Online Business Manager (OBM) Training and Certification: Why Get Certified?

The demand for online business managers has continued to grow exponentially over the last decade, and virtual assistants are taking notice in the opportunity for the increased responsibility and boost in income that comes with becoming a Certified OBM®.

As part of a blog series I’m working on about opportunities within the virtual assistant industry, I recently wrote about what an online business manager does (and why you’d want to become one), and I thought it would be beneficial to follow it up with a post about what it means to become a Certified OBM®.

In this post:

• What is a Certified OBM®? Is certification required to be an online business manager?
• Benefits of OBM certification
• Who should take the online business manager certification course?
• What does the Certified Online Business Manager training program include?
• How long does the training program last?
• How much does the online business manager certification program cost?
• How to become an online business manager

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure for more info.

What is a Certified OBM? Is certification required to be an online business manager?

Certification is not required to make the transition from virtual assistant to online business manager. However, it’s important to understand that the role of an online business manager is different from that of a virtual assistant – that is, an OBM isn’t the same thing as a virtual assistant with a fancy job title charging premium rates.

According to the International Association of Online Business Managers (IAOBM), “An Online Business Manager helps business owners manage and grow their companies. OBMs oversee the day-to-day activities of online businesses, including planning and managing projects, leading team members, and developing and streamlining operational systems.”

The IAOBM clearly defined and standardized the OBM role in 2009 with an established set of responsibilities and expectations for certified OBMs working in the industry. This means prospective clients are expecting to hire an OBM with a specific set of skills who can deliver measurable results.

This is why many online business managers take the route of getting an OBM certification through the International Association of Online Business Managers.

For a detailed look at the role of an online business manager, I recommend reading Tina Forsyth’s book Becoming an Online Business Manager: Playing a Bigger Game with Your Clients (and Yourself). (Tina is the founder of the International Association of Online Business Managers.)

Benefits of OBM certification

There are several advantages to getting certified through the IAOBM:

• Fully understand the role of the Online Business Manager
• Gain the designation of Certified OBM®, the top standard and most widely recognized credential in the OBM industry
• Get the skills and confidence you need to deliver above and beyond your clients’ expectations
• Skip the learning curve of trying to figure it out on your own
• Learn exactly how to structure incentive-based payment plans and earn top rates as a Certified OBM®

As a Certified OBM®, you’ll also gain membership in the International Association of Online Business Managers. There are many benefits to membership in the association, including:

• Your own listing and profile page in the online OBM Directory. This is one of the top places businesses look for Certified OBMs.
• Access to the association’s Request for Proposal system, where you can respond to RFPs from prospective clients.
• Membership to the private OBM Facebook group, where you can network and collaborate with other Certified OBMs.
• A monthly live OBM Coffee Chat and mini training hosted by association founder Tina Forsyth and guest experts.
• The opportunity to participate in additional exclusive workshops and training programs for OBMs.
• Access to the IAOBM Resource Center, which includes member-only resources like the OBM Client Services Agreement, audio recordings from past talks, open RFPs from prospective clients, and ongoing training.
• Invitation to the closed-door Annual OBM Conference, which is exclusive to the Certified OBM® community.

Who should take the online business manager certification course?

Anyone with an interest in managing their clients’ online businesses can benefit from taking this certification course. That said, certain career paths lend themselves naturally to a next step as a certified online business manager, including:

• Established virtual assistants who want to take their income to the next level and are prepared for an added level of responsibility
• VAs who are already acting in an online business manager capacity without realizing it
• People with professional experience in project or general management
• Business school grads with an interest in online business
• Entrepreneurs who are savvy in business, digital marketing, or tech

What does the Certified Online Business Manager training program include?

The Certified OBM® training program is a comprehensive course that instructs students in all the facets of becoming a successful online business manager, including:

• Project management
• Team management
• Marketing strategy
• Operations management

The six modules in the training program include:

1. Online Business 101 – Business Models & Marketing
2. The Nine OBM Leadership Competencies
3. Project Planning and Launch Management
4. Automation, Systems, and Operations Management
5. Virtual Team Hiring and Management
6. Building Your OBM Business

Detailed curriculum is available here.

The program concludes with Certification Exam Week, where you’ll demonstrate your newfound OBM skills through a series of six to eight simulated client projects and apply to become a Certified OBM®.

Upon successful completion of the certification program, you’ll be awarded the Certified OBM® designation and membership in the International Association of Online Business Managers.

How long does the training program last?

The training program lasts about three months. Enrollment is quarterly.

How much does the online business manager certification program cost?

The certification training is offered through select individual trainers who have been accredited through the International Association of Online Business Managers. Sign up here to explore the different program offerings and pricing details.

How to become an online business manager

If you’re committed to launching your new career as a well-paid online business manager, becoming a Certified OBM® is the next step.

Sign up here for information on upcoming enrollment dates and program pricing.

If you’re not sure you’re a good fit for the OBM role and you’d like to explore further, I recommend reading Tina Forsyth’s book, Becoming an Online Business Manager: Playing a Bigger Game with Your Clients (and Yourself). I read this book in a single Saturday, and it was chock-full of practical advice – not just for aspiring online business managers, but for anyone who runs an online business.

If you’re just beginning your virtual assistant career, you may be interested in my post about free virtual assistant training courses.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog – come back soon!