Credit Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of credit specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for credit specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of credit specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for credit specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Credit Specialists?
Do credit specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do credit specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for credit specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Credit Specialists
Jobs Postings for Credit Specialists By Education
- High School or GED: 2,925 (40%)
- Bachelor's degree: 2,087 (28%)
- No Education Listed: 2,008 (27%)
- Master's degree: 215 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 89 (1%)
High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of credit specialists. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 40% of positions. In 28% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 27% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Credit Specialists
Jobs Postings for Credit Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,157 (31%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,686 (45%)
- 4-6 Years: 736 (20%)
- 7-9 Years: 83 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 96 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for credit specialists. In 45% of job postings for Credit Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 31% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 20% of job postings for credit specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Credit Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for credit specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 4 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective credit specialists, and in 2023 a total of 56,869 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective credit specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Credit Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Credit Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Financial Planning and Services. | 5,054 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Credit Management. | 2 |
What Skills Do Credit Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by credit specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for credit specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Credit Specialists
Based on 6,807 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Credit Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 3,217 | 47% |
| Mortgage Loans | 1,460 | 21% |
| Loan Servicing | 1,269 | 19% |
| Accounting | 1,041 | 15% |
| Financial Services | 967 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Credit Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 3,210 | 47% |
| Communication | 2,551 | 37% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,101 | 31% |
| Sales | 1,856 | 27% |
| Management | 1,802 | 26% |
Based on 6,807 job postings related to credit specialists, loans was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 47% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mortgage loans, loan servicing, accounting, financial services and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, customer service was the most desired skill found in job postings for credit specialists, followed by communication, detail oriented, sales, management and collections.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 3,217 | 47% |
| Mortgage Loans | 1,460 | 21% |
| Loan Servicing | 1,269 | 19% |
| Accounting | 1,041 | 15% |
| Financial Services | 967 | 14% |
| Finance | 774 | 11% |
| Marketing | 713 | 10% |
| Auditing | 680 | 10% |
| Loan Documentation | 665 | 10% |
| Cross-Selling | 651 | 10% |
| Accounts Receivable | 586 | 9% |
| Product Knowledge | 577 | 8% |
| Underwriting | 576 | 8% |
| Consumer Lending | 575 | 8% |
| Call Center Experience | 537 | 8% |
| Billing | 522 | 8% |
| Lending Products | 508 | 7% |
| Truth In Lending Act | 507 | 7% |
| Financial Analysis | 499 | 7% |
| Commercial Lending | 491 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 3,210 | 47% |
| Communication | 2,551 | 37% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,101 | 31% |
| Sales | 1,856 | 27% |
| Management | 1,802 | 26% |
| Collections | 1,640 | 24% |
| Problem Solving | 1,457 | 21% |
| Operations | 1,366 | 20% |
| Writing | 1,284 | 19% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,222 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,122 | 16% |
| Microsoft Excel | 1,114 | 16% |
| Research | 1,102 | 16% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 974 | 14% |
| Multitasking | 972 | 14% |
| Real Estate | 828 | 12% |
| Professionalism | 825 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 819 | 12% |
| Time Management | 714 | 10% |
| Computer Literacy | 691 | 10% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about credit specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for credit specialists.
What do credit specialists do?
How much do credit specialists make?
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