INFORMS Open Forum

Hi All:

When I do a Google search for CAP Exam, the first two exams that come up are:

1. Certified Administrative Professional (CAP): Certification - IAAP Main Site Temp. Note the credential is identical to ours: http://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/IAAPHQ/2cbbf829-88ab-416c-a72d-8040cc2d7360/UploadedFiles/officepro-JULY-15-cert.pdf
2. Certified Authorization Professional (CAP) and apparently also registered (R): https://www.isc2.org/cap/default.aspx
3. INFORMS CAP

Two questions for this forum:

1. Can anyone provide insight into how we managed to also register CAP as the credential for Certified Analytics Professional?
2. Given the broad use of CAP as a designation (Administrative, IT, and Analytics), would it make sense to modify the acronym so that it is clear what it means? Or, is it assumed that employers and clients in the Analytics space will know that it refers to the INFORMS CAP and not IIAP or ISC?

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Michael Beyer PE,CAP
Data Scientist
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Oh, and here's another one:

Take the CAP Exam Free- ISA

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Michael Beyer PE,CAP
Data Scientist
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Hello Michael,

Congratulations on being a CAP yourself! 

There are many entities who have CAP as an acronym but only our program is the Certified Analytics Professional.  Our legal representatives helped us apply to the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) for registration of our mark, The Certified Analytics Professional, which we were granted. We have since policed the mark diligently and are grateful to those who can point to conflicting uses, which we actively discourage. 

As to changing the acronym, it is difficult to find a combination of letters that is not in use for another purpose.  We are aware of at least 15 other CAPs in different areas, such as business management (Certified Administration Professional), computer security (Certified Authorization Professional), philanthropy (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy), pathology (College of American Pathologists), and psychiatry (Certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), etc. As you can see this is just par for the course. 

We make efforts to insert the full mark and our logo in many places to highlight our association and believe that in context it will be clear. If you see others using Certified Analytics Professional inappropriately please do let us know. The more people search for the INFORMS CAP the higher it will rise in page rank, so tell all your friends!

Louise Wehrle, Certification Program Manager, said she'll see you Saturday at the item-writing workshop, where she is happy to answer any additional questions you might have. 

Thanks! 

Polly Mitchell-Guthrie, Chair, Analytics Certification Board

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Polly Mitchell-Guthrie
Sr. Mgr. Advanced Analytics Customer Liaison Group
SAS Institute, Inc.
Cary NC
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