SBA 8a Certification - Do I Qualify For SBA 8a Certification?

This is first thing that someone should find out if they are thinking about applying for SBA 8a Certification.

Failure to spend the time to find out whether you fully qualify can:

1. Result in a formal denial of your 8a application by the SBA. If this happens, you cannot re-apply for 12 months from the date you are denied.

2. Result in a seemingly endless 8a application review process at the SBA and cost your business concern the ability to bid on and win federal set-aside 8a contracts.

2. Cause you to spend 40+ hours putting together a bunch of paperwork that will result in nothing more than a paper weight.

Below are 16 "Killers". These will immediately tell you whether you have an issue that may prevent you from qualifying for 8a Certification.

1. The applicant (51% of more owner) must be a US Citizen when they apply.

2. The applicant must devote full time to the business concern that is applying for 8a Certification when they apply. This means that they must work at least 40 hours per week in the business concern without any outside employment.

3. The applicant must hold the highest management position within the business concern. Generally this is the CEO, President or Managing Member.

4. The applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are the highest compensated. Generally the SBA will deny your 8a application if you cannot demonstrate the applicant currently is the highest compensated or there is a very good reason why they have elected not to be.

5 The applicant must have an adjusted net worth of less than $250,000 at the time they apply. Adjusted net worth = Assets - liabilities - (Equity in primary residence + value of ownership interest in business concern).

6. The applicant's AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) cannot be more than $200,000 averaged over the last two tax years.

7. The applicant must generally hold all licenses or professional certifications required to operate the business concern.

8. If the applicant has ownership in another business concern other than the business concern that is applying for 8a Certification the SBA will most likely determine that you do not devote full time and therefore deny your 8a application. There are ways to solve this issue and they vary depending on your unique condition.

9. The applicant cannot be on probation or parole. If the applicant has been arrested in the past it does not automatically deny them unless they were convicted of a specific crime. Having an arrest, regardless of how long ago, will severely delay the review of your 8a Application.

10. The business concern must have been in business for 2 full years. In addition, the last two years of its filed tax returns must show a reasonable amount of total sales. If it has not, you must seek a waiver and meet the 5 conditions set by the SBA to overcome this condition.

11. The business concern and the applicant cannot have any delinquent tax filings or have any unpaid Federal, State or local obligations at the time of application. This condition can be overcome by filing the proper extension for delinquent taxes or by providing evidence of a current re-payment arrangement for unpaid Federal, State or local obligations.

12. The business concern must be at least 51% directly owned by the applicant. The business concern must be a for-profit business and cannot be classified as a broker or be a subsidiary of another business concern.

13. The business concern's current financial statements must exhibit positive net income, positive net equity and positive working capital at the time of application submission. The SBA requires that the business concern meets "Potential for Success".

14. The business concern must not have earned more than 70% of its total revenue within the last 12 months with one single client. This does not apply to a business concern if its direct billing client is a Federal or State Government.

15. The applicant or business concern cannot have previously participated as an 8a participant. The applicant cannot have any immediate family members who are current participants in the 8(a) Program.

16. The business concern must be defined as a "Small Business" by the Federal Government. Your primary NAICS code, gross sales and sometimes the number of employees define your size standard that the SBA will base its determination on.

These are just 16 of the "Killers" that can potentially prevent your 8a Certification application from being successful. There are additional 'Killers" and other areas that you should be concerned with prior to making the decision on whether you fully qualify for 8a Certification.

Spending the time upfront to ensure that your firm meets all of the eligibility requirements for 8a Certification can save you countless hours of frustration, the expense of putting the application together and the difference between obtaining formal 8a Certification or not. Cloveer, Inc. is dedicated to assisting small, minority owned firms obtain 8a Certification.

No one can guarantee that your company will get formally 8a Certified. The SBA makes the final decision. If anyone guarantees or conditionally guarantees that they can get you 8a certified I suggest that you run as fast as you can since you will just be throwing your money down the drain and wasting your valuable time.

Rick is the President and CEO of Cloveer, Inc. He has spent the last ten years guiding thousands of firms through the very complex Small Business Administration's 8(a) Application process.

Rick has intimate knowledge of the SBA 8(a) program rules and regulations and the SBA's Department of Program Certification Eligibility's (DPCE) Standard Operating Procedures. He is an expert on each individual element that comprises a successful 8a Certification Application which can help ensure your 8a Certification Application has the best chance for achieving formal 8a certification.

Visit http://www.cloveer.com for more information.

How Do I Become a Certified Computer Technician?

You may be following the trends in the Information Technology industry and the explosion in Internet usage. Advances in technology and consequent reduction in component prices have brought down the cost of computers, resulting in a tremendous increase in the proliferation of personal computers. It is not uncommon to find a home with more than one computer connected in a Local Area Network (LAN).

The number of computer buyers is increasing, but very few computer owners are tech-savvy, and once they run into problems with the functioning of their computer, they need a trained professional who can troubleshoot their PC.

You may have decided to follow a career as a computer technician by recognizing this need in the market. You may have either trained yourself or studied to become a computer technician. However, this is not enough. What you need to recognize is that the industry wants certified professionals to meet their requirements.

Certification ensures a certain level of expertise and a company can be secure in the knowledge that their problems are being taken care of by trained professionals. For you, professionally, certification means that you can command a higher salary in the market compared to an uncertified professional and have many more options available.

How can one obtain certification? There are online certification exams you could opt for - Brainbench is one such certifying agency. Many of these certifications can be viewed by an employer online but a hard copy of the certification would probably have to be paid for. Alternatively, you could go to professional bodies like CompTIA that award certifications to professionals. These are much valued in the industry and could give you the winning edge over your competitors in winning a contract or a project.

Before you go in for a certification exams, make sure your basic knowledge is in place - it might be better to revise your knowledge of:

- Computer hardware components

- BIOS, Power supplies, ports and expansion slots

- IDE, SCSI and Bus architectures

- Processor - Interrupts, memory

- Basics of PC Repair

- Display cards and other peripherals like printers

- Computer vendor-specific design features

Once you have these fundamentals in place, you are ready to take that certification exam!

Ms. Pinky is a Computer Support Specialist for more than 25 years. Has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, MS Research work in Systems Engineering.

Get more free computer tips on her blog at http://www.computerhelpdeskandsupport.com/

Finding High Quality Computer Based Training For the MCSE and Other Certifications

Taking an I.T certification is still a relatively expensive training avenue. It can be especially expensive if you decide to take a boot camp or class room based course - that's why most opt for the cheaper computer based training. However, you do still want value for money when it comes to CBT (computer based training), so here's a way to find good computer based training providers.

First of all before you think of purchasing any training, decide upon what certification you want to take. Try to stick to well known certification providers, such as Microsoft (MCSE), CompTIA, Cisco etc. These are considered to be the best certification providers out there and will provide you with a highly recognised and valued certification. Avoid unknown certification providers as these are likely to be worth less on your C.V.

If you still uncertain about what certification to take, do a little research upon each one by viewing the overview of the available certifications on the provider's website, or ringing them. Also take to the web and investigate I.T training forums of which there are plenty.

After you have made your decision, it's time to find your computer based training provider. High street shops, local shops and internet sellers all sell computer based training equipment from training providers, who provide the training gear for I.T certifications. A reputable CBT training seller, such as Currys, mcse training etc, will always have in stock the best training providers out there, which will either be produced by the certification companies, endorsed or approved by them or will be from a freestanding company. If endorsed, produced by or approved by the certification provider (i.e. Microsoft) your training equipment is likely to be okay.

However, you may come into some difficulty when buying from a freestanding training provider. The only way to really make sure there CBT equipment is worth every penny is by researching the provider. Have a look at their website and make sure it is professional looking, that they have a long background in I.T computer based training production and have a good reputation. Don't just look on their website either, scour the forums for advice and look at any awards they may have won.

Moreover, it's important that you make sure you purchase the latest training equipment for the latest certifications (which you should be taking). Avoid buying out of date computer based training equipment, even if they are on offer, as certifications can change quite drastically from year to year.

If you are interested in computer based training for I.T certifications, have a look at MCSE training who only stock the best computer based training providers out there. Interested? Have a look at their website at www.mcsetraining.co.uk

Why Should I Get CompTIA Certification?

In today's competitive economy, it's important to have an edge over the competition in the job market. One way to get ahead is to get a well regarded CompTIA certification. But which CompTIA certification is right for you?

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) offers a number of IT certifications that can help you qualify for a well paying job. CompTIA certifications cover a wide variety of disciplines including computer basics, IT security, computer networking, Linux programming, and more. But before you begin your CompTIA study, you should decide which certification best fits your expertise and career goals.

If you are just starting out in the IT industry, then the CompTIA A+ certification is probably right for you. CompTIA A+ certification is designed to demonstrate competency as a computer technician. It covers topics such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting. The exam is also vendor neutral and internationally accepted, so many employers see it as credible evidence of your ability to work with computers. The A+ certification is a stepping stone to more advanced CompTIA certifications, so if you are just starting out in the information technology industry, it's a must have.

For people more interested in an important and up and coming field, CompTIA Security+ certification is the way to go. This certification proves your ability to manage system security, network infrastructure, and organizational security. Computer security threats are increasing in number and severity, so this certification is in high demand among employers in the business, healthcare, and government sectors. Pursuing a CompTIA Security+ certification is bound to ensure job security for years to come.

Another important CompTIA certification is CompTIA Network+. This certification exhibits competence in managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing, and configuring computer network infrastructures. This is especially important for companies with large computer networks connecting hundreds of employees. There is consistent demand for IT networking professionals, so getting your CompTIA Network+ certification is a good next step after you complete your A+ certification.

If you have a passion for open-source technology and some Linux experience under your belt, you should consider pursuing your CompTIA Linux+ certification. This exam covers the management of Linux systems, user administration, file permissions, software configuration, and the management of Linux-based clients. With many companies moving to open-source software as a method to cut costs, qualified Linux professionals are sure to be in high demand. Prove your ability with the right CompTIA certification, and you show potential employers a clear indicator that you are right for the job.

There are many more CompTIA certifications that deal with more specialized fields. You can find more information at CompTIA's website, http://www.comptia.org. Once you decide on a certification, you can prepare for the test by taking CompTIA training classes at a qualified IT training school. Regardless of which CompTIA certification you decide on, you will be obtaining a valuable credential that will help you get a job in the information technology field. Many employers rely on third-party certifications such as the CompTIA exams as a clear indicator of future employee success. Prove your worth with the right certification, and you will have a definite edge in the job market.

About The Author:

Shawn Livengood works for TechSkills, a career training school with over 25 campuses nationwide. TechSkills offers career training programs for IT certifications, healthcare services, accounting, and project management.

HUBZone Certification - What You Need to Know Before You Begin

HUBZone Certification

Getting your business HUBZone certified can help insure your businesses success. The HUBZone certification is available for startup businesses, however the firm will need at least one employee in order to satisfy requirement #3 below.

What are the criteria for HUBZone Certification?
1. 51% ownership by a US Citizen.
2. The Principle Office of the firm must be located within a HUBZone
3. At least 35% of the employees must live within a HUBZone
4. The firm must be classified by the SBA as a small business. (Small business size determinations separated into primary NAICS Code)

In submitting the initial application to the SBA no verification for any of the following information will be required. The SBA will follow up with the firm 90 days later and ask for follow up information regarding, how the firm is owned, a map showing the primary business location, utility bills showing the firm name in the HUBZone location, drivers licenses showing primary residence of firm employees, as well as other supporting documentation. Make sure you have made these determinations prior to submitting your firm's application.

There are other issues and considerations for firms moving into a HUBZone location. Your CCR Registration is the electronic platform for you HUBZone application. Therefore all information contained in the CCR Registration must accurately reflect the information within the HUBZone application or there will be a conflict created which could cause a denial. Another factor of consideration is that the D&B information on your business links directly into the CCR Registration so this information must be updated to reflect a firm having moved into a HUBZone with the new Principle Office.

The benefits to your business are the following:

1. 10% pricing preference on government contracts. The HUBZone firm is considered to have similar pricing to a non-HUBZone firm if the HUBZone firm is charging $110 and the non-HUBZone firm is charging $100.
2. Large Companies bidding on Federal Contracts are required to show how they are including HUBZone companies as part of the contracts that are greater than $550,000.
3. The SBA has programs set up to help HUBZone firms with additional Bonding for Construction firms as well as aid in special SBA financial loans and resources.
There are also other intricacies to the HUBZone process such as if a county in a state has greater than 140% of the unemployment rate for the rest of the state then the county is considered to be HUBZone and all firms in that country can apply for HUBZone status. If a business is located as part of an Indian Reservation the firm can have less than 35% of the worker living in a HUBZone until such time as the firm is going to perform on a government contract and at that time the firm needs to become compliant with the 35% residence rule.

Other Resources
http://www.hubzone.us.com/

Human Resources - Hot Issues

Human resources is one of the most highly sought-after professions in the market today, and growing by the minute. People with certifications and degrees, however, will be more than likely to secure good jobs in this particular field. Though some of the more basic jobs might not require you to have a degree for some of their positions, it is becoming more common to find human resources jobs requiring you to at least have a Bachelor's degree. Just like any other job field, there are many hot issues related to human resources as well that have become important for people to know and understand.

One first hot issue is that of having a certification or degree to obtain even an entry level human resources position. In fact, once you have completed your HR degree, it is sometimes also recommended that you take the SHRM certification so that you are best qualified for the position. When an employer sees these particular credentials on your resume before hiring you, they will be more likely to pick someone that might have completed the certification for employment because they would have taken the extra step to ensure they are well accustomed and qualified in the field.

Legislation is another one of the biggest HR hot issues because there are so many factors involved. It is usually up to the human resources personnel to know all about the sexual harassment laws, equal employment opportunity rights, employee privacy and work place safety as well. Though most executives within the company might not know what the legislation might state, an HR manager or employee will need to remain aware of how it can affect the workplace. These issues are important and always on the top of the list of an HR executive's mind. There have been many changes regarding the legislation concerning human resources, which therefore makes many people question whether it might be a federal or state-wide issue. This makes recruitment and retention more complicated because there are many more federal regulations than state.

The rewards of such a position are also far greater than it's downfalls. For example, there are many companies operating overseas who might even allow you to travel, thus outsourcing yourself to some smaller countries to train others so that those countries may commercially increase and expand as the United States.

Jim Masefield writes articles on various business issues, for:
HRPrograms.info.

Personal Trainer Certification - Choosing the Right One For You

There are many organizations offering personal trainer certification in the health and fitness industry. Some of these certifications are legitimate and should be considered when determining which personal trainer certification to get but others aren't certifications that are worth the paper they are written on.

How do you know which personal trainer certification to choose?

#1 - Go for the best personal trainer certification not necessarily the easiest.
Choose a certifying organization for personal training that has a third party that reviews their exams. Recently, the personal training certifying bodies have used NCCA, an accrediting body of impartial experts who ensure that the certification of that organization has met stringent standards. This brings credibility to the organization and its certifications, research, events, etc. Not many organizations who certify personal trainers will have this professional "mark" of excellence but those that do, will definitely tell you about it.

#2 - Choose a personal trainer certification that encourages fitness assessments and proper medical and general history of the client during the client intake.

You want to know what you are getting yourself into when you train a client.

How do you know if the client has a heart history? How do you know how much stress the client is under from job, family, and other commitments? What about medications the client is taking - do you know how these will affect the client's training? How do you know what exercise recommendations you should make for a client that you haven't fitness assessed?
Organizations that don't teach personal trainers through their certification programs to ask for and get this information are basically "asking" you to train a potential "walking time bomb."

Who knows, in this day in age, what is truly going on with people in the general population internally. Even younger athletes who you might be training could be "on" something and/or susceptible to something (heart attacks).

You need to know this information through proper client intake procedures. The certification program should teach you this.

#3 - Select the personal trainer certification that requires continuing education hours.

This expectation gives credibility to the certification. The personal trainer should be continually learning more about how to train safely and effectively and to make programs individualized by using a variety of teaching techniques.

The certified personal trainer should learn information to give the client of a general non-medical nutritional nature and should be constantly educating him/herself in how to motivate and hold the client accountable.

This is the standard that a certified personal trainer should be held to.

#4 - What to watch out for.

Can you get a personal trainer certification off the internet in the next half hour? Sure. If it is something that is inexpensive and you can print the certificate immediately after paying with your credit card, you really don't want this personal trainer certification.

If you aren't required to study anything nor have any study materials to purchase in passing a personal trainer exam, you don't want this certification either.

Basically, if it is too good to be true, it is not a legitimate credential. These are the certification credentials that you ought to run from.

The health and fitness industry is huge and the opportunities for certified personal trainers are growing. Start out on the right footing. Get the best certification in the industry to set you apart using these tips as guidelines in choosing.

© Copyright 2008 Kim Fischer

Kim Fischer, owner of Empowered By Learning LLC, created the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam Preparation workshop and accompanying Study Guide and Action Plan for Passing the ACSM Personal Trainer Certification Exam to support people in reaching their goal of becoming a certified personal trainer by the "gold standard" organization in the industry. Kim guarantees that workshop participants will pass the exam or their next workshop is free. Learn more about how to simplify and organize the process and the content for the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam by getting a free excerpt of Kim's step-by-step Action Plan when you subscribe at http://www.empoweredbylearningllc.com