Certified Public Speaker
What is the CSP? Certified Speaking Professional
The Certified Speaking Professional designation, established in 1980, is the speaking industry’s international measure of professional platform skill. The CSP designation is conferred by the National Speakers Association (NSA) only on those speakers who have earned it by meeting strict qualifying criteria. The letters CSP following a speaker’s name identify that speaker as a speaking professional with a proven track record for understanding and delivering high value from the platform.
Why Should You Hire a CSP?
Audience members will assess the success of your meetings based on the relevance of the topics addressed and the caliber and professionalism of the speakers who present them. Even the most relevant topics will go unnoticed if the speakers fail to connect with and bring their messages to life for, audience members. Choosing a CSP is one way of maximizing the opportunity meetings provide for inspiring and instructing participants. CSP(s) are speakers who have demonstrated their ability to capture and hold audience members’ attention, bring key topics to life and leave impressions that will lead participants to implement what they’ve heard—and remembered.
How Many CSP(s) Are There?
In the past 40 years, less than 1 out of 5 members of the National Speakers Association have been able to earn the CSP designation. That number represents a very small number of people who earn all or part of their income as a speaker, trainer, master of ceremonies, etc. (Some estimate there are more than 50,000 active experts who speak). The small number of professional speakers who have earned the CSP designation speaks to the difficulty of meeting the qualifying criteria.
What This Designation Means To Dr. Andy
There are any number of people who are passionate about leadership. There are any number of people who view themselves as good communicators. Through the vigorous qualification efforts required to earn the CSP designation, I assure meeting planners and event coordinators that my passion for leadership is supported by my communication skills. Earning this designation was important to me because it showed my commitment to the meetings and speaking industry.
— Dr. Andy