What is a Certified Speaking Professional?
The Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, conferred by the National Speakers Association and the International Federation for Professional Speakers, is the speaking profession's international measure of professional platform skill.
The CSP designation is earned through demonstrating competence in a combination of standards:
- Professional platform skills;
- Professional business management;
- Professional education; and
- Professional association.
Speakers must be members of NSA or another GSF organization for at least three years and complete a rigorous application process to earn the CSP designation.
If you are a speaker and want to set your sights on becoming one of the top 10 percent to have earned this credential, you can find more information and an application at MyNSA.org.
Meeting Professionals:
Certified Speaking Professionals Make Your Job Easier!
Think the caliber of presenters you select for your event is important?
Professional speakers who have earned the CSP designation bring a proven track record of experience and expertise to your meeting.
As speakers go through the five-year process of becoming certified, they are required to:
- Receive excellent ratings from past clients on performance evaluations;
- Demonstrate that they serve a wide variety of clients;
- Take part in ongoing education;
- Perform and document hundreds of presentations;
- Submit testimonial letters from their clients; and
- Provide samples of their promotional materials.
What Do People Who Hire Speakers Say About the CSP?
"When I see the CSP designation, I recognize it as the hallmark of a speaking professional who has met the impressive and high expectations required to earn the certification. Our audiences have never been disappointed in the powerful, relevant messages delivered in educational sessions conducted by CSPs."
Nancy A. Woolever, PHR
Society of Human Resource Management
"CSP is an insurance policy toward the meeting planner's success. The CSP designation is a qualifier in the mind of the astute planner."
Brad Plumb
North American Speakers Bureau, Inc.
"I am a CMP (Certified Meeting Professional). I believe strongly in designations. It says you are committed to the profession. When I have equal speakers, I will take the CSP first over the non-CSP. Yes, CSP does make a difference in selecting speakers."
Betty E. Garrett, CMP
Garrett Speakers International
"You know CSPs have achieved a certain discipline that puts them in a category all their own; they have passed the test of longevity; they have proven themselves. It makes a difference today and will continue to make a difference in the meetings industry."
Marolyn Wright
Program Resources
"When I have a choice of a speaker who is a CSP or not, I will select the speaker who is a CSP."
Michelle Lemmons
International Speakers Bureau, Inc.
"I always consider the CSP designation the hallmark of professional excellence. The CSPs that we have selected have never disappointed our audiences."
Barbara S. Sadek
The Society for Human Resources Management
"It's truly an indication that a speaker has achieved a higher level of professionalism. It's something we look for first. I reduce my risk by hiring someone with a CSP."
William Bess
Mfgrs. Representatives of America
NSA is proud to feature Certified Speaking Professionals in our free online speaker search resource, Find a Speaker.