GRAPA's 2010 Certification Program

GRAPA's Certification Program

 

GRAPA has offered certification of telecommunications professionals since the beginning of 2009. The publication of GRAPA's ratified standards document for 2009, The Revenue Assurance Standards 2009 - included a comprehensive Body of Knowledge spelling out the charter and scope of the revenue assurance function as practiced by our global membership. Since then, GRAPA has offered certification in line with those Standards and that Body of Knowledge.

 

This standards-based approach is developed using a rigorous and ongoing review process that collects and distills the latest, most up-to-date and effective practices currently implemented by telcos of all types and sizes around the world. Because GRAPA's certification is based on professional principles and an in-depth standards-driven methodology, GRAPA's certified professionals are able to apply their skills not just to environments where they have personal experience, but across a variety of situations to address whatever new and unique problems they encounter. This is an absolute necessity in an industry where new business models and technologies are producing continuous upheaval and disruptive change.

 

Because GRAPA's certifications require intense and exhaustive continuous education, a stringent set of examinations and verification of relevant work experience, they provide management with a credible assurance of skills and ability. Management knows that by utilizing certified professionals, not only are their team members trained and tested according to a uniform understanding of their profession, but they can apply those skills in real-world situations.

 

In the breadth and segmentation of GRAPA's certifications, professionals and organizations can be assured that not only does GRAPA offer a 360o view of telecoms operations and revenues to those it certifies, but that it is also able to offer that perspective at levels appropriate to the aptitude, ability and experience of those who seek certification - whether they are National Regulators, CFOs, Internal Auditors, Revenue Assurance Managers, those with intermediate experience in telecoms, as well as those who are new or just starting out in Revenue Assurance.

 

Revenue Assurance Certifications:

  1. Certified Practitioner of Revenue Assurance (CP-RA)* - 40hrs continuous education, examinations, verification of relevant work experience
     
  2. Certified Master of Revenue Assurance Management (CM-RAM) - 80hrs continuous education (40hrs to certify as Practitioner of Revenue Assurance, 40hrs of telecoms management training), examinations, verification of relevant work experience

 

Telco Fraud Officer Certifications:
 

  1. Telco Fraud Analyst (TFA) - 40hrs continuous education, examinations, verification of relevant work experience
     
  2. Certified Telco Fraud Officer (CTFO) - 80hrs continuous education (40hrs to certify as Practitioner of Revenue Assurance Standards for Application in Fraud Detection and Deterrence, 40hrs of Telco Fraud Analyst training), examinations, verification of relevant work experience

 

Supplementary Certifications:

  1. Certified Practitioner of Revenue Assurance Standards for Application by Internal Audit (CP-RAIA)* - 40hrs continuous education (to obtain certification as a Practitioner of Revenue Assurance), examinations, specialized internal auditor testing, verification of relevant telecoms work experience as a telco internal auditor
  2. Certified Practitioner of Revenue Assurance Standards for Application in Fraud Detection and Deterrence* - 40hrs continuous education (to obtain certification as a Practitioner of Revenue Assurance), examinations, specialized Fraud Analyst testing, verification of relevant telecoms work experience
  3. Certified Practitioner of Revenue Assurance Standards for Application by Regulatory Bodies (CP-RARC)* - 40hrs continuous education (to obtain certification as a Practitioner of Revenue Assurance), examinations, specialized Regulator testing, verification of relevant work experience in telecoms regulation

 

Summary of Certification Programs Currently Under Development for 2010:
 

  1. Web-Based Certification - providing members the ability to certify through attendance of web-based continuous education offered as a subscription service (up to 40hrs of continuous education proposed by the end of 2010), along with online testing and verification of work experience
     
  2. Certification Renewal/Maintenance - setting up continuous education requirements for Certified Professionals to retain their accreditation and maintain it in good standing, ensuring professionals stay up to date with the latest developments in the industry as well as keep their skills and knowledge current (up to 20hrs of training per year for the maintenance of certification)
     
  3. Entry Level Certification - for those completely new to Revenue Assurance, we are developing a CDR, spreadsheet and database training (40hrs) towards certification that new analysts will be able to perform rudimentary revenue assurance tasks assigned them, including basic forensic queries and preparation of compliance document
     
  4. Market and Margin Assurance Certification - certification for professionals focused on issues such as Churn, New Product and Price Plan Deployment, as well as the assurance of Marketing Activities (40hrs of training)

 

* Name Pending Ratification