How To Create Your Own Certification Program

Turn your IP into a Profitable & Sustainable Certification or Licensing Model

The Certification Accelerator w/Tina Forsyth

Creating a Certification or Licensing program is one of the best ways to leverage the Intellectual Property (IP) you've already created in your business - your hard-earned knowledge and expertise.

People are HUNGRY for trusted models that they can use to fast-track their own success. Instead of having to come up with their own stuff and create it all from scratch, they are craving a proven process that they can implement NOW so they don't have to keep messing around (this is especially true in today's economic climate where so many are looking to start/expand their business!)

When you package your IP into a Certification program that allows your clients to create quick, measurable success, it opens the door for ongoing growth on both sides - for you and your clients!

You also get to charge premium prices - usually 3-4x more than you would for a 'regular' training program or other services - because you are giving them a proven model for success. By allowing them to follow directly in your footsteps you are saving them months (maybe even years) of having to figure it all out on their own.

This is also the reason why Certification programs are an 'easy sell' compared to other programs. You will be delighted to find how much easier it is to sell a plug-and-play model that essentially guarantees their success, compared to selling training and/or coaching programs that have SO much competition these days.

Once established, your Certification program can be highly automated, requiring minimal time & effort on your part to deliver… a true work less & make more model!

The Certification & Licensing model has been the backbone of my business success for over 13 years now. First with the creation of my Certified Online Business Manager® Training in 2009, which has successfully launched the businesses of hundreds of OBMs. And now with my Licensed Certified OBM Trainers, who sell the training directly to their clients and send me royalties with each sale.

Not only have these programs brought millions of dollars of revenue to my company over the years - and created 10X that for all those who have become certified! - they've allowed me to create a long-term, recurring income stream that requires just a few hours of my time each month to maintain.

Oooo yea baby! Pretty dreamy yes?

As much as I love Certification programs, I want you to be aware… they need to be set up correctly from day one or you might get yourself in trouble.

This is NOT like other business models where you can just 'make it up as you go' or dip a toe in the water and see what happens - your IP and reputation are at stake!

If you are not purposeful with how you design and offer your Certification from day one, you can end up making a giant mess of things. (I've seen people essentially lose their IP over poorly run programs... with no recourse and no way to get it back, yipes!)

Before you make your first sale, we want to consider all aspects of your Certification program, including:

WHAT to include - and NOT include - in your certification. What aspects of your IP are you going to be giving them and what are they allowed to do with it?
WHO is your ideal student and why would they want to be certified by you? There are 3 key elements to a successful Certification offer (if you don't include these it will be a tough sell!)
The RISKS of Certification – what to know and how to protect yourself (if you aren't careful you could end up with a big 'ole mess on your hands…)
The DIFFERENCE between licensing and certification – how to know when to do one, the other or BOTH.
How to determine the best PRICE for your program - finding that 'sweet spot price' that provides great value to your students while adding at least $20K - $40K to your bottom line with your first cohort
Setting the stage for your UPSELL into ongoing coaching and/or mentoring programs once they are certified (so much more money to be made here as well!)
How to structure the CURRICULUM of your program using proven adult learning strategies, so that your students are able to integrate their learning
The best TIMELINE for your program - should it be 90 days long? 6 months? A year? There are different options depending on your overall goals.
How to setup your Certification to be 100% AUTOMATED and delivered without you while still giving amazing value to your students
4 options for your Certification TESTING process and how to choose right evaluation criteria (so that you have full confidence that as your students are certified, the know what they are doing and won't ruin your hard-earned reputation)
Setting up for long-term SUCCESS for both you and your students post Certification. (What will have them happily continue to invest with you for years to come?)
The key to a successful SALES conversion that will lead people to a quick YES! (there is a different flavor to selling Certification programs that makes them an easier sell... )
Why you MUST have LEGAL AGREEMENTS in place and what specifically to include to ensure you are protecting your IP and your business.
How to protect your program and business via TRADEMARKS and other measures.

In the Certification Accelerator we work together to answer these questions and lay out your program, to set the stage for a long-term, sustainable offering that will serve you (and your clients!) for years to come.

Imagine having a program that is ridiculously easy to sell…

That has your clients creating quick success & singing your praises…

That allows you to bring in an extra $20K, $40K or more each month…

That sets the stage for recurring revenue - year after year...

And that doesn't require a bunch of your time & energy to deliver...

That's what we are creating together in the Certification Accelerator.

Here's a breakdown of the program...

MODULE ONE

Designing your Certification

We are going to start by exploring all of your options and deciding on the key elements of your certification program, including:

What exactly to include - and not include - in your program
The difference between certification & licensing, and when to use either option
How to determine who your ideal certification students are, including pre-requisites to join
What to charge for your certification program, using my 'right price' formula to create value & long-term profitability
Assets and resources to include in your certification to create huge value for your students

MODULE TWO

Structuring your Training Program & Curriculum

Now that we are clear on what you are offering, it's time to lay out a solid curriculum and decide on the best format to deliver your training, including:

How to incorporate adult learning best practices in your training (this is often missed in many online training programs!)
Essential elements that you want to include in your curriculum
Options for various timelines and delivery modalities
Building in a strong feedback process to track client success and satisfaction
Creating a student resources library and online training center
What to do before, during and after your training to deliver a top-notch experience

MODULE THREE

Your Certification Testing Process

Designing a process to evaluate your students skill and knowledge to earn their certification designation & you feel confident in their abilities, including:

4 options for how to structure a certification testing process, and how to choose the best one for your program
Developing your criteria for certification
Best practices for running your certification testing process
Grading your students and what to do when they don't pass
Establishing policies and requirements around renewal of their certification status

MODULE FOUR

Legal Agreements, Enrollment & Presales

In our final module we are going to cover the 'business end' of running your certification and get you ready for your very first students, including:

The legal aspect of running a certification program, and how to ensure you are covering all bases
Various contracts you need and what exactly to include in each contract
Getting the right type of trademark for your certification program
Deciding on your process for registration and enrollment of your students
8 simple 'presale' strategies to get your first students excited and ready to join!

One last thing... before we dive in there are 2 prerequisites for the Certification Accelerator that I want to ensure you have in place already.

First – a PROVEN business modelThe main benefit for a person to become certified is that they are getting access to a proven, successful model – one that they can plug into their own business and use (vs. them trying to build from scratch and figure it all out on their own.)
Have you created success with this model in your own business? And for how long? I want to see at least 2-3 years of you being successful with something on your own before turning it into a certification.

Second – your OWN proprietary IP (Intellectual Property)Your IP is the foundation of your certification. It's the very thing that people are buying from you… and it needs to be yours.
I occasionally see people want to start a certification off something that they learned from someone else. Not only is this super ick on an integrity level, it's also breaking copyright agreements/laws and may get you in some serious legal trouble.

If you want to teach something that you learned from someone else, check in with them! They might have an option for you to become licensed to teach their materials or maybe partner with them (This is how my Certified OBM Trainers got started back in 2017… when someone asked me if they could teach the program I had created.)

If you can check 'YES' to both of these things - you are ready to go!

If you are still creating your IP or haven't proven it's success yet focus on that first! Spend time to create success for yourself/your own business first so that you can then teach and certify others from a place of integrity and alignment... and come back when you are ready. I'll be here.

Let's do this... shall we?

There are two options for The Certification Accelerator

Option #1 – "Do it Yourself" Accelerated Training Program

If you are someone who loves getting a step-by-step system and can "take it and run" then this is the option for you.

This option includes:

4 ONLINE Training Modules where Tina will take you step-by-step through the process of creating your certification <-- you get instant access to all 4 modules upon registration
Easy to follow WORKSHEETS with each module for quick reference as you dive into the work.
Access to the CERTIFICATION MASTER CHECKLIST, to ensure you are covering all necessary aspects in the creation of your certification program
LIFETIME Access to all materials and recordings, for future reference in case you miss a session or want to review the training. (Your access doesn't expire, that ain't our style!)

Option #1: $1997 USD

VIP Option #2 – "I'll Do it With You"
Virtual VIP Day + Coaching

If you are looking to fast-track and prefer to have someone guide you through this journey and answer your specific questions then this is the option for you.

The VIP Option includes:

Everything in Option 1 PLUS
A Half-Day CERTIFICATION DESIGN VIP Session with Tina Forsyth where she will work with you to create your certification program A to Z (this is a virtual 3-hour session). During this session we will:
*
Design your certification program offer - including 'what they get', who it is (and isn't!) for, learning objectives & pricing.
* Then we are going to lay out the structure for delivery of the program, with an eye to high-touch value and automation.

* We then create a simple and effective certification testing process that allows you to confidently evaluate students to become certified.

* And lastly, we will prep you for enrolling your first students, including specifics on the legal agreements and trademarks that will protect your IP. ← SOOOO important
PLUS Three additional 1-1 coaching calls with Tina for continued support as you implement and to answer any lingering questions (to be used within 60 days of purchase)

Option #2: $8000 USD

Interested but not sure which is the best option for you?

I'm happy to help you decide - you can reach me via email at certification@tinaforsyth.com or click here to book a quick 15-minute call.

"This is hands down one of the best programs I have found around certification. I had just published my book Uncloned Marketing and had people asking me about becoming certified, but I didn't know how to structure it, what to include and what not to include. This program breaks down every single thing – including stuff I didn't even think about around agreements, renewals and more. Plus, Tina has her own certification program that she has been running for years and teaches from her experience so you are getting real, 'from the trenches' strategies that work."

~ Audria Richmond, Marketing and Launch Strategist, Author of Uncloned Marketing®

"I was so happy to learn that Tina was doing this Certification Accelerator program as it was exactly what I needed to finish the vision of a certification program that I had been carrying around for a while. This is a 'done with you' program which worked really well for me – it was a happy medium between strategy and 'rolling up our sleeves' to dig in and get the work done. Because Tina has run her own certification program for so long, she was able to give me strategies to simplify and streamline what I am creating… saving me years of effort and mistakes along the way. If you are considering working with Tina I highly recommend it as she is a pro and will have your back every step of the way."

~ Darla LeDoux, Founder of the Sourced Certified Leader, author of Shift the Field

About Tina Forsyth

After starting her own coaching business in 2000, Tina Forsyth quickly came to see the need to partner visionaries with high-level support. With her natural ability to bring both strategy and implementation to the table, she began working with 6 to 7-figure leaders within the coaching industry to help manage and grow their businesses, and thus, the role of the Online Business Manager (OBM) was born.

Tina is a pioneer in the world of online business – having founded the International Association of Online Business Managers in 2008, the home of the Certified OBM® Training. In the 13 years since its inception, the OBM industry has become established as a key role on the team of fast-growing online and virtually based businesses.

Tina continues to work with visionaries and business leaders to align their business with their zone of genius, and to create the container of support they need in order to expand into their full potential. Learn more at: www.tinaforsyth.com