Certified Chief of Staff®

Your gateway to becoming an influential, resilient and industry recognised chief of staff.

Why choose to become certified with the CSA?

Professional certification from The Chief of Staff Association brings a wide range of benefits to your career and your organisation.

Industry recognition

Certification serves as a testament to a chief of staff’s expertise and capacity. It not only validates their skills but also communicates to employers commitment to upholding the high professional standards. In a competitive landscape, industry recognition becomes a valuable asset, distinguishing certified chiefs of staff.

Enhanced skills

Certification empowers chiefs of staff to develop a diverse set of skills and competencies crucial for the role. These include strategic thinking, effective communication, project management and problem-solving skills. By honing these attributes, certified chiefs of staff drive organisational performance.

Global network

Certification not only enhances a chief of staff’s individual competencies but also opens doors to a vibrant network of like-minded professionals who are navigating the intricate challenges of the chief of staff role. This community provides a platform for sharing invaluable experiences, seeking advice, and fostering meaningful connections.

What do our certified chiefs of staff say?

“Certification was integral in my transition to Chief Operating Officer at one of the world’s leading safety science organizations. The certification honed and amplified my project management and problem-solving abilities, ultimately empowering me to excel in my new role.”

Dr Charlotte Farmer
Chief Operating Officer
UL Research Institutes

“Securing the Chief of Staff certification played a crucial role in my transition from government to the private sector. The certification was an endorsement of my training and experience, enhancing my corporate desirability and paving the way into my current private sector role”

Drew Davis
Chief of Staff
Cruise Lines Int. Assoc.

“As a business coach, I’ve seen firsthand the impact becoming a Certified Chief of Staff® can have. The certification offers both recognition of your skills and a structured pathway for advancement. It’s an invaluable tool for any Chief of Staff seeking to elevate their career.”

Mellissa Walker
Chief of Staff
Resolution Think LLC

“Becoming a Certified Chief of Staff® was pivotal to my career. It sharpened my skills and bolstered my self-assurance, critical in my role supporting the CEO of one of Australia’s leading architecture firms, ultimately enabling my growth as chief of staff for years to come.”

Maria Lynch
Chief of Staff
Architectus

Criteria for Certification

To achieve certification, a chief of staff must:

CSA Education Programmes

The CSA currently offer three education programmes that contribute to professional certification:

Core Competency
Programme

The Core Competency Programme is a 12-month programme delivered online through the CSA Education Centre.

Members work through a structured video series with a subject matter expert, before engaging with their peers to discuss best practices.

Each seminar has an assessment component that is a requirement to receive credit toward the programme.

Saïd Business School
University of Oxford

Members can attend the Chief of Staff Executive Education Programme at the University of Oxford.

The bi-annual residential programme is delivered on campus at Saïd Business School and is exclusive to a cohort of approximately 50 members.

Members can attend the Oxford residential programme at any point throughout their membership.

Harvard Business School
Harvard University

Members can attend the Chief of Staff Executive Education Programme at Harvard Business School.

The annual residential programme is delivered on campus at Harvard Business School and is exclusive to a cohort of approximately 50 members.

Members can attend the HBS residential programme at any point throughout their membership.

Code of Practice

The Chief of Staff Association’s Code of Practice is the world’s first cross-sector charter that sets the standard for professionalism in the chief of staff role.

Reviewed regularly by our panel of expert chiefs of staff, the Code outlines the means by which chiefs of staff should act: with integrity, loyalty and authenticity. 

In order to become a Certified Chief of Staff®, Members sign the Code and commit to upholding its values and standards.

Levels of Certification

The Chief of Staff Association awards three levels of professional certification, each achieved by completing an eligible CSA education programme:

Level 1

To achieve Level 1, chiefs of staff must complete at least one eligible CSA education programme.

Level 2

To achieve Level 2, chiefs of staff must complete two eligible CSA education programmes.

Level 3

To achieve Level 3, chiefs of staff must complete three eligible CSA education programmes.

Applications for membership are now open.