Frequently Asked Questions 

Finding/hiring a Professional Organizer or Productivity Consultant 

Q: What is the difference between a Professional Organizer and a Productivity Consultant?

A: Professional Organizers support evaluation, decision-making, and action around objects, space, and data; helping clients achieve desired outcomes regarding function, order, and clarity.

Productivity Consultants support evaluation, decision-making, and action around time, energy, and resources; helping clients achieve desired outcomes regarding goals, effectiveness, and priorities.

Please see How to Hire a Professional on our website, napo@napo.net, for further guidance on this topic. 

Q: How do I find a Professional Organizer or Productivity Consultant in my area?

A: Finding a NAPO Organizer in your area is easy.  At the top of the NAPO.net home page, look for the drop-down menu labeled Find a Pro. Under this menu, click Professional Directory. This will take you to our search tool, where you will have the option to search by zip code or city and state, indicate preferred organizing and productivity categories, or look for a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). 

The CPO® credential distinguishes professional organizers who have documented a specific number of paid hours in which they are transferring skills to their clients, passed the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers® (BCPO®) examination, and agree to adhere to the BCPO® Code of Ethics.

CPO®s demonstrate a strong commitment to continued learning and maintaining ethical business practices. To maintain their status, recertification is required every three years through continuing education or re-examination.

You can go straight to our Find a Pro Professional Directory to find a CPO® in your area.

Q: Will the NAPO member respect my privacy and keep my information confidential? 

A: All NAPO members are required to agree to NAPO’s Code of Ethics which includes client confidentiality.  

Membership

Q: How can I join NAPO? 

A: To join NAPO, please visit our Join Page. There you will also find information on the many benefits of NAPO Membership. 

Q: What are the benefits of becoming a NAPO member?

A: Our Join Page lists everything NAPO membership can bring you and your business. 

Q: I understand NAPO has different Member Categories. Where can I find a list of these Categories? 

A: The NAPO Join Page lists the Member Categories and the benefits associated with each membership type. 

Q: What is my Member Category when I join NAPO for the first time? 

A: New members join as Provisional Members. As stipulated in the current NAPO Bylaws, the only exception which will allow a member to join at Professional status rather than Provisional, is if that member is already a Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®).

Q: How much does it cost to become a NAPO Member?

A: It depends on your membership category. Please review the different membership options to see the fees associated with each one. 

Q: How can I become a Professional Organizer

All new members start as Provisional members. Once you complete the 3 Professional Practice classes , you can upgrade to Professional member status which allows you to:

• Become searchable in NAPO's public directory
• Earn a Specialist Certificate
• Apply to become a NAPO University Instructor
• Join a Special Interest Group (SIG)
• Vote in Board Elections

Please note: There is no additional charge for the upgrade to Professional member status.

The CPO® Certification and NAPO Education are two separate programs within NAPO. NAPO University (Education) provides professional development for organizers and productivity consultants. You are able to earn Specialist Certificates, which allows you to deepen your knowledge in a particular area of study. For more information on NAPO Education and for pricing, please visit the NAPO University website .

NAPO Education and Specialist Certificates should NOT be confused with the Certified Professional Organizer (CPO)^® credential. None of the above outlined Education or Member statuses indicate that you are “certified.” In order to become a CPO®, you must complete 1,000 hours of paid work experience and pass the CPO® Exam. For additional information on the Certification program, please see the Certification tab on the napo.net website.

Q: I created a NAPO.net non-member account. Can I become a NAPO member and keep my existing NAPO.net account?

A: Absolutely. If you already have a non-member account and would like to join NAPO, follow these steps:

1) Log in to NAPO.net
2)  Click Manage Profile
3)  Under Invoicing, Payments & History select Membership
4)  In the new window select Upgrade Your Membership and choose Provisional Member 

Education

Q: I’m not a member of NAPO. Can I attend a NAPO University course as a non-member?  

A: Yes! With the exception of the education bundles non-members can participate in NAPO University classes by following these steps:  

1) From NAPO.net, click on the Education dropdown.
2) Select the Log In To NAPO University Button 

3) Select which category of classes you are interested in

4) Click on a course name to learn about the course, pricing, length, CEU's etc.  

5) Select the course you are interested in and add it to your cart.

Note: Non-members wishing to purchase education will be required to create a NAPO non-member profile. 

Q: How do I submit a proposal to be a speaker at a NAPO Conference?

A:  Please check back on our website in the next few months for information about submitting a proposal for the 2022 conference.

Additional member-specific FAQs can be found on POINT.