History
The Balanced Scorecard Institute was the original certifying body for balanced scorecard practitioners. The first program was delivered to an international group of participants in January 2006, and was conducted jointly with George Washington University College of Professional Studies on their campus in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Since then, balanced scorecard certificate programs have been delivered four to five times a year at George Washington University and at other locations worldwide.
Program Overview
The Balanced Scorecard Professional Certification Program provides participants with background and resources in all areas that are important to lead or participate on a team to build, implement, and sustain a balanced scorecard planning and management system in their organization. The program includes in-depth study of strategic thinking, strategic planning, organization assessment, strategy mapping, performance measures and target setting, strategic initiatives, automation, cascading and strategic management.
This program is based on the Institute’s Nine Steps to Success® balanced scorecard framework, and expands on other training workshops with additional process substance in each step, more advanced exercises, one-on-one interaction with senior staff, and additional resource material, software tools and templates.
The program is taught in a highly interactive manner, using lectures, lessons learned, practical examples, case studies, software demonstrations, small-group exercises, a Performance Scorecard Toolkit, software tools and templates, and instructor reviews of participants' existing scorecards. Topics covered by the course include:
- Comprehensive approaches to strategic planning, strategic management, performance measurement and target setting, initiative prioritization, performance information systems, and program evaluation
- The Institute’s Nine Step methodology for building and implementing balanced scorecard planning and management systems
- Organization development practices, such as SWOT analysis, employee assessment planning, customer and stakeholder identification, and balanced scorecard program planning
- Modern approaches to strategic thinking and strategy mapping
- Communications strategy development and change management aspects of the balanced scorecard journey
- Facilitation and coaching skills necessary to lead team workshops in the development of a balanced scorecard system for your organization
- How to select appropriate software to collect and report performance information throughout the organization
- How to cascade the enterprise scorecard throughout the organization
Program Benefits
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This program is made up of hands-on workshops taught by the most senior Institute facilitating consultants, and is designed to enable anyone involved with developing a balanced scorecard system to act as a coordinating change agent/internal consultant to lead and develop a scorecard system. Instructors will work closely with each participant. Participants will learn how to develop balanced scorecards and apply them in their own organizations. Software for planning and performance measurement will be demonstrated to show how information technology can be used to help develop the scorecard system, collect, report, and visualize performance information, and cascade an enterprise scorecard to business and support units, and to teams and individuals. Past participants have raved about the value they received from working side-by-side with other participants, who come from all over the world and various organization types. This sharing of practical experience occurs through classroom discussions, through meet-and-greet receptions scheduled during the week, and in some cases through electronic correspondence long after the course has ended.
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But Why Get Certified?
There has never been a better time to accelerate your career in strategic planning and balanced scorecard facilitation, and earning a certification is a great way to do just that. Even if you have been working with balanced scorecards for 15 years, certifications are an excellent way to market yourself and stand out from the crowd. Earning certifications shows a potential employer (and your current one) that you are willing to go the extra mile.
Balanced Scorecard Institute Certification
The Institute's program is based on a student successfully learning how to build and implement a scorecard system, and applying the learning in a practical way. Successfully passing a final exam completes the certification process. There are two levels of certification: advanced level is Balanced Scorecard Master Professional (BSMP) and the basic certification level is Balanced Scorecard Professional (BSP).
Balanced Scorecard Master Professional (BSMP)
Balanced Scorecard Master Professional status is the highest certification level by the Balanced Scorecard Institute, and is offered in association with the George Washington University College of Professional Studies. This certification can be earned by students by taking one of two tracks (see below). Both tracks include the same course of study:
- A basic program of study made up of lecture, case studies, small-group exercises and software demonstrations
- Practical application development and presentation, with each student or team presenting an application example to the class and instructors
- Advanced balanced scorecard topics
- A certification exam.
This program allows students to learn, practice, and develop their practical application in a step-by-step fashion under the guidance of a senior Institute certifying instructor. Following an interactive lecture on each step in the Nine Steps to Success™ framework, students practice with case study and exercise designed to reinforce the learning objectives of the step. Each day, students are given time to work on their Practical Application, in a “build it as you learn” approach. Advanced balanced scorecard topics (e.g., surveys, facilitation, communication planning and change management, strategy mapping, advanced performance measurement development and target setting) are integrated into each step of the framework.
Following student presentations on the last day of class, a certification exam is administered. Successful students are awarded formal certification at the rank of Balanced Scorecard Master Professional. Certification is valid for three years, after which recertification can be earned (see the Recertification tab).
Approximate course delivery times are:
- Basic Program of Study – 5 or 6 course days (depending on which Track and option chosen)
- Certification Preparation – 5 days, including Practical Application Development and Presentation, Advanced Topics training, and Certification Review and Exam
Track One
This track is a continuous program held over 10 days (2 calendar weeks) and taught at George Washington University and various locations worldwide. It combines all elements of certification in one program, with the added benefit of having 10 full continuous days of work on the practical application program.
Required Courses:
Balanced Scorecard Master Professional (BSMP) Certification Course (10 days)
Track Two
The material taught in Track Two is the same as that taught in Track One, only Track Two uses 2-3 shorter classes (3 to 5 days each) administered over a longer period of time. Track Two is the ideal answer for students who want Master Professional certification, but cannot commit to the full two week schedule of Track One. In Track Two, the Practical Application Development and Presentation, Advanced Topics, and Certification Exam are concentrated in the 5-day BSMP Certification Bridge course.
Required Courses (in top-to-bottom sequence):
Option One:
Introduction to the Balanced Scorecard (3 days)
Advanced Balanced Scorecard: Train the Trainer (3 days)
Balanced Scorecard Master Professional Certification Bridge Course(5 days)
OR Option Two:
Balanced Scorecard Professional Certification Boot Camp (5 days)
Balanced Scorecard Master Professional Certification Bridge Course (5 days)
How Do I Register?
Track One participants will automatically be considered for certification when registration for the Balanced Scorecard Master Professional Certification Course has been completed. Track Two participants will register for the Balanced Scorecard Master Professional certification program while registering to take the Balanced Scorecard Master Professional Certification Bridge Course (see respective course catalog description pages or the Institute's Course Schedule for individual course registration). You will need to provide the approximate date and the city in which you took the prerequired courses in order for your application to be approved.
"But I took one of these courses last year!"
Not a problem! The Institute welcomes all of its previous Introduction, Advanced, Boot Camp, and Certificate Program course participants to upgrade their certificate of participation to a full fledged certification by meeting any additional requirements for the level of certification of interest. Please contact the Institute to verify that you qualify.
Balanced Scorecard Professional (BSP)
Balanced Scorecard Professional certification is awarded after the completion of a basic program of study and an online Certification Exam. This program is designed for students who do not want to achieve the higher level BSMP certification or would prefer to achieve BSP certification first and BSMP certification at a later date.
The course of study includes:
- A basic program of study made up of lecture, case studies, small-group exercises and software demonstrations
- A certification exam
Total class time for this level of certification is 5 or 6 days. Following completion of course work, students can sit for a web-based certification exam.
Required Courses (in top-to-bottom sequence):
Option One:
Introduction to the Balanced Scorecard (3 days)
Advanced Balanced Scorecard: Train the Trainer (3 days)
Certification Exam (administered online)
OR Option Two:
BSP Certification Boot Camp, including Exam (5 days)
How Do I Register?
Please register for the Balanced Scorecard Professional certification program while registering to take the certification exam. You will need to provide the approximate date and the city in which you took the required courses in order for your application to be approved. Please see the respective course catalog description pages or the Institute's Course Schedule for individual course registration.
"But I took one of these courses last year!"
Not a problem! The Institute welcomes all of its previous Intro, Advanced and Boot Camp course participants to upgrade their certificate of participation to a full fledged certification by meeting the additional requirements for the level of certification of interest. Please contact the Institute to verify that you qualify.
Recertification Details
Certification is valid for three years commencing January 1 of the calendar year following the date of certification (e.g., an applicant achieves certification on April 13, 2009; requirements for renewal must be met no later than 31 December 2012). Re-certification is based on credits earned while engaged in balanced scorecard related activities, including: successful completion of advanced Balanced Scorecard Institute short courses, practical experience, successful completion of related professional education courses from other institutions, authoring papers and books, and attending performance conferences. Fifty certification credits are needed to be re-certified at the Professional level or Master Professional level.
Fifty credits can be obtained through declaration (self declared by renewal applicant / auditable at the discretion of BSCI) or demonstration of:
- Strategic management experience in a position where duties include: balanced scorecard development, project management, performance measurement development, system administration, coordination, communication and management (maximum 20 credits)
- Facilitation experience in internal or external client performance improvement projects (maximum 15 credits)
- Teaching experience at a recognized college-level institution, authoring published articles or books, or speaking at professional conferences (maximum 15 credits)
- Continuing Education experience, either from Balanced Scorecard Institute advanced topic courses or other relevant performance management/balanced scorecard courses from recognized professional development organizations (maximum 30 credits)
- Performance management/balanced scorecard related conference attendance (maximum 10 credits)
The Balanced Scorecard Institute will notify students when their certification time period is nearing the three year limit, to ensure that there is enough time to get re-certified.
Please call the Balanced Scorecard Institute to answer your specific questions regarding certification and re-certification, at (919) 460-8180.