Grateful 25 Feb: Credentials

I successfully renewed my Senior Professional credential today - and I must admit, it came with quite a big sigh of relief. I first earned this credential two years ago, and it will expire end of this year. To renew, I will have to stay engaged with industry practitioners, keep myself updated on developments, and clock enough professional development hours along the way. So I am relieved it’s now done - and that means I can continue my freelancing role as an industry trainer. For that, I am truly grateful. I would like to acknowledge the following that made this possible:

• Professional Industry. I am thankful to be part of an industry that has recognised my contributions. Such recognition was not automatic; it required substantial years of experience and the successful completion of an exam before accreditation was granted. More importantly, I am deeply appreciative of the industry practitioners who have supported, coached and mentored me over the years. As a former public servant who transitioned into the corporate world, being recognised as a Senior Professional is something I do not take for granted. I remain indebted to the many individuals whose paths I have had the privilege of crossing over the past decade and more.

• Training and Professional Networking. At the end of 2023, I made the decision to leave the corporate world to pursue freelance work. I subsequently became an adjunct trainer, specialising in subjects related to my industry. I was given numerous opportunities to train aspiring professionals seeking to enter the field. These engagements sharpened my own expertise - after all, one often learns best when one teaches. I was pleasantly surprised and glad that these training hours are recognised as part of my continuous professional development and will contribute to credential renewal. Similarly, the networking opportunities over the past two years have kept me connected with fellow professionals and enabled me to remain current with industry developments. For all these opportunities, despite having left the corporate world, I am truly grateful.

• Support Structures. Two days ago, I received an email informing me that my credential would expire this year and that a CNY promotion was available to offset a portion of the renewal cost if I complete it within the week. I was glad that I had diligently kept record of all my training and networking hours. It made the document submission easy. I was thankful for the responsiveness and support of the organisation’s team that helped resolve a couple of minor technical issues during the renewal process. 

Today’s successful renewal extends my credential to the end of 2029. More importantly, it represents over 15 years of experience and sustained effort in the industry, the privilege of learning from dedicated practitioners, and the continued opportunities I have been given even after stepping away from the corporate world.