Card manufacturing and personalization/fulfillment are unforgiving disciplines. The work is highly specialized, quality expectations are exacting and small upstream decisions can create costly downstream consequences. As competition intensifies, the demand for proven experts continues to rise. 

ICMA’s Advanced Card Education (ACE) program is designed to close that gap—and it’s now easier than ever to get started. ACE-Manufacturing (ACE-M) is now offered online in a self-paced format you can take anywhere, giving professionals a flexible way to build manufacturing expertise while working toward industry-recognized credentialing. 

ACE designations recognize professionals with broad, detailed industry knowledge who demonstrate that expertise through rigorous exams, helping individuals advance while giving companies a credible way to signal operational capability to the market. 

Historically, ACE participation has been closely tied to ICMA member companies. Going forward, ACE will be available to non-members as well—expanding access globally across the broader card ecosystem. ICMA members will continue to receive significant discounts, reinforcing membership value while supporting industry-wide workforce development. 

The problems ACE solves in card manufacturing and personalization 

1. ‘Tribal knowledge’ and uneven technical baselines 

In many plants and bureaus, deep expertise lives in a few heads rather than in a shared, verifiable baseline. The result is inconsistency: different answers to the same question, variable decision quality and avoidable rework when people interpret “standard” differently. 

ACE helps by establishing a recognized benchmark for what competent, cross-functional knowledge looks like—awarded to those who can demonstrate broad mastery of the field through a rigorous exam process.  

2. Slow onboarding—especially when hiring from outside the industry 

The labor market has been tight for years, and ICMA has explicitly noted that demand for skilled talent often exceeds supply—forcing progressive companies to recruit beyond the traditional candidate pool.  

When you hire from outside the card industry, ramp time becomes a strategic issue: people can be smart and motivated, but card-specific processes, materials and customer expectations are unique. 

ACE directly targets this reality: training accelerates productivity when it is tailored to comprehensive segments of the transaction card industry, giving new and transitioning hires a structured pathway to competence.  

3. Cross-department handoff gaps that create quality and delivery risk 

A large share of operational pain is not “a single mistake,” but misalignment between functions—manufacturing, personalization, QA and customer-facing teams operating with different assumptions about feasibility, standards and tradeoffs. 

One of the stated benefits of ACE programming is building a broader perspective of overall operations—helping employees understand how their work contributes to the plant’s outcomes and customer requirements.  

ACE also strengthens insight into upstream and downstream dependencies, reducing the friction that causes delays, scrap and last-minute escalation.  

4. Customer confidence and credibility in a crowded market 

Buyers need to trust that you can execute—especially as card projects become more complex and expectations rise. ICMA is direct about this: ACE validates expertise, distinguishes employees as motivated experts and increases customer confidence in your business.  

In a competitive environment, that credibility is not cosmetic. It can influence supplier selection, reduce perceived risk during transitions and strengthen long-term relationships. 

5. Customer-facing teams forced to answer technical questions without enough foundation 

Sales, marketing and customer service teams are often asked to explain technical realities—materials, tolerances, personalization constraints and “why this spec matters”—yet they may not have had a structured way to learn the fundamentals. 

ICMA addresses this through ACE-Commercial, an on-demand training program that teaches the fundamentals of card manufacturing and the typical questions and challenges customers raise.  

This improves accuracy in customer conversations, reduces overpromising and tightens alignment between what is sold and what can be reliably produced. 

6. Retention risk caused by unclear development pathways 

When employees do not see a professional future—particularly in specialized operations—retention suffers. ICMA explicitly positions training as integral to hiring and retention, and highlights ACE as a practical lever to improve both.  

ACE gives high-potential employees a visible goal, recognition and a structured way to deepen expertise beyond the narrow slice of work they see day to day.  

What ACE is (and how it’s structured) 

ICMA currently offers three stand-alone ACE designations—ACE-M, ACE-Personalization (ACE-P) and ACE-Advanced Technologies (ACE-A)—so professionals can pursue the credential that best aligns with their role and specialization.  

ACE-M is now available as an online, self-paced program, making it easier to build manufacturing expertise on a flexible schedule. 

Importantly, ACE is not just internal validation. Those who earn recognition can use the designation professionally and help their organizations demonstrate credibility through accomplished staff. 

Bottom line: ACE is a risk-reduction tool disguised as a credential 

ACE is valuable because it solves operational problems that cost money and reputation: 

• It standardizes competence in a highly specialized domain.  

• It accelerates productivity in a labor-constrained environment.  

• It reduces handoff friction and improves process awareness across the plant.  

• It strengthens customer confidence with a credible, industry-specific signal of expertise.  

• It equips customer-facing teams to answer real questions with real understanding.  

If your organization is scaling, diversifying materials and technologies, onboarding new talent or simply tightening execution, ACE provides a structured path to deeper capability—and a recognized way to prove it. 

Non-members will be able to participate going forward, while ICMA members will continue to receive significant discounts—a strong reason to engage with ICMA if you plan to train multiple staff or build a long-term competency roadmap. 

Why ICMA Membership Matters  

ICMA remains committed to empowering the global card manufacturing community by helping members lead, innovate and grow. Through a strategic combination of industry marketing support and professional development, ICMA equips organizations and individuals with the tools they need to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. 

ICMA’s professional development programs are designed to strengthen both technical expertise and leadership capability. Offerings such as Advanced Card Education (ACE) and the Card Industry Training & Education (CITE) initiative help professionals deepen their knowledge, while flagship events like the EXPO and CardTREX bring together industry leaders to learn, connect and explore emerging innovations. 

Members who engage in ICMA’s education programs and events don’t just keep pace with change—they help shape it. From contributing thought leadership to Card Manufacturing magazine to earning industry recognition through the Élan Awards of Excellence, ICMA provides meaningful opportunities for members to elevate their visibility and influence. 

For card industry professionals seeking to stay informed, connected and future-ready, ICMA offers a clear path forward through education, exposure and community. 

Discover the full value of ICMA membership and join a global network of professionals advancing the card industry.