CERTIFICATION
The Board of Directors of the State and Local Government Benefits Association (SALGBA) created a professional development program that recognizes the achievement of being highly trained and experienced benefits administrator in the public sector.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CGBA, the Certified Government Benefits Administrator program, began in 1994 to recognize talent, expertise, and training among Benefit Administrators.
The administration of a public sector employee benefits program has many of the same trials, tribulations, and rewards as those experienced in the private sector. There are, however, some striking differences. Recognizing these differences, the Board of Directors of the State and Local Government Benefits Association (SALGBA) created a professional development program that recognizes the achievement of being a highly trained and experienced benefits administrator in the public sector.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for certification, a candidate must be sponsored by, and be a full-time staff member of, a public sector or business entity member organization of SALGBA in good standing. The candidate must devote all or a major part of their time to benefits administration. To ensure that all candidates for certification begin the program on equal footing, and to ensure that all participants receive full value through their involvement, credit for experience prior to enrollment in the certification program will be limited to experience for the calendar year during which enrollment occurs. Enrollment is achieved by completing the necessary application form and payment of the enrollment fee.
Certification Requirements
Certification is determined by a point system. A total of eighty-one points must be earned, including a minimum of 42 points in approved education and training and a minimum of 24 points in approved work experience.
POINTS BREAKDOWN:
• 42 minimum credits in education (20 transfer credits, maximum)
• 24 minimum credits in experience
• 3 credit applications on file (one per calendar year)
• 5 years to complete program after enrollment
• 5 year re-certification period Credit is obtained by attending SALGBA Conferences and submitting annual credit applications.
Credits
EXPERIENCE CREDITS
Credit for work experience will be provided for direct participation in relevant work in accordance with the following formula:
• 5 – 19% responsibility for benefits administration, 6 points per year.
• 20 – 39% responsibility for benefits administration, 10 points per year.
• 40 – 100% responsibility for benefits administration, 14 points per year.
TRANSFER CREDITS
Educational credit may be transferred for courses completed in other nationally approved certification programs which focus specifically on benefits administration, or on other directly related skills including purchasing and contract administration, personnel and labor relations, or accounting. Two points may be awarded for each course qualifying for transfer up to a maximum of 20 points. All transfer credit must be approved by SALGBA. Further information may be found in the certification program Guidelines and Procedures.
EDUCATIONAL CREDITS
Educational credits for certification may be earned through training workshops provided for the certification program by SALGBA or through a transfer of credit from other approved certification programs. Accepted transfer credit goes towards your educational credit requirement. A CGBA member must attend at least one national or regional conference to begin receiving CGBA credit. Approved SALGBA events are offered as National or Regional Conferences and webinars.
BECOME A CGBA
CGBA Applications are accepted December 1st to January 31st and can be found by logging in on the members-only site. Select CGBA Program from the menu at the top of the page, and then select the appropriate credit application.
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