We are several weeks away from launching the 2019 ProAdvisor of the Year, Ten Categorical Awards and Top 100 ProAdvisor Awards but I wanted to let you know of a couple of major changes in this year’s awards.
In past years both the QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online Categorical Awards have contained criteria that essentially gave credits to each category for cross-certifications in the other category. To put it simply, when an applicant was scored for the QuickBooks Desktop category, they earned points not only for their QuickBooks Desktop (core) and Advanced certifications, but they also earned points for their QuickBooks Online (core) and Advanced certifications, if any. Similarly, when an applicant was scored for the QuickBooks Online category, they earned points not only for their QuickBooks Online (core) and Advanced certifications, but they also earned points for their QuickBooks Desktop (core) and Advanced certifications, if any.
Our rationale in previously using this method was based upon the belief that cross-certification was beneficial, and that it showed a commitment to learning as it relates to the fundamentals of accounting from a QuickBooks methodology standpoint regardless of the QuickBooks platform. Cross-certification also showed a commitment to the entire QuickBooks product line upon which the ProAdvisor program was based, not just a single-segment of the QuickBooks ecosystem.
Effective with this year’s competition we are making a change. Going forward, the QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online Categorical awards will ‘stand on their own merits’ without any cross-certification considerations.
- Applicants for the QuickBooks Desktop category will no longer be awarded points for having either QuickBooks Online (core) or Advanced certifications.
- Applicants for the QuickBooks Online category will no longer be awarded points for having either QuickBooks Desktop (core) or Advanced certifications.
This in effect ‘levels the playing ground’ whereby a QBO Certified ProAdvisor who does not have any QuickBooks Desktop certification has just as much chance, from a certification point-basis, as an applicant who has QuickBooks Desktop certifications since desktop-related certifications will not be considered in the rankings for the QuickBooks Online category.
Similarly, a QuickBooks Desktop Certified ProAdvisor who does not have any QuickBooks Online certification has just as much chance, from a certification point-basis, as an applicant who has QBO certifications since QBO certifications will not be considered in the rankings for the QuickBooks Desktop category.
So, before the questions are asked, let me anticipate a few:
- Question – “Does this mean that a person who has a QuickBooks Desktop certification can no longer be considered for a QuickBooks Online award even if they have QuickBooks Online certification?”
- Answer – No, having QuickBooks Desktop certification does not impact QuickBooks Online award consideration either adversely or favorably. QuickBooks Online certifications (core and advanced) are the only ‘QuickBooks-related’ certifications that impact QuickBooks Online award consideration.
- Question – “Does this mean that a person who has a QuickBooks Online certification can no longer be considered for a QuickBooks Desktop award even I they have QuickBooks Desktop certification?”
- Answer – No, having QuickBooks Online certification does not impact QuickBooks Desktop award consideration either adversely or favorably. QuickBooks Desktop (core and advanced) and QuickBooks Enterprise certifications are the only ‘QuickBooks-related’ certifications that impact QuickBooks Desktop award consideration.
To those people in the past who have said it seemed that a person had to have QBO certification to achieve a high enough ranking to earn QuickBooks Desktop certification when they had no interest in QBO, the Desktop category is now ‘purely’ Desktop and QBO certification will have no bearing upon standing.
Similarly, to those in the past who have said it was unfair to QBO only ProAdvisors who had no interest in earning QuickBooks Desktop certification, the QBO category is now ‘purely’ QBO and QuickBooks desktop certification will have no bearing upon standing.
These revisions impact only the QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online categories, they do not impact other categories we recognize. They also impact only the ‘QuickBooks-related certifications’ associated with those categories, they do not impact any other criteria related to each category. All other standards in force prior to these changes remain in force, all other ranking provisions have not changed, only those elaborated herein.
I have written over the past few years several articles comparing the mechanics of this awards process to the methodology whereby a ‘Dog Show’ operates. Dogs are judged by 'breed standards' and earn a ranking in a 'Group' and then all the Group leaders are judged for 'best in show'. To some extent the mechanics are similar, so’ I want to clarify the new provisions in the same context. In past years we have recognized what might have been considered as ‘cross-breeds’ in each of the QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online categories. As of 2019, these two categories will be ranked on a ‘pure-breed’ standing, each unto their own unique set of standards without any consideration of the opposite standard.
We will be making other preliminary announcements concerning this year’s awards, along with an announcement concerning the various dates related this year’s nominations and applications within the next couple of weeks. Thanks again for all your support with respect to the ProAdvisor of the Year, the Ten Categorical ProAdvisor Awards, and the Top 100 ProAdvisor awards program.