CSP Requirements and Process of Accreditation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A speaker has completed 100 paid engagements but all within two years. Are they eligible to apply for the CSP?
- Yes, the total count is what matters
- No, the engagements must span at least a five-year window (Correct answer)
- Yes, if total fees exceed the income threshold
- No, unless they have an NSA sponsor waiver
Correct answer: No, the engagements must span at least a five-year window
CSP requires that the 100 paid engagements be documented over a qualifying five-year period, not compressed into fewer years.
Question 2: What income threshold must CSP applicants typically demonstrate from professional speaking within the qualifying period?
- $50,000 total
- $100,000 total (Correct answer)
- $250,000 total
- $25,000 total
Correct answer: $100,000 total
CSP candidates must demonstrate at least $100,000 in speaking income earned from paid engagements during the qualifying five-year period.
Question 3: Which of the following speaking scenarios would most likely NOT count toward CSP engagement requirements?
- A keynote paid by a Fortune 500 company
- A workshop compensated with a product gift card only (Correct answer)
- A breakout session at a paid industry conference
- A virtual paid webinar for a corporate client
Correct answer: A workshop compensated with a product gift card only
Compensation must be monetary; non-monetary compensation such as product gift cards generally does not qualify as a paid speaking engagement.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the 'recertification' requirement for existing CSP holders?
- To re-examine their foundational speaking skills every year
- To ensure ongoing professional activity and continued standards compliance (Correct answer)
- To allow NSA to collect updated membership fees
- To provide an opportunity to upgrade to a higher designation
Correct answer: To ensure ongoing professional activity and continued standards compliance
Recertification ensures that CSP holders remain actively engaged as professional speakers and continue to meet NSA's evolving professional standards.
Question 5: How are speaking engagements for association chapters or non-profit organizations treated in CSP applications?
- They are never counted regardless of payment
- They count if a professional fee was paid (Correct answer)
- They always count as pro-bono community service hours
- They count only if the chapter has over 500 members
Correct answer: They count if a professional fee was paid
Engagements for associations or non-profits can count toward the CSP requirement if the speaker received a legitimate professional fee for the engagement.
Question 6: When a CSP applicant lists speaking engagements from international events, how are those typically handled?
- International engagements are excluded from CSP documentation
- They are counted if they meet the same standards as domestic engagements (Correct answer)
- They require a separate international CSP category application
- They count at half-value toward the 100-engagement requirement
Correct answer: They are counted if they meet the same standards as domestic engagements
International engagements are evaluated using the same professional fee and documentation standards as domestic engagements.
Question 7: Which section of a CSP application typically requires the most detailed documentation from the applicant?
- Biographical summary
- Speaking engagement log with proof of payment (Correct answer)
- Philosophy of speaking statement
- Reference letters from clients
Correct answer: Speaking engagement log with proof of payment
The speaking engagement log with corresponding payment documentation is the core evidentiary section and requires the most detailed records.
CSP Requirements and Process of Accreditation 3
A speaker has completed 100 paid engagements but all within two years.
Are they eligible to apply for the CSP?