Certified Business Advisor® Certificate that reads, "Certificate for Professionals who work with SMES and Entrepreneurs. Register Today"
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A female consultant works with a male client.The Certified Business Advisor® (CBA) is an on-demand, self-paced eLearning certification program specially designed for professionals who advise small business owners.

CBA® is designed for maximum on-the-job performance and provides assurance to clients that its graduates have the business skills, competency and knowledge to effectively counsel, guide and inform entrepreneurs.

View CBA® Registration Information VIEW CBA® BROCHURE

To maintain CBA certification, a minimum of 20 hours per calendar year of continuing education must be completed and documented. For more information on how to retain your certification, please contact Domini Hunt at domini.hunt@development.ohio.gov.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

  • Provides assurance to clients that CBA® graduates have the business skills, competency and knowledge to effectively counsel, guide and inform entrepreneurs
  • Serves as a review of knowledge obtained through education and experience.  CBA® is, in essence, a proficiency exam, and reaffirms the Business Advisor’s knowledge in business basics
  • Contains travel costs and reduces time away from the office
  • Is designed to be applied immediately in the workplace. Students can integrate the material into their jobs while learning instead of waiting until the class ends.  Work and learning become one and the same
  • Answers the need for lifelong learning. CBA® provides a framework for continuing professional development by requiring additional continuing education annually to maintain certification
  • Graduates will receive a certificate of completion issued by Kent State University

WHAT SETS THE CBA® APART?

  • Kent State University, an AACSB-accredited university, (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) awards CBA® certification, thereby validating its objectivity and integrity
  • The College of Business Administration at Kent State University is among fewer than 1% of business schools worldwide to receive dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting
  • Kent State’s MBA and EMBA programs are ranked Tier One globally by CEO Magazine. The College is ranked as a top business college in Ohio and the number is ranked as one of the nation's most outstanding business schools, according to The Princeton Review
  • CBA® is a graduate-level certification program, implemented by graduate-level professors using graduate school standards in both course development and grading
SBA
 

We are excited for your interest in CBA® and hope you find it fulfilling. The following 15 steps have been compiled to help make CBA® an efficient, effective and positive experience.

15 STEPS TO CBA® SUCCESS

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (SBDCS) - OHIO & OUT-OF-STATE GUIDELINES

Download the CBA® Guidelines for Ohio and Out-of-State SBDCs (.docx)

EAN-ESP-MBAC-MEP-PTAC & PUBLIC GUIDELINES

Download the CBA® Guidelines for EAN-ESP-MBAC-MEP-PTAC & Public (.docx)

CBA® REGISTRATION/COURSE OPEN SCHEDULE



REGISTRATION OPENS



REGISTRATION CLOSES



SESSION START DATE


SESSION END DATE:
Ohio SBDC Employees (6 months)

SESSION END DATE:
Non-Ohio SBDC; Partner Organizations; Public Professionals (1 year)
5/15/2021 5/25/2021 June 1, 2021 November 2021 May 2022
6/15/2021 6/25/2021 July 1, 2021 December 2021 June 2022
7/15/2021 7/25/2021 August 1, 2021 January 2022 July 2022
8/15/2021 8/25/2021 September 1, 2021 February 2022 August 2022
9/15/2021 9/25/2021 October 1, 2021 March 2022 September 2022
10/15/2021 10/25/2021 November 1, 2021 April 2022 October 2022
11/15/2021 11/25/2021 December 1, 2021 May 2022 November 2022
12/12/2021 12/19/2021 January 1, 2022 June 2022 December 2022
1/15/2022 1/25/2022 February 1, 2022 July 2022 January 2023
2/15/2022 2/25/2022 March 1, 2022 August 2022 Febuary 2023
3/15/2022 3/25/2022 April 1, 2022 September 2022 March 2023
4/15/2022 4/25/2022 May 1, 2022 October 2022 April 2023

 

*Access to CBA courses is provided for one year, however individual program directors/supervisors may impose a more limited timeframe for program completion. With permission of individual program director/supervisor, access can be extended for up to one additional year.

 

CBA® COURSE OBJECTIVES

MARKETING COURSE

The CBA Marketing course provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of marketing, including strategic planning and the marketing plan; marketing research, feasibility studies and the marketing plan; customer relationship marketing and understanding the consumer; segmentation, target marketing and positioning; product planning and development, pricing, distribution and promotion management including digital marketing.

These concepts are especially important for those hoping to help small businesses, as marketing is often a mystery to small business owner and managers. In today’s “white-water rapids” competitive environment, it is likely that your clients are operating in white water rapids. They need to make plans and implement them, while watching for rapidly occurring changes in competition, regulations and legislation, the economy, in society and in technology. Any plans they make almost certainly will not last as the environment changes and they adapt (or sink). A comprehensive understanding of marketing is essential to small business success.

This course is comprised of nine (9) sessions:

  • SESSION 1: Introduction to Marketing
    This session provides an overall perspective on what marketing is, the processes it involves, and various philosophies of marketing.
  • SESSION 2: Strategic Planning and the Marketing Plan
    Organizations cannot succeed without planning. And marketing plans must support the organization's Mission, Vision and Objectives.
    This session looks at strategic planning and mission, key marketing strategies, analysis necessary for such planning, and the basics of a marketing plan.
  • SESSION 3: Marketing Research, Feasibility Studies, and Sales Forecasting
    Marketing thrive on information.
    It is needed to understand the environment, the consumer, the competition, the likelihood of a project's success and potential profitability, and to evaluate the organization's marketing efforts.
    This session delves into research for marketing action.
  • SESSION 4: Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM) and Consumer Behavior
    Marketing centers on consumers.
    Firms cannot succeed if they do not understand consumers fully and deeply and provide them with value and satisfaction.
    This session looks at how we accomplish these tasks.
  • SESSION 5: Market Segmentation, Market Targeting and Positioning
    Organizations cannot be "all things, to all people (or to all businesses)."
    In almost all cases, both consumers (and businesses) have different needs, wants, and desires such that they cannot be satisfied by one offering.
    This session examines the ways in which marketers divide up the market into different interest groups (segments), select one or more segment to "target" with an appropriate marketing mix, and position the product or brand in the marketplace to appeal the target market.
  • SESSION 6: Product Management
    Consumers seek solutions to problems and marketers help to solve those problems by the products and services they offer.
    This session looks at products and services (and how they differ in terms of marketing), the importance of customer service in providing value to the consumer, the process of developing "new" products/services, and the need to build a strong band.
  • SESSION 7: Price Management
    Pricing the product or service is an important part of the marketing mix, as price is the only thing that generates revenue.
    This session exams price, costs, break-even analysis, and various approaches to setting and adjusting prices.
  • SESSION 8: Place Management
    Products and services need to move from the providers to the consumers in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
    This session discusses Channels of Distribution and Supply Chain Management with a focus on satisfying the goals of the channel members and the consumer.
  • SESSION 9: Promotion Management
    We must be able to reach our target audience with information about our company, brands, and products.
    This is done using the Promotion element of the Marketing Mix, with a good understanding of our target market's values and media exposure habits, and our goals and objectives.
    This session exams those topics, with a special emphasis on Digital and Social Media Marketing

ACCOUNTING/FINANCE COURSE

The CBA Accounting and Finance course provides an overview of essential issues regarding the areas of accounting and finance. The objective of the course is to impart enough information and develop sufficient basic skill to allow the student to understand the impact that these subject matters have on the small business. After all, lack of an understanding of, or lack of financial information in general, represent major causes of business failure.

In this course the topics of business organization, accounting, tax, business planning, financial statement analysis and other specialized analytical techniques are covered. This course is one of the more quantitative courses that are in the course. The work in this course will require effort by the students to work out problems using basic mathematic skills and to learn more advanced analytical techniques based upon those skills.

This course is comprised of nine (9) sessions:

  • SESSION 1: Business Entities
    An introduction into the way that business are organized and taxed.
  • SESSION 2: Business Planning
    An examination of the business plan and its uses and purposes.
  • SESSION 3: Financial Statements
    An introduction into the various types of financial statements, what's on them and what their use is.
  • SESSION 4: Financial Statement Analysis
    How to use the information found in financial statements to understand a business.
  • SESSION 5: Financial Projections and Cash Flow Analysis
    The basics on making financial projections.
  • SESSION 6: Managerial Accounting
    Break even analysis and other forms of managerial marketing.
  • SESSION 7: Sources of Financing
    Types of SBA programs available and a discussion of other sources of financing.
  • SESSION 8: Cost of Capital and Capital Budgeting
    The basics on cost of capital and capital budgeting.
  • SESSION 9: Valuation
    A review of the processes for valuing non-public, closely held firms.

HUMAN RESOURCES COURSE

The CBA Human Resources course offers a comprehensive review of major concepts in the area of human resource management. Particular focus is given to competitive advantage derived from improvement upon HR planning, selection, recruitment, training and compensation practices. Vignettes related to the hiring, management and termination of people in the workplace will be offered as a means to delve into topics from both a practical and theoretical perspective.

This course is comprised of seven (7) sessions:

  • SESSION 1: Introduction to HRM (The changing HR environment; Legal issues in HRM)*
  • SESSION 2: Affirmative action debate
  • SESSION 3: Staffing (Recruitment, Selection)
  • SESSION 4: eRecruiting debate
  • SESSION 5: Ensuring positive performance (Training, Performance Management, Compensation)
  • SESSION 6: Organized labor debate
  • SESSION 7: Gender and pay debate

*In parentheses are the basic HRM topics covered by the typical HRM textbook.

GRADING INFORMATION

To pass each course, you will be required to have an overall average minimum grade of 80% and no session grade below 70% which is the usual level for a graduate course.

If you receive a grade of less than 70%, a retake exam is necessary and must be taken before you are allowed to take the next exam or continue to the next session or course.

If you receive multiple grades of 70% or above, but the grades do not average to 80% or above for the entire class, you will be required to retake each exam until the overall average is 80% or above before moving on to the next session or course.

This makes it easier for you to learn, understand, and retain the concepts being taught rather than waiting until completion of the program. It is also easier for you to increase your grade this way.

NOTE: Each participant will be allowed to retake one exam at no charge. If more than one retake is required, the CBA® candidate will need to register again for that course and pay the course registration fee of $500.

More information regarding grading can be found within the GUIDELINES section of the site.

CBA® TESTIMONIALS

"As an independent CPA operating a public accounting practice in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, I regularly receive phone calls from entrepreneurs who need assistance with startup, marketing, accounting and operational issues. In order to better position myself as a small business advisor to guide these small business clients, I recognized the need to become certified in this area. Since completing this program, I have more knowledge and confidence to consult with my small business clients in order to help them to run a successful business. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who provides consulting services to small businesses."

Linda A. Stortz, CPA, MAcc

Certified Business Advisor®
Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor
Seminole, Florida 
 

Questions? You're in the right place. If you can't find what you're looking for, contact us.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When can I register for CBA®?

We have worked to keep registration as flexible as possible, especially for those working professionals. There will be a one-week registration/enrollment period each month. Refer to the schedule under the Guidelines tab.

View Registration Information

What is the CBA® registration fee?

The registration fees have been designed so that you have the option of taking one or two courses to heighten your knowledge in a topic(s) of special interest or one that needs development or you may take all three (3) courses to become fully certified. To see the schedule of registration fees, visit www.kent.edu/cba, then click the Registration Info tab.

Do I receive a certificate for CBA® certification?

Those who successfully pass individual courses will receive a Course Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion of all three (3) courses, CBA® graduates will be issued a certificate under the banner of Kent State University College of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate. This certificate will be signed by the Dean of the college, authenticating and verifying successful completion of CBA®.

Does the CBA® certification expire?

To ensure CBA graduates are up-to-date on the latest industry trends, lending opportunities, and relevant regulations impacting small business, CBA® graduates are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education per year.

Exception: SBDC Directors will determine the number of annual continuing education hours.

Who developed the CBA®?

CBA® was developed by and for Small Business Development Center (SBDC) advisors. For over 20 years, the Certified Business Advisor® program has been used by 20 state SBDCs to improve their networks’ professional knowledge, competence, skill and effectiveness in helping thousands of small businesses start, grow and thrive.

How is the curriculum structured?

The CBA program offers a concise, yet comprehensive up-to-date curriculum designed for maximum on-the-job performance. The instructors, who are required to have business experience in addition to graduate level teaching experience, emphasize application as well as theory.

Courses are segmented by discipline, i.e., distinct areas of study, which were produced specifically for small business and entrepreneurship development including Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Accounting/Finance. For more information on learning objectives and specific sessions, please visit the Courses tab.

What is the CERTIFICATE cancellation policy?

Cancellations and Refund Policy:

All cancellations and requests for refunds must be made, in writing, prior to the date on which an individual registrant’s access to CBA courses begins; it will be listed in the registration confirmation letter. After this date, no cancellations, refunds, substitutions or transfer of fees will be processed. Requests should be sent to the Office of Continuing and Distance Education using one of the following:

E-mail: continuinged@kent.edu

Fax: 330-672-2079

Mail: Office of Continuing and Distance Education

                Kent State University

                120 N. Lincoln Street

                PO Box 5190

                Kent OH 44242-0001

 

How are CBA® Learning Courses Graded?

  • Each session of each course will be "graded" through a written assignment or exam (essay or multiple choice). Each course has about eight sessions
  • To pass the course, you will be required to have an overall average minimum grade of 80% and no session grade below 70% which is the usual level for a graduate course
  • If you receive a grade of less than 70%, a retake exam is necessary and must be taken before you are allowed to take the next exam or continue to the next course. This makes it easier for you to learn, understand and retain the concepts being taught rather than waiting until completion of the course. It is also easier for you to increase your grade this way

NOTE: Each participant will be allowed to retake one session in each course at no charge. If more than one retake is required, the CBA® candidate will need to register again for that course and pay the course registration fee of $500

Can I 'Test out' of CBA®?

CBA® candidates will not have the option to “test out.” CBA® is not a traditional “correspondence course” using a simple read-and-answer mode of learning. CBA® employs multimedia instruction to enhance the learning process—consequently making “testing out” extremely difficult, if not impossible.

When will CBA® Learning Courses become available to begin?

October 1, 2017

How long will it take to complete the CBA® Learning Courses?

Since CBA® is self-paced, the timeline for completion is largely dependent on the candidate’s level of knowledge in each discipline and a number of responsibilities s/he has on the job. There are approximately nine (9) hours of recorded lecture in each course in addition to the required readings. In Ohio, we require our newly hired advisors to complete the program within six (6) months; however, we give each state/center director full discretion in developing a reasonable time frame for their staff. Business professionals in the private sector have the option of setting and meeting their own personal deadlines.

What is the certificate cancellation policy?

Cancellations and Refund Policy:

All cancellations and requests for refunds must be made, in writing, prior to the date on which an individual registrant’s access to CBA courses begins; it will be listed in the registration confirmation letter. After this date, no cancellations, refunds, substitutions or transfer of fees will be processed.

Requests should be sent to the Office of Continuing and Distance Education using one of the following:

E-mail: continuinged@kent.edu

Fax: 330-672-2079

Mail: Office of Continuing and Distance Education Kent State University

120 N. Lincoln Street

PO Box 5190

Kent OH 44242-0001

If you have additional questions regarding the CBA®, here's where you can reach us. We'd be happy to answer your questions.

CONTACT US

CBA® REGISTRATION

Have questions regarding the registration process?

View CBA® Registration Information

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