International Association of Outsourcing Professionals Expands Outsourcing Certifications to Include Designations for All Career Levels
New Associate Certified Outsourcing Professional Added
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, July 22 – Outsourcing professionals working at every career level from entry-level to C-suite positions can now demonstrate their leadership in the field by gaining professional certifications through several new families of certifications unveiled today by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals® (lAOP®).
IAOP has expanded its certification and professional development programs in response to increased market demands for professional certifications in the outsourcing industry from both individuals, outsourcing companies and governments.
Professionals gaining certifications typically receive higher recognition and compensation while companies can expect consistent, higher-quality results by working with these certified individuals.
“With our expanding range of certification offerings, IAOP is creating opportunities for professional development and recognition at each stage in an individual's career,” said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett.
Through IAOP’s Outsourcing Professional Certification Framework (OPCF), the association’s certification program has been expanded from the original Certified Outsourcing Professional® (COP) designation for outsourcing professionals.
A new Associate Certified Outsourcing Professional (aCOP) has been added in the COP family as well as new certification families for executives and specialists working at customer, provider and advisor organizations.
Joining the professional development offerings are the new:
- Certified Outsourcing ExecutiveTM (COE) designation for individuals who are recognized by IAOP and their peers in the outsourcing industry as demonstrating superior leadership and delivering consistently positive results through outsourcing and/or shared services. COEs may work as customers, provider or advisors and typically hold or have held C-level positions in public or private institutions worldwide.
- Certified Outsourcing SpecialistTM (COS) family of certifications that recognize individuals primarily involved in the delivery of outsourcing services. The first certification in the new COS family to be introduced is the COS Transaction Processing (COS-TP) certification with others being developed.
To receive the COS-TP certification, professionals demonstrate their proficiency in data entry speed and accuracy by taking the COS-TP test powered by BeyondCore. Previously known as the IAOP OperatorEvaluator exam, the functions, availability and pricing have not changed. Any prior IAOP OperatorEvaluator scores and ratings will automatically become an identical IAOP COS-TP score and rating.
Building on the COP Program
Since being introduced in 2006 by IAOP, the COP designation has become globally recognized as the industry’s de facto standard of excellence. Individuals receiving the prestigious designation demonstrate their experience and knowledge against an independently developed set of industry-wide standards.
Earning this certification powerfully demonstrates that individuals possess the knowledge required to design, implement and manage outsourcing initiatives that have a high probability of achieving an organization’s intended outcomes.
The newest aCOP designation focuses on documenting the individual’s knowledge of the management process of outsourcing itself. It promotes an environment where all of the parties to an outsourcing business relationship have a common and shared professional knowledge, approach and commitment to mutual success.
To become an aCOP, individuals must pass the COP Exam and successfully complete the live or online COP Master Class. On achieving the aCOP certification, individuals may go on to document the required experience to achieve the COP certification level as well.
“This new certification framework from IAOP addresses a cross-section of functional skills and provides the hierarchical path required to enhance the value from outsourcing,” said Rajiv Dua, COP, PMP, CGEIT, CISA, ITIL V3 Expert.
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