So you’re preparing for the CTP Exam and I bet you’re wondering “where do I go and what do I do?” That is a normal reaction and one that I remember having vividly. But there are steps you can take to make sure that you are fully prepared for the exam.

In my case, I took advantage of the online Treasury Learning System. First, Practice Exams were my go-to study tools. Secondly, I took advantage of the flash cards. These tools were the reason I passed the CTP exam. The exams were challenging and the flash cards were a great reference point for me use when I had a free moment. I would take a few minutes every day to memorize some cards.

A couple of weeks before the exam I took the test at the end of each module. This gave me an idea of what I needed to study. After each module test, I would retake the practice exam to see how much improvement I saw.

I repeated this process every day until I felt comfortable. Okay, maybe I wasn’t comfortable, but I was able to get to a point where I could be asked a question and knew the answer the majority of the time. This process allowed me to learn without overwhelming myself. Just spending 30 to 45 minutes a day was much better than trying to cram.

This may not work for everyone, but repetition was the key for me. Within in 10 minutes of starting the CTP exam I realized I was better prepared than I had thought because of these tools. Good Luck!

Ben Padgett, CTP, is Senior Product Manager, Treasury Management, for BBVA Compass.