Application Deadline Extended
We were originally scheduled to end the 'application process' for this year's competition next Monday, April 23 2018 at 23:59:59 (that's 11:59:59 PM); however we have had several nominees advise us over the past few weeks that they were unable to update their applications with the newest credentials due to the fact that desktop certifications were inaccessible.
As a result we are extending the open application by one week in order to give nominees the opportunity to obtain current certification and/or continuing education via the Intuit QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor (tab) Training page. We are aware that 'desktop' related links only became available 'last week' (see our article titled, ProAdvisor Tab Changes Progressing) so we felt it only fair to provide one additional week for nominees to complete their applications after access was restored.
As a result, the 'application process' will now end on Monday April 30, 2018 at 23:59:59 (11:59:59 PM). We will NOT be extending the application deadline beyond April 30, so be certain to finish up any current certifications or continuing education and then complete your formal application prior to the new deadlines of April 30.
Be advised, nominees who have not completed their application (either short-form for 2016 or 2017 Top 100 winners, or long-form for everyone else) will NOT be considered for the this year's awards. Remember, everyone has the option of completing the 'long-form' even if you were recognized in the 2016 or 2017 Top 100.
Application Clarity
It seems like the more I write about how this process works, the more questions I get asking for clarification. I have written no less than 7 articles since our first year of this process, each providing details about various aspects of the process. Most articles contain clarification on the 'application' form or process since the vast majority of points toward recognition come from the information submitted and confirmed from each nominees 'formal application.'
This year’s application contains the same content (with the exception of new questions regarding 2017/2018 related matters, like new certifications and training courses) that we have used since the inception of these Intuit sponsored Awards 5 years ago. The purpose of the ‘Application’ is to compare each participant against the ‘standards’ that have been set for each of the categories of the awards.
If you go through the long-form application we query nominees regarding each and every Intuit certification that has been offered/issued since the inception of the ProAdvisor Program, we also query nominees regarding their own clients in terms of the types of work (on a percentage basis) you perform.
Additional queries examine the extent to which nominees participate in training events within the industry such as QuickBooks Connect, Scaling New Heights, or several others (like the various virtual conferences) as well as Advanced Continuing Education courses Intuit has approved.
Another extensive area of query concerns each nominees ‘work with’ 3rd-party Apps and software, as well as the method by which that work is performed (referral partner, reseller, certified App professional, authorized App implementation partner, etc.).
While we recognize that some questions within the application forms do not apply to everyone, we know that some questions are geared only toward specific ProAdvisor award categories we recognize. Even when questions apply to all award categories they may in fact have different scoring 'weights' associated with one category over another category. You should expect a QBO-Advanced certification to carry more weight in the QuickBooks Online award category than in the QuickBooks Desktop category. Similarly you should expect the QuickBooks Desktop-Advanced certification to carry more weight in the QuickBooks Desktop category than in the QuickBooks Online category.
I believe, if you take the time to carefully consider each and every question on the application form(s), you will recognize how it relates to both yourself and the standards for each of the categorical areas of our evaluation process.
As always, we would like to thank our sponsors: Canon ImageFormula Scanners, Landy Insurance, Neat, Avalara, AbacusNext, Intuit QuickBooks and the ProAdvisor Program, and Scaling New Heights, who make these awards possible.