Blackbaud Professional Certification

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Teresa Rice
Teresa Rice
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in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT®: General Discussion
Is there a way to take the Professional Exam without acquiring the different badges?  Im finding it very difficult to get enrolled in required classes. I'm in the PST timezone, so with the classes only offered 3 times per day with no evenings or weekends, it's difficult to find a time that works with my busy work schedule. Additionally, the classes required for certification are usually waitlisted (sometimes with up to 13 people), and the next class is either unscheduled or far away. I work in all areas of RE all day everyday and feel that I have the expertise to pass the exam now.  However, at the rate I'm going of trying to get enrolled in badge-related classes, it will take me a year to get certified.
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  • Krys Fritz bCREPro bCRP
    Krys Fritz bCREPro bCRP
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic Name Dropper

    I have been looking into these classes for the past couple of weeks  as well and have discovered the same thing.  I actually sent an email to BB training asking if there are going to be more sessions added as a couple of them are so difficult to get registered for.  I believe you do have to earn the badges, but those 3 badge exams can be taken without taking the classes.  Then, after you earn the badges, then you can take the Professionals Exam.

     

  • JoAnn Strommen
    JoAnn Strommen Community All-Star
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    Teresa,

    While they used to say the exams for certification could be taken without all the prerequisite doesn't read that way anywhere on the training pages I've read recently.  They've tied them into purchasing courses and/or learn subscriptions.  Can sure get costly!! Not in our orgs budget or my personal one. Sad to see.

    Below is email for questions.

    __________________________

    Who can I contact with questions about Blackbaud Certification?

    You can send an email to certification@blackbaud.com.

  • Jen Claudy
    Jen Claudy
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    You are not required to take any classes before attempting any of the exams.  However, you do have to pass the Fundamentals exam and then each of the Professional Badges before the Professionals exam will be available for you to register for.


    From the description on one of the Professional Badge Exams: OPTION: If you feel you possess the knowledge essential for managing constituents in Raiser’s Edge, you can attempt this Badge exam without completing the prerequisite courses, but you must first pass the Raiser’s Edge Fundamentals Exam.


    From the Fundamentals Exam description: The Fundamentals Exam is the first level of Blackbaud Certification in Raiser’s Edge. You will have 1.5 hours (90 minutes) to complete 30 questions. To pass, you must get 80% of the questions correct. Once registration is complete, the exam will be available for 90 days or until December 31 of the current calendar year, whichever comes first. During that time, you have two opportunities to pass the exam. This exam is designed to test the knowledge gained from completing the Raiser’s Edge Fundamentals series of prerequisite courses. Alternatively, if you believe you already possess the knowledge presented in the Fundamentals prerequisite courses, passing this exam allows you to bypass the prerequisite courses in the Raiser’s Edge curriculum.


    If you do not pass an exam, you can take it again within 90 days.  However, with your experience, you shouldn't have a problem passing any of the exams with flying colors.  In my experience, and what I've heard from others, none of the exams is really difficult and the questions missed are usually either mis-reading the question or answer choices or are covering areas or features that you don't use.
  • Teresa Rice
    Teresa Rice
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic 5 Likes
    Thanks Jen,


    It's good that we can take the badge exams at anytime...now if only I can find them!  On the certificaiton page, there is a 2-column table with the name of the badge exams in the first column and the name of the recommended courses in the second column.  It would be nice if the name of the badge exams in the first column linked to the exams like the course names link to the courses. Will you please tell me how to access the badge exams? I passed the Fundamentals exam 2 years ago. Do I have to take it again?
  • Teresa Rice
    Teresa Rice
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic 5 Likes
    Joann,


    EXACTLY!  I'm having the hardest time finding those exams on their training pages!


    Teresa
  • Teresa Rice
    Teresa Rice
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic 5 Likes
    Thanks Krys,


    I'm tryng to find those badge exams now.  Good luck getting in those classes!


    Teresa
  • Teresa Rice
    Teresa Rice
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic 5 Likes
    That works! THANKS JEN!
  • Susan Chomsky
    Susan Chomsky
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Comments 100 Likes Photogenic

    Jen Claudy:

    Try this link and search for "exam 2017" then select the badge exam you're looking for from the search results.

    How do I select the badge exam if on my transcrpt it shows "Expired?"

  • Jen Claudy
    Jen Claudy
    Tenth Anniversary 1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper

    Susan Chomsky:

    Jen Claudy:

    Try this link and search for "exam 2017" then select the badge exam you're looking for from the search results.

    How do I select the badge exam if on my transcrpt it shows "Expired?"

    This is likely a question for Blackbaud University staff.  I believe it's training@blackbaud.com.

  • Melissa Rancour
    Melissa Rancour Blackbaud Employee
    Tenth Anniversary 250 Likes 100 Comments Name Dropper

    Hi Jen and Susan, 


    You can email TrainingHelp@blackbaud.com, and they can assist you with enrolling in the Badge exams. 


    Melissa 


    Jen Claudy    :

    Susan Chomsky:

    Jen Claudy:

    Try this link and search for "exam 2017" then select the badge exam you're looking for from the search results.

    How do I select the badge exam if on my transcrpt it shows "Expired?"

    This is likely a question for Blackbaud University staff.  I believe it's training@blackbaud.com.

     

     

  • Teresa Rice
    Teresa Rice
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic 5 Likes

    Jen Claudy:

    You are not required to take any classes before attempting any of the exams.  However, you do have to pass the Fundamentals exam and then each of the Professional Badges before the Professionals exam will be available for you to register for.


    From the description on one of the Professional Badge Exams: OPTION: If you feel you possess the knowledge essential for managing constituents in Raiser’s Edge, you can attempt this Badge exam without completing the prerequisite courses, but you must first pass the Raiser’s Edge Fundamentals Exam.


    From the Fundamentals Exam description: The Fundamentals Exam is the first level of Blackbaud Certification in Raiser’s Edge. You will have 1.5 hours (90 minutes) to complete 30 questions. To pass, you must get 80% of the questions correct. Once registration is complete, the exam will be available for 90 days or until December 31 of the current calendar year, whichever comes first. During that time, you have two opportunities to pass the exam. This exam is designed to test the knowledge gained from completing the Raiser’s Edge Fundamentals series of prerequisite courses. Alternatively, if you believe you already possess the knowledge presented in the Fundamentals prerequisite courses, passing this exam allows you to bypass the prerequisite courses in the Raiser’s Edge curriculum.


    If you do not pass an exam, you can take it again within 90 days.  However, with your experience, you shouldn't have a problem passing any of the exams with flying colors.  In my experience, and what I've heard from others, none of the exams is really difficult and the questions missed are usually either mis-reading the question or answer choices or are covering areas or features that you don't use.

    Jen,

    How do I find the Professional Exam? I have passed Fundamentals exam and the 3 badge exams, the last one on July 3.  I thought that maybe it would be automatically available in my transcript after passing the badge exams, but as of today I still do not have access to it and it does not come up in the search results.

    Teresa

  • Jen Claudy
    Jen Claudy
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    I would email TrainingHelp@blackbaud.com and ask them.  You might also check for information in emails you received when you passed the Badge exams.
  • Teresa Rice
    Teresa Rice
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic 5 Likes

    Thanks Jen,


    All 3 emails say the EXACT same thing: "congratulations you
    passed," "one step closer," "professional exam not available until
    24 hours after all badges passed."  That was 4 days ago. 
    Anyhoo...I will go ahead and send an email to training.
    thanks.






    Teresa Rice

    Data Analyst
    Texas Methodist Foundation

    512-583-1916



  • Steven Infinger
    Steven Infinger
    Tenth Anniversary Photogenic First Comment Blackbaud Certified
    Hey Teresa,


    Thanks for reaching out. I've checked your transcript, and it looks like you've contacted Training Help and been registered to take the Raiser's Edge Professional Exam 2017. Sorry for the trouble in getting through the certification process. Congratulations on completing the three badges exams, and good luck in reaching the Professional level!
  • Faith Murray
    Faith Murray
    Ninth Anniversary 2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Photogenic
    I believe I experienced something similar with my Professional exam. After 2 days it still wasn't available, but I emailed the support staff, and they registered me so it showed up on my transcript options.


    Good luck!
  • Teresa Rice
    Teresa Rice
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Comments Photogenic 5 Likes

    Hi Faith,


    I opened a chat session with Training...it was quicker than
    email. They made the exam available within 5 minutes...and I
    passed!  thanks!


    Teresa






    Teresa Rice

    Data Analyst
    Texas Methodist Foundation

    512-583-1916



  • Heather MacKenzie
    Heather MacKenzie
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Photogenic
    Teresa, congrats!  I have passed the badges, but am biting my nails and procrastinating on taking the professional level exam.....  Good on you!
  • Jen Claudy
    Jen Claudy
    Tenth Anniversary 1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    Heather, you'll want to take the Professional Exam relatively soon after the badge exams...many of the questions are the same or very similar, and while you will want to carefully read the question (to be sure that it isn't just different enough from the same question on the badge exam that it has a different answer), I think it's probably easier to take it while the badge exams are still fresh in your mind.  That was a recommendation last year in the comments from other users, and I found it to be the case for me.  Unless you struggled with the badge exams, you shouldn't have any problem with the professional.

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