About CEBS

In the employee benefits and compensation field, the oldest and most respected professional designation/credential is CEBS - the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist.  CEBS was established in 1977 through a partnership of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  The International Foundation, the largest educational organization in the employee benefits field, is responsible for the overall administration of the program.  The Wharton School, one of the preeminent business schools in the U.S., oversees academic content and standards.  In 1986, in cooperation with Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, the International Foundation established a CEBS program in Canada to meet the specific professional development needs of Canadian employee benefits professionals.  No other employee benefits or compensation program provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and insight through such a broad university-based curriculum.

CEBS offers you the opportunity to earn designations in three distinct areas of specialization:  group benefits, retirement and compensation.  The Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Retirement Plans Associate (RPA) and the Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) form the core of the CEBS curriculum.  Earn a designation in each of the specialty tracks and, at the same time, receive credit toward earning the CEBS designation, which now carries an eight-course requirement (six required courses plus two electives).  In addition, the CEBS program accepts for exam credit, work completed in a select number of other approved professional programs.  Many students use CEBS courses to meet licensing and other continuing professional education requirements.  CEBS courses also may qualify for those wishing to earn undergraduate or graduate credit.

The certification courses that CEBS offers accommodate short- and long-term career goals.  Education can be tailored around areas of specialization and interest.  The flexible curriculum and availability of online classes help meet individual time commitments.  The new structure and flexibility of CEBS is a perfect fit with the needs and expectations of today's benefit and compensation professionals.  For more information and to enroll in the CEBS program, go to http://iscebs.org/aboutiscebs/default.asp.  CEBS, GBA, RPA and CMS graduates continue their professional development through the International Society of Employee Benefit Specialists.