About the Credit Consultants Association (CCA)
The Credit Consultants Association was founded in 2008 as a nonprofit professional association, incorporated under Tennessee law, to set educational, ethical, and operational standards for individuals working in the credit services industry.
How CCA Began
CCA was founded in 2008 by Phil Turner Jr., who had been working in the credit industry since 1989 and authored The Credit Bible that same year. The association grew out of a problem he had watched develop over two decades: consumers had no reliable way to tell an educated, compliant credit professional from someone who had simply printed business cards.
At the time, the credit services field had no widely recognized credential, no shared code of conduct, and no independent body a consumer could turn to when something went wrong. CCA was organized to fill those three gaps — a curriculum, a standard of conduct, and a place to file a complaint.
What CCA Does Today
The association's work centers on four functions that reinforce one another. Education establishes a baseline of knowledge; certification verifies it; the Code of Ethics defines conduct beyond mere competence; and the complaint process gives those standards consequences.
- Education and certification. Structured coursework and proctored examination leading to a professional credential, with periodic recertification to keep credential holders current.
- Ethical standards. A published Code of Ethics that members agree to as a condition of membership.
- Compliance guidance. Practical instruction grounded in the federal consumer protection statutes that govern this work, including the FCRA, the FDCPA, and CROA.
- Public accountability. A searchable directory so consumers can verify a credential, and a complaint process for when a credential holder falls short.
The Standards We Hold Members To
Membership in CCA is not simply a purchase. Credential holders agree to operate within the law, to describe their services accurately, to avoid guarantees of specific outcomes, and to put the consumer's interest ahead of the sale.
These expectations are set out in full in the association's Mission Statement, Code of Ethics, and Policies & Procedures. Where a credential holder is found to have acted contrary to them, CCA can act on the membership and credential it issued.
Who CCA Serves
- Credit consultants and credit educators.
- Credit service business owners.
- Individuals entering the credit profession.
- Consumers seeking a qualified professional, or a way to verify one.
Milestones
- 1989 Founder Phil Turner Jr. enters the credit industry and publishes The Credit Bible.
- 2008 CCA is incorporated in Tennessee as a nonprofit professional association.
- TODO Launch of the association's professional certification program.
- TODO Launch of the public member directory and consumer complaint process.
- 2026 CCA continues to certify and support credit professionals nationwide.
Organization Facts
| Founded | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Legal form | Nonprofit corporation, organized under Tennessee law |
| Tax status | Not a 501(c)(3); fees and dues are not charitable contributions |
| Headquarters | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Operations | Distributed team serving members nationwide; correspondence handled by mail, phone, and the online member portal |
| Scope | United States |
| Governance | Directed by its founder, with certification decisions co-signed by the Director of Certification |
CCA Is Independent
CCA is not a government agency. It is an independent nonprofit association and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency, credit bureau, lender, or regulatory authority.
CCA certification is a voluntary professional credential. It is not a state license and does not replace any registration, bonding, or licensing requirement a state imposes on credit services businesses.