.
  
  
• Provides a professional sense of achievement by sharing this knowledge with peers and clients.
  
  
• CBA II or III status serves as tangible proof to the SBDC network and clients of both the counselor’s commitment to continuous learning, and his/her expertise in a given area(s).
  
  
• Presents the local or state SBDC program with a new resource for any information gap that may exist in its service area.

Contact Us
Ohio Small Business Development Centers Ohio Department Of Development Phone: (614) 466-2711 or Toll-free: (800) 848-1300 ext. 6-2711 e-mail: Domini Hunt