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.

Less than 12 percent of the 5,000+ speakers worldwide, who belong to the 14 member associations of the Global Speakers Federation (GSF), currently hold this professional designation.

The CSP designation is earned by mastering the four professional competencies adopted by the NSA Board of Directors:

• Eloquence– The art of speaking and the use of powerful and persuasive presentations.
• Expertise– Knowledge, skills and experience in a specific area.
• Enterprise– The purposeful undertaking of a successful speaking business venture.
• Ethics– The standards governing the conduct of those in the speaking profession.

To earn the CSP designation, a speaker is required to:

• Perform and document hundreds of presentations
• Show income earnings of $50,000+ for a minimum of five years
• Receive excellent ratings on performance evaluations from past clients and fellow CSPs
• Take part in ongoing education
• Maintain and renew their designation every 5 years