Sales & management
Certification for sales professionals
Demonstrate jewelry retail skills and knowledge with a JA Certification in Sales or Management.
Jewelers of America Professional Certification can advance your jewelry career, differentiate your store and enhance your reputation with fine jewelry customers by increasing credibility. The certification exam for jewelry professionals validates jewelry knowledge and proficiency to national standards. You have the skills, demonstrate them with our professional certification!
Both the Sales and Management Certifications are open to all employees of jewelry stores, specifically jewelry professionals with an interest in professional development: jewelry sales associates, jewelry store managers, owners and other jewelry store employees with at least one year experience.
All certification exams are now available in Spanish!
JA MEMBER BENEFIT
Sales and Management Certifications are available for JA members only.
Sales Professional Certification
Exams Available in Two Designations:
JA Certified Sales Professional Level 1 (CSP): Reflects skills and knowledge generally expected of an entry-level jewelry sales personnel with about one year’s experience.
Sales Level 1 is always free!
This content is member only.
To access this benefit, login with your Jewelers of America member account or become a member.
JA Certified Senior Sales Professional Level 2 (CSSP): Reflects skills and knowledge generally expected of a moderate to advanced jewelry sales professional. Completion of Sales Professional Certification Level 1 is required.
Fee: $65
This content is member only
Management Professional Certification
Exams Available in Two Designations:
JA Certified Management Professional Level 1 (CMP): Reflects skills and knowledge generally expected of an entry-level jewelry management personnel with about one year’s experience; reflective of what is commonly needed to manage stores in a multi-unit operation.
Fee: $65
This content is member only
JA Certified Senior Management Professional Level 2 (CSMP): Reflects skills and knowledge generally expected of a manager of an independently owned store, who must address concerns such as financing, advertising and pricing. Completion of Management Professional Certification Level 1 is required.
Fee: $65
This content is member only
Having professional credentials from Jewelers of America means a great deal to me. My framed certificate is on my office wall, along with my other degrees and honors, in a spot where my customers can see.
Marc Solomon, CMP
Solomons Fine Jewelry & Watches, NY
Jewelers of America also offers certification for bench jewelers!
Why Get JA Certified
For Businesses
Jewelers of America certification increases credibility with customers and differentiates your store through the status of having JA Certified Sales and Management staff onsite. Increase consumer confidence by displaying the Jewelers of America Professional Certification logo in all advertising, in your store or on your store’s website. A JA Certification icon will also show on your company’s profile in our Find a Jeweler directory.
For Individuals
Jewelers of America certification advances your career by clearly demonstrating your jewelry sales or management proficiency. It is a means of communicating your knowledge and skill level to an employer, a colleague or a customer.
I’m JA Certified – Now What?
Once you’ve successfully completed the Jewelers of America Sales or Management Professional Certification, it’s time to celebrate and promote your achievement! Jewelers of America helps certified professionals share their new status with employers, colleagues, their local community and consumers.
You’ll receive:
- A credential to add to your title (CSP, CSSP, CMP, CMMP)
- A certificate to hang on the wall of your store
- A lapel pin for your employee badge or lanyard
- JA logos to use in store and online
- A press release template to generate positive stories in your local media
- A JA Certified icon on our Find a Jeweler directory for your store, showing consumers that staff have professional certifications
- Use of the hashtag #IAmJACertified to promote the certification on social media channels
Jewelers of America Professional Certification program requires certified sales and management professionals to pass a one-hour recertification test every five years.
Recertification Exam
An essential part of the Jewelers of America Professional Certification program is its requirement for periodic recertification, which allows the jewelry industry to keep certification meaningful by ensuring that the skills and knowledge of JA Professional Certification designees remain current. Recertification protects the investment you made in becoming a certified professional and keep your knowledge level current. Certified sales and management professionals will need to pass a one-hour recertification test every five years so your JA certification doesn’t expire or you will have to retake the proctored exam.
This content is member only
Certification Process
Once you decide which certification type is best for you, follow the steps below to complete the JA Certification process.
All certification exams are available to take online. Candidates will need a proctor to monitor the testing individual.
- Complete the JA Certified Professional Exam registration form, which includes identifying a proctor (see proctor responsiblities below). The exam is also available in Spanish.
- After registration is processed, Jewelers of America will send the proctor the exam link, password, and instructions via email for each certification candidate.
- Proctor and certification candidate then coordinate a time and date to take the exam. Each exam must be taken in one sitting within a two hour time limit. The online exam has a timer and will close when the two-hours has expired.
- Email exam@jewelers.org to let Jewelers of America know the exam is completed.
- Jewelers of America will email the candidate official results within three (3) business days.
How Do I Prepare for the Exam?
No studying is required! The exams cover facts, processes, procedures, terms and concepts that jewelry professionals encounter in everyday work. Certification testing has two primary goals; the first is to validate what you already know, and the second is to help discover areas in which you can improve.
You can view sample questions to help you prepare:
Sample Sales Exam Questions
Sample Management Exam Questions
Professionals may seek certification at any level, but to achieve Senior Certification, you must first pass the Level 1 exams before taking Level 2 exams.
Each candidate is responsible for supplying the necessary supplies to successfully take the exam, which includes an internet-enabled device. Study aids, resources or assistance of any kind are prohibited during the exam.
Proctor Responsibilities
Designated proctors are not required to be present during testing. The designated proctor needs to be an employee of a Jewelers of America Member store.
Current proctor responsibilities include:
- Verify certification candidate identification prior to the exam.
- Receive the exam password and instructions from Jewelers of America and keep them in a secure place.
- Confirm date and time candidate is taking exam.
- Distribute the proper password to unlock the exam and do not reveal the password to the candidate prior to sitting this exam.
- Verify that the student properly logged in.
- Ensure that no instructional materials or other aids were present in the testing area.
- Verify that the candidate did not receive assistance during the exam.
- Ensure that the exam is completed within the two-hour time limit for each level.
- Record the start and end times for each session on the Time Chart.
- Report any violations to the JA Membership Department.
- Sign the Proctor Verification Form once the exam has been completed.