The Certificate Course is the first stage of the qualification. It provides the standard knowledge to enable you to carry out basic sales and marketing routine duties. This course prepares students for the Society’s Advanced Certificate.

The Certificate is for you if:

You are interested in pursuing a career in Sales & Marketing

You have been working in the sales and marketing industry at a junior level.

Please browse this section for more information, including course locations, fees and enrolment criteria. If you have any questions that are not answered in this section, please contact us.

How to obtain this qualification

To study for this qualification you will need to become a Student Member. Your chosen study centre will organise your study programme.

Click here to register now

Certificate Subjects

Business Communications

Book-keeping & Accounts

Selling & Sales Management

Fundamentals of Marketing

An optional foreign language paper may be taken in addition to the Certificate examination subjects to qualify for a Distinction Certificate.

Entry Requirements

· Over 18 years of age

· 5 GCSE subjects including English and Mathematics or equivalent

· Practical experience

· NVQ or SVQ Level 2

Exemptions

Exemptions are granted where similar subjects have been passed in other examinations. The Certificate exemption fees are £10 per subject. Exemption applications will be verified by the membership secretary before being accepted.

Examination Regulations

• The Society’s examinations are restricted to registered students. Registration lasts for a period of three years and can be renewed after that period.
• Examinations are held twice in the year – May and November at various centres in the United Kingdom and overseas.
• Students are urged to register for examinations by 1st April for the May examinations and by 1st October for the November examinations. Assessments are moderated by a board of examiners comprising of practitioners and academics.
• Candidates are notified individually of their results as soon as possible, normally two months after the examinations.
• Click here for fees (You will need to contact study centres separately to enquire about tuition fees).

Student Registration

Fill in and submit the online application form. You may alternatively download the application form.

After completion of the online application form and on receipt of payment, you will be given a reference number.

You will need to send:-

1. A copy of your C.V
2. Photocopies of all educational certificates/ diplomas or a letter of eligibility
3. A recent passport-sized photograph.
4. The required fees (registration and annual subscription fees). Click here for how to pay.

These can be scanned and e-mailed to admissions@ssm.org.uk (Please ensure that all scanned documents sent to us are less than 1mb in size) or send via post. For our postal address see Contact us page.

Please Note: If applying for exemptions download and complete the exemptions form and send it to us.

You will not be confirmed as a student until we have received the above items. Once the application form has been submitted you will receive an e-mail confirming your application. We aim to respond within 48 hours with a reference number so that payment can be made.

We will review the application and communicate with you via email asking you to pay the fee applicable. Applications may take 3 to 4 weeks to process.

• Download Application Form

After downloading, completing then printing the form, ensure that it is signed, before you send it to us together with:-

1. A copy of your C.V
2. Photocopies of all educational certificates / diplomas or a letter of eligibility
3. Two recent passport-sized photographs with your name written clearly on the back of each photograph.

Please send photocopies and photographs to our postal address.

For the required fees (registration and annual subscription fees), Click here for how to pay.

Please Note: If applying for exemptions download and complete the exemptions form and send it to us.

Applications may take 3 to 4 weeks to process. You will be notified about the result as soon as possible.

After receiving the above documents we will contact you to confirm your student membership and the fees you have to pay.

If you are unable to download any information or would like to receive an application pack by post, email us with your name and postal address.

Quality Standards

• As an Awarding Body, the Society maintains a definite standard of professional competence for each level of the examinations. The Society exists to maintain and enhance the standards of its qualifications by means of rigorous quality control of syllabus setting and assessment practices.
• The Certificate stage examinations are set and marked according to National Qualification Framework Level 4 standard and equivalent to first year degree standard of British Universities.
• Some Universities have accepted the Society’s Diploma as an entry qualification for their Masters Degree programmes.
• Holders of the Society’s Diploma may gain subject-for-subject exemptions from other professional bodies.