Business Counseling Certification

The business counselors certification program involves training and certification activity specifically concerned with the Asia-Pacific geographic area and focused on counselors who work with small businesses. This certification endeavor operates under oversight from an organization known as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers.

APEC Ministers

• The mission statement page of the APEC Ministers website describes the organization as having the goal of fostering "sustainable economic growth and prosperity" throughout the Asia-Pacific region. This mission encompasses a number of initiatives, one of which is the certification program for small business counselors.

Purpose

• The purpose of the certification program for small business counselors involves development of access to quality small business counseling services for the APEC region.

Administration

• Administration of the certification program falls under the authority of an APEC-related organization, the International Network of Institutes of Small Business (APEC IBIZ), as described at the APEC website.

Certification

• The certification process involves guidance and qualification standards for the content of training programs offering certification programs for small business counselors and standards for re-certification. These certification and re-certification policies fall under the jurisdiction of a Professional Standards Committee that incorporates five APEC IBIZ representatives.

Delivery

• The certification for the small business counselors program makes use of local sites known as Local Delivery Centers (LDCs) to supply the training programs to small business counselors.