The SATs, the LSATs, [insert your state’s name here]’s Bar Exam…when will the tests stop? With the right preparation, the NFLPA Certification Exam should be just one more exam that you breeze through.
Loyal reader, Christopher L. Chambers, shot me an e-mail recently, and I would like to share with you all his question and my response. Please leave a comment if you have any more suggestions for Mr. Chambers or anybody else preparing for the NFLPA Certification Exam.
some insight, I have submitted my contract advisor application to the
NFLPA. I’m still waiting on approval, but do you know of any website
that might have the study materials or examples of the materials. Any
help would be gladly appreciated. Keep up the good work.Thanks,
Christopher L. Chambers
Dear Chris,
Regarding your question, I do not know of any particular website that is geared to help people study for the particular exam. On the other hand, there are several resources that may be of benefit to look over before sitting down for the examination.
As noted at http://nflpa.org/RulesAndRegs/AgentCertification.aspx, The examination will cover the Salary Cap, Player Benefits, NFLPA Regulations Governing Contract Advisors, and other issues relevant to player representation .
This is a good synopsis of the salary cap: http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp
Here’s your player benefits link: http://www.nflpa.org/RulesAndRegs/PlayerBenefits.aspx
And last, NFLPA Regulations: http://www.nflpa.org/RulesAndRegs/AgentRegulations.aspx
Hit up Kinkos, print it all out, and get your study on. I hope that I was of some assistance (I have not yet taken the test).
-Darren Heitner
11 replies on “Studying For The NFLPA Certification Exam”
don’t forget the MPREs…just took that piece of goodness today…
I would like to point out that i am an aspiring sports agent/lawyer but i am not yet old enough to even be in college. The fact of the matter is I am a few months away of becoming a freshman in high school. Is there any advice that could be given to me on where to go/what to do to recieve the best help to become a sports agent?
1) Go to college.
2) Buy a book or two listed on the links tab to make sure this profession is what you think it is.
3) Continue to read this blog and do as much outside research as possible.
Tucker: I’d add that you should look to volunteer, intern and network as much as possible. Also, keep an eye on, and out for, your friends. You could be representing one of them one day.
I am studying for the NFLPA contract advisor exam next month. Is there anywhere where I can get some practice exam questions?
A few questions for a recent grad looking to get involved in the business:
1. I understand that each sport has an agent certification exam, but am curious as to whether there are any other exams that must be taken to be a certified agent? (i.e. a state agency exam)
2. How much is the certification exam?
Florida used to have a state exam but abolished it some years ago. I am not aware of any states that have a written exam. Matthew Watkins can give you some more information about the NFLPA certification exam.
Giovanny, if you are looking for a career in representing NFL players, you are required to become a certified contract advisor with the NFLPA. As a contract advisor representing prospective/current NFL players, you first owe a duty to the NFLPA, as you are acting on behalf of the NFLPA in your fiduciary capacity for your clients.
You must sign up for the NFLPA’s 2-day seminar held annually in Washington D.C. Registration is open (or at least it was in the past few years) from January 1 through January 31 for a seminar that takes place usually at the end of July. The registration fee was $1,650 this past year and if the NFLPA continues their trend, it should continue to marginally increase (I think it was $1,200 in 2007). Once you send in the application, pay the fee, and pass the background check, you will receive study materials in the mail, which includes a copy of the CBA and another booklet outlining the rest of the material they expect you to know for the exam.
In the afternoon on the second day of the seminar, you are given 3 hours to take a 60 question multiple choice exam covering the CBA, NFL PLAYERS (for-profit marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA), player retirement and insurance programs, and numerous salary cap and other salary computations. The exam is designed to only pass those applicants whom the NFLPA deems to have a “minimum competency” over issues covering the NFL and its players.
One final note that the NFLPA failed to tell me: if you have trouble dropping $1,650+ on certification, the economic commitment does not stop there. If you are able to pass the exam, you are required to obtain liability insurance which costs $1,700 if you represent 10 or fewer clients, and also their is an annual due as an NFLPA contract advisor of $1,200. Good luck, and I hope that helps.
Thank you, where to I sign up for the exam or do I have to wait for Jan 1? I am a aspiring sports agent in the Phoenix area looking to learn from current sports agents. If there any sports agents on here from that area please let me know. Thank you.
I appreciate all the information (Darren and Matt), it’s extremely helpful in helping me set a personal time-table of how/when to become an agent.
Where can I find the NFLPA application