What is the CSP? Certified Speaking Professional

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. The letters CSP following a speaker’s name identify that speaker as a speaking professional with a proven track record for understanding and delivering value from the platform.

Why Should You Hire a CSP?

Audience members will assess the success of your meetings based on the relevance of the topics addressed and the caliber and professionalism of the speakers who present them. Even the most relevant topics will go unnoticed if the speakers fail to connect with and bring their messages to life for, audience members. Choosing a CSP is one way of maximizing the opportunity meetings provide for inspiring and instructing participants. CSP(s) are speakers who have demonstrated their ability to capture and hold audience members’ attention, bring key topics to life and leave impressions that will lead participants to implement what they’ve heard—and remembered.

How Many CSP(s) Are There?

As of 2017, there were approximately 800 CSPs. That number represents a very small number of people who earn all or part of their income as a speaker, trainer, master of ceremonies, etc…  (Some estimate there are over 50,000 active experts who speak).  The small number of professional speakers who have earned the CSP designation speaks to the difficulty of meeting the qualifying criteria.

What This Designation Means To Thom Singer

“I am proud to be an active participant in the meetings and events industry. Having delivered over 600 professional level presentations during more than a decade as a speaker, I am committed to serving this business.   As a speaker, I am dedicated to both the organizer and the audience and strive to have a positive impact on the conferences where I present.  Speakers set the tone of the whole event, and it is important to me that I help everyone reach their goal for an enhanced conference attendee experience.  Earning this designation was important to me because it showed my commitment to the meetings and speaking industries” – Thom Singer