Certified Speaking Professional
ELEVATE YOUR
IMPACT, INFLUENCE,
& INCOME
By earning your CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation, you can prove to meeting professionals that you are among the top echelon of professional speakers who have earned this international designation.
With this designation, meeting professionals looking to work with the best speakers will see your commitment to the profession and know you have the top-notch speaking ability with a track record of professionalism and success.
Why be a CSP
(Certified Speaking Professional)
WHY CLIENTS HIRE CSPs?
It will make their job easier! The success of their meetings will be judged largely on the caliber, professionalism and appropriateness of the topic and presenter(s).
Choosing a CSP maximizes their opportunity of providing a speaker with a message that will focus, elevate and enhance the mission of your meeting and stick firmly in the memories, attitudes and action plans of their attendees.
HOW CSPs BENEFITS CLIENTS?
A CSP brings a proven track record of continuing speaking experience and expertise. CSPs are committed to ongoing education, outstanding service and ethical behavior.
CSPs offer wide varieties of approaches, topics and styles. Only the client can determine which speaker will best fit your needs.
A Certified Speaking Professional provides a solid place them which to begin their search.
Meet Some of Our CSPs
Checklist to Qualify for Accreditation
You are encouraged to apply to your home association, which is defined by where you reside
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VSAI Membership
You must have been an active, paid member of VSAI for at least 6 months before you apply—and stay current to keep your CSP
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Income Requirement
In 5 separate years, you need to have earned at least your country’s average annual salaryper year (as listed by the World Bank's GNI Data).
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Event Attendance
6 VSAI events in the 12 months preceding the application.
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Presentation Volume
5 paid sessions per year (for 5 years)
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Minimum Audience Size per Session
Minimum 6 per session
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Minimum Fee per Session
€600 or equivalent in SRI: Session Related Income
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Video Submission
Provide one unedited, 30-minute recording of a paid presentation you delivered to a live or virtual audience (Recommended: No longer than 45 minutes)
The video must be from one of the paid presentations used in the application.
The video must include an intro slide or a completed video recording form identifying the context of the presentation:
+ Who was the presentation for?
+ When was it given?
+ Who is the audience?
+ If necessary, where is the clip in your video – beginning, end, middle?
+ What was before it that you reference that might not make sense?
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Client Testimonials
Gather 10 testimonials from different clients. Include their contact details so VSAI can randomly verify them.
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Marketing Materials
Submit sufficient examples (or links) of your own marketing materials—flyers, websites, brochures, etc.—to show your professionalism, credibility and expertise in the business.
Please note
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You can include, in your income, presentations which meet all the criteria but which were made prior to you becoming a member of VSAI. But you cannot lodge an application until you have been a member of VSAI for 6 months.
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Speaking related income (SRI) is defined later in this document – please make sure you read it. The onus is on you to provide clear evidence that income being used in calculations was generated at a speaking event, part of the purpose of which was to sell products or services. The evidence may be subject to full or partial audit. Evidence might be, for example, a copy of a completed order form for your products with the date of the presentation printed on it, and a copy of the payment transaction within 7 days of the event.
Application Documents,
Checklist, Requirements &
Key Definitions
Click to Download
What you need to provide us with
What to send us
To start your CSP assessment, please include all of the following in one package:
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Application form & income spreadsheet
Fill in, sign, and date both documents (they came with this packet). -
Statutory declaration
Complete the declaration form we provided, have it signed by a witness, and return it. -
Release of Information Authority
Fill out and sign the release form included in your materials. -
Unedited video
A single recording of at least 30 minutes showing one of your paid presentations. -
Professional samples
Copies or links to your marketing materials (brochures, websites, flyers, etc.). -
Speaker Business Income Model
In 200 words or less, show an overview of the area and the industry you work in. -
A non-refundable €400.
We must receive and clear this before we can assess anything. Contact the VSAI office to find out how to pay.
How we review your application
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Initial check
Our Secretariat makes sure you’ve sent everything. -
Leader review
The Accreditation Chair confirms you meet all the criteria. -
Video assessment
Three current CSPs watch your 30-minute video and score it using our Video Assessment Form. If you wish to submit a video in a language other than English, you must also provide an English transcript. -
External Audit
An external auditor will conduct random verifications, including contacting clients to confirm the
accuracy of the details and fees recorded on the spreadsheet. -
Final approval
If all is in order, the Chair tells the Secretariat your application passed. -
Notification
The Secretariat tells the National President, who will call you to share the good news.
If there’s a problem
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If any step fails, the Accreditation Chair will inform the Secretariat.
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The Secretariat will then contact you directly, explain what was missing or didn’t meet the standards, and guide you on next steps.
