The Certificate of Licensing Studies (CLS), offered by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA), is the only year-long educational program specifically designed to prepare those seeking a career in licensing and merchandising, or to enhance the skills of those already working in this ever-changing industry.

To qualify for a CLS Certificate, the student must complete a minimum of sixty (60) hours of both in-person (or via recorded presentation) and online class work taught by leading licensing professionals. The CLS program has been designed to enable participants to complete their coursework in just one year:

Licensing University: Students begin the program with in-person classes through Licensing University at the Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas from June 1-4, 2009. Although attendance is encouraged, recorded presentations of these seminars can be made available for those students unable to attend in person.

Online Sessions: The CLS program continues with online classes offered throughout the year in a webinar format. Coursework is designed to be both practical and interactive.

Mentor Program: Each student will be assigned a mentor to help guide them through their final project for the CLS program. Mentors are leading members of the licensing industry who share their extensive practical experiences on a one-on-one basis.

Independent Study Project: The program concludes with a final Independent Study Project in which the student, with support from their mentor, develops a licensing plan for a potential property.

All students in the program must complete all of the core courses as well as work on a mentorship project. Once the requirements have been met, they will receive their CLS Certificate at a graduation ceremony at the start of the following year's Licensing Expo during LIMA's Annual Meeting.

Who is the Ideal CLS Participant?

The CLS program is targeted to that person who is looking to either begin their career in licensing, and for those already established in the industry who want to learn about different areas of and issues in the broad spectrum of licensing. While the program is focused mainly on the business side of licensing, attorneys and accountants who seek a more extensive understanding of the licensing industry will find many of the courses directly applicable to their daily practices.

What is the Cost of the Program?

Tuition for Non-LIMA Members is $2495 and $2195 for LIMA Members (a 12% discount). Tuition includes all classroom, off-site and online tuition fees, as well as all course materials as required by faculty (a $1500 value alone).

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