Should strategy professionals be certified?

PurposeThe author believes that corporate practitioners and the leaders who rely on them stand to gain from supporting a training and certification program in strategic planning and strategic management. this paper aims to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe author researches and lays out the necessary steps that need to be taken before strategic planning can become a recognized profession.FindingsThe steps leading to professional certification are: an accepted set of standards for strategic‐planning practitioners needs to be developed and a widely recognized practitioner‐credentialing program must be in place.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper reports on the progress toward a goal of credentialing made by the Association for Strategic Planning.Practical implicationsThe Association for Strategic Planning now offers two levels of certifications: the Strategic Planning Professional and the more advanced Strategic Management Professional plus a designation, the Strategic Planning Apprentice. In addition, the Association for Strategic Planning has approved an initial set of Registered Educational Providers that offer courses, seminars, and programs in strategic planning and strategic management.Originality/valueChief executive officers, trainers and planners will be interested in this report on the state of professional credentialing and training in the field of strategic management and planning.