You are here: NBIA HomeMember ServicesNBIA Incubator Management Certificate ProgramFrequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to be a member of NBIA to receive a certificate?
A: Yes, you must be an NBIA member to receive a certificate. If you have taken coursework prior to becoming a member, it will count toward program completion. However, you must be a member by the time you have completed the program to receive your certificate. Click here to become a member of NBIA. For questions about membership, call (740) 593-4331 or e-mail info@nbia.org.
Q: Do I have to register for the program? Is there a fee?
A: In order to receive your certificate, you must be registered. There is a one-time administrative fee of $40. Register now.
Q: What do I do if I started some of the workshops prior to the June 2012 changes in the certificate requirements?
A: Participants who started the program prior to June 2012 can choose to complete the certificate by meeting the old requirements at NBIA's 27th International Conference on Business Incubation in Boston, April 7-10, 2013, or by meeting the new four-workshop requirement. For more details, click here.
Q: I started the program prior to June 2012 and am choosing to take the five 75-minute conference sessions at the 27th International Conference on Business Incubation in Boston, April 7-10, 2013. How does NBIA track which sessions I attend?
A: During the conference, NBIA will offer a number of sessions that will satisfy the requirement that program participants complete five certificate sessions. Certificate candidates must attend a total of five sessions: one in incubator funding, one in client funding and one in client services, as well as two in incubator management. You will get a form at the conference that speakers will stamp to verify your attendance at each certificate session. Submit this handout at the NBIA registration desk after you have completed the sessions.
If you began the certificate program prior to June 2012 and completed the five 75-minute conference sessions at a previous NBIA conference, you should have already submitted a form with stamps from speakers acknowledging your attendance at the certificate sessions. If you are unsure as to whether you submitted this form, you can request a status update by e-mailing us at education@nbia.org or calling (740) 593-4331.
Note that if you are starting the program after June 2012, you will not complete the five 75-minute conference sessions. You will complete the training under the new requirements of taking four daylong workshops (Fundamentals of Incubator Management, Facilities Management, Serving Client Companies and Entrepreneurship).
Q: I started taking certificate program requirements before I enrolled in the program, will they count toward my certificate?
A: If you have taken certificate workshops prior to becoming a member, it will count toward program completion. If you’re not sure whether you’ve already taken any requirements, request a status update by e-mailing us at education@nbia.org or calling (740) 593-4331. Through our new member management system, you will soon be able to log in to your NBIA account and check your progress. Until then, please contact us for certificate status updates.
Q: Can international members earn a certificate?
A: Yes! We welcome participation in the certificate program from NBIA members in the United States and around the world.
Q: How much training is involved in the program?
A: It will take four daylong workshops, or a total of 24 hours of training, to complete the program. You must attend NBIA events in person to take the workshops.
Q: Do I have to finish in a certain amount of time?
A: No, certificate candidates have an unlimited amount of time to complete the workshop requirements.
Q: How many NBIA events will I need to attend to get the required workshops?
A: Program participants must complete each of the four workshops to fulfill certificate requirements. Certificate program training is offered at NBIA’s International Conference on Business Incubation, where daylong workshops are offered at the Preconference Institute, and its Training Institute. With planning, you can take all program requirements by attending just two NBIA training events. If you do not plan ahead by consulting the schedule of workshops, you may need to attend more than two events to complete the program.
Q: Where can I learn more information about NBIA events?
A: Learn more about upcoming events or past events.
Q: Is there a designation I can use or designatory letters I can put behind my name once I complete the program?
A: The certificate is not an official professional designation, so there are no letters for graduates to append to their titles. That said, earning the certificate shows a level of professional knowledge within the incubation industry, so those who complete the program can state on their professional materials (e.g., at the bottom of an e-mail signature) that they have earned a certificate of incubator management.
Q: Will NBIA replace or waive one of the certificate program requirements because I have taken another workshop or NBIA training?
A: We require that everyone, regardless of other trainings they may have taken, attend all four certificate program workshops to complete the program. These workshops are the core of the certificate program, and we cannot make exceptions to the curricular requirements.
Q: I have many years of experience in the business incubation industry. Will NBIA replace or waive any of the certificate program requirements on account of the practical knowledge I have gained through my work experiences?
A: We require that everyone, regardless of experience level, attend all four certificate program workshops to complete the program. These workshops are the core of the certificate program, and they deliver valuable professional development information. We do not make exceptions to the curricular requirements.
Q: I’ve started the certificate program curriculum, but I can’t remember what I still need to take. How do I get that information?
A: Through our new member management system, you will soon be able to log in to your NBIA account and check your progress. Until then, you can e-mail education@nbia.org or call (740) 593-4331.
Q: I completed the program requirements. When will I receive my certificate?
A: NBIA must process all participant progress after each event. If you completed the program, you will receive an e-mail confirming your completion and asking you to verify your mailing address and the spelling of your name for certificate printing and mailing. Please allow 6-8 weeks after a training event to receive your printed certificate and letter of recognition in the mail.
Q: Do you offer certificate training online, or do I have to attend an NBIA event to take the requirements?
A: We offer programming toward the certificate program at our International Conference on Business Incubation, where daylong workshops are offered at the Preconference Institute, and our Training Institute, where one daylong workshop is offered each day. Additionally, if a group of incubator managers in one region requests that we bring the training to them, we can arrange to do so under certain circumstances. For more information about those opportunities, e-mail tstrodtbeck@nbia.org. Currently, there are no options for online or distance completion of certificate coursework.
If you have a question that was not answered on this FAQ page, please e-mail education@nbia.org or call (740) 593-4331.
Contact NBIA
Phone: (740) 593-4331
Fax: (740) 593-1996
340 West State Street, Unit 25
Athens, OH 45701-1565
info@nbia.org