Uncertainty. The world is now all too familiar with this word and its far-reaching implications. For companies, this is a very important part of survival. If they do not get a heads up on possible risks, whether they are legal or credit or from calamities, it becomes difficult to mitigate those risks and save the company from losses.
To understand and identify such risks is the business of risk management. Though the name and its job description seem obvious, there is a lot that goes into identification, assessment and mitigation of risk factors. It takes highly qualified and trained individuals to do the job and do it well.
What It Means To Be A Certified Risk Manager
A certification course in risk management can go a long way in developing and building upon the aptitude one might already have. A successful risk manager needs education, knowledge and experience. So let’s start from the beginning.
Certified risk managers have a certain edge over those who haven’t gone the extra mile. Certifications help newcomers in understanding the business of risk management. It is also useful for entry-level managers who want to give their career a boost. Certification courses are also helpful to those who are already in the business and want to sharpen their tools, like those with enterprise risk management or ERM experience. They can add more arrows to their quiver in terms of improving strategies in the workplace quickly and thoroughly.
Are All Certifications The Same?
Well, obviously no. And there are several factors involved. Some courses are better simply because they are offered by prestigious universities. Some others are better because of how affordable and all encompassing the curriculum is. You might choose one course over the other depending on what you expect to learn. Which boils down to the point we all already know. Beginners have different needs from accounting and finance professionals who are already doing this at their day jobs.
Some of these courses are also taken by CEOs and CFOs to keep improving their understanding of risk management and how their managers should be assessing the organization. So their needs are possibly more generic.
Best Risk Management Certifications
Now, let’s take a look at some of the best online certification courses and get you where you need to go.
ExpertRating: Risk Management Course
Top of the list is this certification by ExpertRating which is designed to help beginners and experienced professionals bring value to their organization. They’ve, over the years, proven how good their courses are. This course itself is divided into two modules that deal with project management and project risk management.
The certification is meant to help to understand the different aspects of project management and get an in-depth understanding of risk management concepts and processes as well to make real-life applications possible and functional.
You will have access to the Risk Management courseware anytime you need. You can start the course within a year of enrollment and the certificate is included in the price of the course. If you fail the test you can take it again for $10. If you are not satisfied with the course you can apply for a refund.
Institute of Risk Management: International Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management
This is exactly what those who want the basics in theory and practice of risk management should get. This course by the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) gives an insight into the principles, concepts and practice of risk management. You will gain a better understanding of the multi-disciplinary nature of risk management in any organization. You will also get to learn the current thinking, standards and regulations across the world.
The course is made of two modules which must be done together. In the first module, you will learn about the organizational culture for risk and how it affects the implementation of certain processes. And the discussions in the first module support the study of governance and risk architecture in the second module. It also gives you an introduction to the history of risk management. It will help you gain perspective and what has driven current strategies in enterprise risk management.
New York Institute of Finance: Professional Program Certificate in Risk Management
This is another option for those looking to improve their knowledge of the foundation of risk management. As a part of this course, you get to learn about risk assessment, analysis and management techniques from Wall Street pros. This comprehensive Risk Management Professional Certificate program is taught by those with decades of experience on Wall Street. You will learn about the major types of risks and risk management tools, techniques and regulations.
The instructors will work with you on an annual risk report for a publicly-traded financial institution since that is the focus. You will also get to analyze case studies and, in the process, understand the key principles of measuring and managing risks.
This is broken down into five modules.
- Introduction to Risk Management
- Measuring Risk: Equity, Fixed Income, Derivatives, and FX
- Risk Management Tools and Practices
- Stress Testing and Regulation – Part 1
- Stress Testing and Regulation – Part 2
You will have to take the Professional Certification Exam and will get a Risk Management Professional Certificate from the New York Institute of Finance if you pass the exam. You can do it full time or part time.
IIM Bangalore: Risk Management in Banking & Financial Markets
This is an online course on risk management specifically for banking and financial markets. You can learn theories and practices of a complex industry. This delves into the inner workings of banks, financial markets and regulators which has only grown in the last few decades. In fact, the 2008 global financial crisis is the result of a risk contagion that got out of control changing the financial landscape possibly forever.
This program is made of five modules and a certification course that will help understand the risks in this domain. You will get to learn to identify risks using tools like value at risk (VaR) and stress testing. You will also critically examine why the financial crisis of 2008 could not be predicted and how regulatory initiatives like the guidelines of Basel-III and IV make sure banks and markets worldwide are stable.
You will use spreadsheets and interactive tools to learn the concepts without their mathematical complexities. This course is for professionals who want to level up and also for individuals who are preparing for FRM and PRMIA certification exams.
The average length of the course is 1-7 weeks per module. You will need to put in 3-4 hours per week, per module. There are six courses in the program between Economics & Finance and Business & Management.
The Bottom Line: Risk Management Certifications
As we recover from a global pandemic in which organizations, whatever the scale of operations, have taken a hit. It is more than fair to predict that more and more companies will be keen on elaborate annual risk assessment sessions and employers will be looking for competent candidates. In that context, having a risk management certification gives you an edge over candidates who have limited their understanding to traditional learning. An extra certification also shows on your resume that you are willing to take the initiative and are eager to learn. Go ahead and good luck.
