You can apply for the 2025 U.S. ProAdvisor Awards HERE or nominate a U.S. ProAdvisor HERE.
We have developed what we hope will be a perpetual nomination form that can be used not only for 2025 but also for all future Award periods.
For most of the life of these Awards, ProAdvisors could either be nominated by someone else, or they could 'nominate' themselves. Last year, we used the 'nomination form' to redirect ProAdvisors' self-nominating to the formal Application without significant duplication of effort.
This year, ProAdvisors wishing to participate see another improvement: They can skip the Nomination Form and go straight to the Formal Application Form. However, because we know old habits are hard to break… especially for those of us who have been doing this for the last dozen years—ProAdvisors can still access their Application via the Nomination form.
The 'new' Nomination Form is a centralized point for anyone wishing to nominate their favorite ProAdvisor. It is also an access portal to the U.S. ProAdvisor or International ProAdvisor Application Form(s). However, ProAdvisors will not be required to complete a nomination form to access the appropriate application form. We will publish direct URL links to both formal Application Forms when we launch this year's awards.
After reading the instructions, many of which I have summarized above, anyone using the Nomination form will begin by entering a critical 'Date field' that serves two purposes. The first is to determine the appropriate 'Awards Year,' and the next is to determine if the nomination is within the open nomination period for that 'Awards Year.'
Regarding the open nomination period, Insightful Accountant will accept nominations from third parties wishing to nominate their favorite ProAdvisor through December 10, 2024, at 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time*.
Our next question confirms if the nomination is submitted by someone other than the ProAdvisor or if a ProAdvisor is trying to enter the awards process without going directly to the appropriate Application Form. ProAdvisors seeking to apply for the U.S. or International Awards will be redirected to the appropriate Application with a single click.
But suppose the form is used by someone nominating their favorite ProAdvisor. In that case, they need to specify if that ProAdvisor is a U.S. resident or a ProAdvisor residing outside the U.S. (for the International awards).
No matter where around the globe you practice as a ProAdvisor, the 2025 ProAdvisor Awards await you.
Nominators must then provide their contact information. The nominator is mentioned in our email notification to the ProAdvisor they nominate, and the nominator's email will be used to provide them with a copy of the nominee's notification. The nominator's information will also be used if they wish to receive information from one or more of our sponsors; however, nominators won't be contacted if they choose not to hear from a specific sponsor.
Nominators must provide basic contact information about the ProAdvisor they nominate, including name, company name, address, country, phone number, and email. We can only notify a nominee if all of this information is provided. We also ask nominators if they know if the ProAdvisor is certified and has a client practice.
That's about it. Our new nomination form has two short pages: contact information and yes-no-styled questions.
As you can probably tell, we are getting close to the official launch of the 2025 ProAdvisor Awards process. I mentioned a couple of paragraphs above the date when nominations by a third party will close for the 2025 Awards Year, but I haven't told you the last date when ProAdvisors must apply and have their Formal Applications complete.
ProAdvisors will have approximately seven months this year to initiate and complete their applications. The 2025 Awards Year application deadline is set for February 11, 2025, at 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time.
With the "Save and Continue later" feature I have mentioned in my last two articles, ProAdvisors will be able to start their Applications, complete basic information, and then close their Application until they wish to return to add more data, including newly completed training, new certifications, new or expanded App interactions, and much more.
Check back tomorrow for the official launch of the 2025 ProAdvisor Awards.
By the way, thanks again to our continuing sponsors, without whom these awards would not be possible.
* - Note: Originally the Nomination Deadline was November 19, 2024; however, that deadline was extended by the Awards Administrator on 11/19/2024 until December 10, 2024. (The deadline change was published within Insightful Accountant on November 19, 2024.)