(Upgrading from CCSS™)
You can upgrade to the specialist level GSQI qualification the CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) - Certified Customer Service Specialist – six months after attaining your CCSS™ Certification. A majority of CCSS™ certificants choose to upgrade to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) rather than recertify, because the CCSS™ credential is actually valid and relevant most in the first year of an agent’s career and the CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) suits professionals more second year onwards of their career. Upgrading to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) is easy. There will be frequent reminder emails and text messages from GSQI and from other GSQI partners associated with you and you simply have to click the links mentioned in these communications, or log into your GSQI account and register for your upgrade to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI). Remember, you can prepare on your own for CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) assessments or register for a classroom training program under an authorized GSQI Training provider nearest to you.
When to apply for an Upgrade from CCSS™
The best time to apply for an upgrade to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) is exactly six months after attaining your CCSS™ credential. In fact, most CCSS™ certificants choose to upgrade to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) instead of recertifying for CCSS™ when their CCSS™ is two months away from expiry. However, do pay attention to various upgrade offers and schemes frequently emailed to you by GSQI. You may actually save a lot on upgrade voucher costs.
If you have already recertified for CCSS™ once, then an upgrade to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) is the only option, because GSQI does not allow a second recertification for CCSS™. In that case, if your upgrade application is NOT received by GSQI till two weeks before the expiry of your CCSS™ certification, your upgrade request will be only processed as a fresh CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) application and you will have to pay the applicable full CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) fee.
How to Upgrade from CCSS™
Upgrading from CCSS™ is a simple 3-step process:
- Step 1: Register for CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) through the upgrade link
You can enroll for your upgrade directly with GSQI on one of the GSQI portals or take the assistance of the training provider with whom you prepared for your CCSS™ certification or from any of the authorized GSQI training providers nearest to you. Once you register and pay the required fee, you will receive the CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) upgrade Voucher and all other relevant information about your training and assessments etc., through email including the details of your upgrade application. You can pay for your upgrade on the GSQI portal either directly through your credit/ debit card or buy an upgrade voucher from your local authorized GSQI training provider. Remember there are no PCC requirements and hence training is not mandatory. You may directly qualify for the CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) upgrade after completing the upgrade formalities as mentioned in Step 2 below. Indeed, do remember to enroll early if you want to enjoy the fee benefit!
Click here to apply for an Upgrade to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI)! - Step 2: Complete Upgrade requirements
Once you have applied for an upgrade to CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI), you are required to complete the following GSQI - prescribed formalities after logging into your account:
- Submission of your latest Curriculum Vitae in the format available on the CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) application section of the GSQI portal
- Get the Online Customer Service Experience Career Report documenting key aspects of your learnings and achievements since attaining the CCSS™ certification as instructed.
- Take the CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) Upgrade examination. This examination contains only TWO sections as against the four sections of the standard CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) Certification examination, which non-CCSS™ applicants are required to take. You can schedule your examination by choosing online a particular date and time combination from the GSQI Examination Schedule available in the examination section.
- Step 3: Get the Certification Decision
You are there now. If you qualify all prescribed GSQI norms on Knowledge and Competence Prerequisites and all required documentation requirements are complete, you become eligible for the award of the CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) credential and your CCSS™/ CCIS™ (OF BCI) Credential Pack reaches you in 30 days maximum from the date of award.