Frequently Asked Questions
Brand Protection Professional Certificates March 2025 Upgrade
On March 25, 2025, the A-CAPP Center will launch new online, non-credit, professional education for the brand protection community, Brand Protection Professional Certificates. This new educational opportunity will consist of several new courses that will replace the 17 courses and the Professional Certificate in Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Protection.
As part of its five year strategic plan, the A-CAPP Center is focusing on increasing opportunities for education of the current workforce in brand protection, through content and delivery upgrades to the professional certificate program to better meet the needs of the brand protection community.
Professional Certificate in Foundations of Brand Protection
This certificate will include 18 courses and cover the A to Z foundational knowledge for those working in the field of brand protection
Professional Certificate in Applied Brand Protection
This certificate will include 15 courses that build upon courses in the Foundations Certificate and focus on application of the foundational knowledge in real world scenarios. The Foundations Certificate will not be a prerequisite for the applied courses, but is strongly suggested.
Focus Tracks- These tracks will include between 2-6 courses per focus area for those who want to narrow their focus to one specific subject matter area.
On August 1, 2025 all prior (original) courses will be retired.
You will need to complete any unfinished courses by September 30, 2025. Additionally, if there are other courses you wish to enroll in prior to their retirement, you can purchase them now through January 31, 2025 at a discounted rate starting in August of 2024. Regardless if you have already purchased them or will purchase them in the near future, all courses must be completed by September 30, 2025.
Once the courses are retired, you will not be able to access them. Be sure to print your certificates of course completion prior to this date. If you need a course completion certificate or professional certificate reprinted after September 30, 2025, please contact Rachael Roy (royracha@msu.edu) or Sara Heeg (heegsar1@msu.edu).
Yes and all courses are now 50% off! You will have until September 30, 2025 to successfully complete the courses. If there are still courses that you need to purchase for the current Professional Certificate series, you can purchase these until January 31, 2025. All newly purchased courses must be successfully completed by September 30, 2025 and the Professional Certificate will be issued as applicable until September 30, 2025.
The A-CAPP Center’s new non-credit, online, professional education will provide essential resources for individuals interested in brand protection or those looking to deepen their understanding of the field. Each course is designed to introduce or enhance foundational concepts in brand protection while offering critical insights into the tools, technologies and strategies available. Participants will explore diverse perspectives on counterfeiting, including insights from law enforcement, brands, service providers, and academics.
The courses are divided into two levels, foundational and applied, and can be completed individually, as part of specialized tracks, or as part of one certificate or the entire catalog of courses offered. This structure ensures that brand protection professionals at any stage in their careers can acquire both introductory and advanced skills. Most importantly, learners will develop new critical thinking strategies to effectively address the challenges presented by brand protection risks and threats, including counterfeiting.