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   Productivity and
   Organizing Experts                 


Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Professional Organizer and What is a Productivity Consultant?

Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants work with people to take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper and help establish systems that will last for life.  As defined by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO):

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

"A Productivity Consultant supports evaluation, decision-making, and action around time, energy, and resources; helping clients achieve desired outcomes regarding goals, effectiveness, and priorities."

Why hire a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant?

Some people who struggle with disorganization feel that they should be able to tackle their problems on their own. 

Hiring a professional who objectively evaluates your situation, designs systems based on established organizing and productivity principles, and teaches you how to use these systems helps turn your organizing and productivity goals into realities. 

A Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant helps keep you focused and on task, and provides invaluable assistance in making decisions as you work through the process of getting organized and becoming more productive. 

How does a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant work?  Is it like what I have seen on television?

All organizing and productivity projects such as clearing clutter, weeding through paper, or setting up a new office, require decision making.  Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants help you make the necessary decisions by asking questions, offering advice, and providing hands-on help.  Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants provide their services onsite (e.g. in your home or office) often in multi-hour work sessions. 

Many organizers and consultants also offer an assessment, which is a written or verbal overview of the work that needs to be done and plan for getting it done.  This assessment is usually offered as an initial appointment or within the first work session.  Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants may also offer phone or email consultation services. 

Unlike cable television reality shows which feature many hours worth of work in each episode, a "real life" project usually involves fewer people and more time.  Rather than providing a crew of help, which would be significantly more expensive, most Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants work in a one-on-one partnership with you to achieve your organizing and productivity goals during multiple work sessions.  For this partnership to be effective, it is important to choose an organizer or consultant that you "click" with in order to work well together during these sessions.

How do I find a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant to help me?

If you know of friends, colleagues or others who have used a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant, consider asking for recommendations. 

You can also use the free and confidential Find an Organizer search tool provided by NAPO-St. Louis.  We recommend that you contact at least three Professional Organizers or Productivity Consultants to find the one who best matches your organizing needs, personality, and budget. 

NAPO-St. Louis members adhere to a strict Code of Ethics so clients can feel safe opening their doors to NAPO-St. Louis members.

Are there formal education requirements to become a Professional Organizer or Productivity Consultant?

There are no formal prerequisites for becoming a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant.  Many enter the organizing and productivity profession because they have a natural ability and a desire to help others.  Some enter the profession because they have struggled with organizational or productivity issues themselves and want to share the solutions they have found.

The education and past work experience of Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants varies and no formal education is required to become a Professional Organizer or Productivity Consultant.  Many new organizers and consultants learn from industry veterans.  Organizers and consultants of all experience levels also participate in teleclasses, webinars and conference sessions offered by NAPO. 

What credentials are required to become a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant?


There are no formal prerequisites for becoming a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant.  Many enter the organizing and productivity profession because they have a natural ability and a desire to help others.  Some enter the profession because they have struggled with organizational or productivity issues themselves and want to share the solutions they have found. 

Certification is not required to become a Professional Organizer or a Productivity Consultant.  Opportunities are available for certification for the experienced organizer or consultant, and many training opportunities exist for new and experienced organizers and consultants. 
CPO®

The Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®) certification is available through The Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO®).  An organizer with the CPO® credential has passed a written examination administered by the BCPO® .
Organizers must be able to document 1500 paid client hours in the past five years to qualify to sit for the examination.  Alternatively, organizers may document 1250 paid client hours and 250 substitute hours of education or professional
development. 
CPO-CD®
The Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD®) certification is available through the The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD).  An organizer with the CPO-CD® credential has been educated in depth on the issues in chronic disorganization.

The CPO-CD® spends 17-20 months of intensive time studying and applying this learning in practical application with current clients.  In addition to the CPO-CD® credential, the ICD offers ten levels of certificates of study and four specialist certificates. 
NAPO Specialist Certificates

A NAPO Specialist Certificate gives organizing and productivity professionals the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in a particular area of study, and demonstrates their commitment to professional development.

NAPO proudly offers Specialist Certificates in seven areas: Brain-Based Conditions, Household Management, Life Transitions, Move Management & Home Staging, Residential Organizing, Team Productivity, and Workplace Productivity.

NAPO also has three Certificates of Study: Essentials of Entrepreneurship, Essentials of Organizing, and Essentials of Productivity.

Golden Circle

NAPO Golden Circle members have been in business for at least five years and have been members of NAPO for at least one year.

NAPO Golden Circle membership is NAPO's way of acknowledging the expertise and elevated level of experience of seasoned professional organizers and productivity consultants.  NAPO Golden Circle membership is indicated by the Golden Circle logo.

What are NAPO and NAPO-St. Louis?

The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1985.  NAPO is the premier national association dedicated to the field of organizing and productivity.  NAPO has approximately 3,500 members dedicated to helping people and organizations bring order and efficiency to their lives.

NAPO's mission is to be the leading source for organizing and productivity professionals by providing exceptional education, enhancing business connections, advancing industry research, and increasing public awareness.  By joining NAPO, a professional organizer or productivity consultant demonstrates commitment to the professional organizing and productivity industry. 

The St. Louis Chapter of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO-St. Louis), the 24th NAPO Chapter, was officially established in 2006.  For more information on our chapter history, see our About page.

What does it mean to be a member of NAPO?

Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants who are also NAPO members have agreed to be a part of a community of professionals in a new and growing industry.  NAPO members enjoy an affiliation with like-minded professionals who can support, mentor, and educate one another.

Clients who work with a Professional Organizer or Productivity Consultant who belongs to NAPO can be assured they are dealing with a professional who adheres to NAPO's Code of Ethics, which include providing confidentiality and fair, independent pricing to clients.

Why hire a NAPO member?

By hiring a NAPO member, you know that you'll be working with a skilled professional with access to high quality education, exposure to the latest trends in organizing and productivity, and access to and knowledge about the latest organizing products.  By joining NAPO, a Professional Organizer or Productivity Consultant demonstrates commitment to growth within the professional organizing and productivity field.

What types of services do NAPO members offer?

The NAPO-St. Louis chapter consists of organizers and consultants who offer a variety of services.  Our members offer residential organizing, home-based business organizing, small business organizing and organizing and productivity services for corporations.  Our members offer assistance on organizing space, paper, and time.

Some of our members use coaching principles in their business.  Some of our members offer virtual consulting services via telephone or internet.  Please visit our Directory page to find a local organizer or productivity consultant who specializes in the type of assistance you need.

How do I join NAPO-St. Louis?

Membership is open to any current or prospective Professional Organizer or Productivity Consultant who has already joined NAPO on a national level.  To join, please visit our Apply for Membership page to fill out a membership application. 

Media requests

Please contact info@napostlouis.com for all press requests or general information about our chapter. 

Communication of product or service

NAPO-St. Louis is always interested in hearing about new organizing products and related services.  However, solicitation via our website tool is strictly prohibited.

If you believe that your product or service would benefit the professional organizing and productivity industry, we encourage you to consider becoming a Business Partner of our chapter.  Please visit our Benefits of Business Partner Membership page to learn more about the benefits of Business Partner Membership and our Apply for Membership page to fill out an Business Partner Membership application. 

  © 2006-2024 St. Louis Chapter of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.  All Rights Reserved.
  NAPO-St. Louis is a legal entity separate and distinct from NAPO, Inc. (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals) and is not entitled to act on behalf of, or to bind NAPO, contractually or otherwise.

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