As part of the Trusted Business Advisor [TBA] Program, Integrated mar.com and Next Step Learning have developed a set of online courses leading to final program accreditation* and certification. The TBA Program will be of interest and relevance to VARs who wish to meet the challenges of today with a broad range of up-to-date business skills.

The online TBA Education & Certification Program is designed for busy business executives and professionals -- to build on VARs existing business knowledge and experience by updating that current skill set with courses in three key areas: Business, Services, Code of Ethics



This comprehensive learning library contains over fifty titles in a series of modules specifically designed to enhance your operating effectiveness through the TBA program. Attaining the TBA Certification proves mastery of 41 courses of Business skills, and 14 value added Service categories and Code of Ethics areas applicable to the VAR community. By utilizing online courseware, individuals have the ability to learn, and stay current with common business and people practice. Because the courseware is virtual, individual development, and reference can take place anytime or anywhere!



For example, the Business skills courses not only provide a guided tour through the specific content, but offer a variety of tools and activities like assessments, worksheets, checklists, challenges, ideas for consideration and reference information that enable learners to leverage new knowledge and skills in the workplace.


Being successful in the business world means having a broad range of up-to-date business skills... knowledge that is imperative for a VAR's success, i.e.: with better management of your own business comes the necessary building blocks to provide clients with IT-centric business solutions.

SERVICES: While the TBA program does not recommend any particular service offerings, it is vital that TBAs have a basic understanding of the current services so they can determine if they are applicable for their clients.

CODE OF ETHICS: The overall success of any industry is dependent on its ability to operate in an ethical manner, one that is good for the industry and the customers we serve.


The program provides two pathways to certification and with certification comes multiple resources and benefits that are guaranteed to enhance your bottom line.

Both paths involve demonstrating a proficiency of knowledge in each of the three education program categories, Business, Services and Code of Ethics. The paths differ in one significant way, the value they place on your existing experience and level of acquired knowledge.

Path One - Mini-exam, some would call this testing out of the course. This exam is comprised of questions selected at random from all those available in the full course package. Candidates need only review the provided Services and Code of Conduct overviews and sit for the mini-exam, which entails answering 3 questions from each of the modules.

Experienced candidates with several years of VAR related experience should have no difficulty attaining their TBA certification through this method.

Path Two - This is a full online curriculum with courses specifically selected to build skills in each of the categories listed above. This curriculum was carefully assembled from leading online, adult learning modules to quickly enhance the ability of your organization to compete in the VAR/SMB market.

This path is ideal for personnel that want or need to develop expertise in a particular area. This path contains all of the available learning aids tailored to the way busy adults learn and acquire skills. Each module has a review section that provides immediate feedback to the learner and allows instant review and coaching.

Completion of this path will build a level and range of skills that will enable your organization to excel and fully leverage the power of the TBA program marketing and support tools.

At the completion of either path to certification you will then be asked to sign an oath to abide by the rules of the industry.




This online program gives VARs the knowledge and skills to apply in everyday business management. As such, it offers a number of benefits...

• Provides basic education in business, services and ethics.
• Enables VARs to run their business more efficiently.
• Enhances VARs business judgment, analysis and decision skills allowing them to shift from functional to broad-based leadership.
• Helps VARs gain a stronger understanding of how to provide IT-centric business solutions to SMBs.
• Provides VARs with a marketplace differentiator over box pushers, etc.

Individual VARs can become certified as Trusted Business Advisors by achieving a grade point average of 80% or more on the TBA certification exam.


While individual VARs can become certified Trusted Business Advisors, businesses can become Trusted Business Partners (TBPs) by employing a minimum number of TBAs.

Company size 1 - 3 employees must have at least 1 TBA.
Company size 4 - 5 employees must have at least 2 TBAs.
Company size 6 - 10 employees must have at least 3 TBAs.
Company size 11 - 25 employees must have at least 4 TBAs.
Company size of more than 25 employees must have at least 5 TBAs

• Usage of Trusted Business Partner logo and name.
• Primary positioning on the Partner Locator.
• Unlimited usage of ChannelLine Business Community's collaboration tools.
• Access to the W3 Channel Enablement SaaS sales and marketing tools.

Trusted Business Partners need to renew their Certification annually with Integrated mar.com by accumulating a certain number of points during the year. Points will be awarded based on a variety of activities, including attending sanctioned events and Webinars, taking refresher courses, and participating on ChannelLine Advisory Council committees. There is no annual fee for renewal.


TBA courseware can help you earn college credit toward undergraduate degree programs, or continuing education units (CEU) that recognize time and effort spent in sharpening professional skills. Many of these courses qualify for continuing professional education credit by global programs such as the Project Management Institute (PMI), National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).