Is Certification for You?
What you need to know about the CMP and CMM programs to help you decide if earning one is right for you.
By Regina McGee
Attrition penalties? Cancellation clauses? Force majeure? As anyone who has looked at a meeting contract can attest, the job of managing even a relatively small meeting is no piece of cake these days. And as the technical expertise of the job has evolved, more meeting planners are seeking to establish their professionalism by earning a credential. Indeed, more than 11,000 individuals in 32 countries have earned a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), which is the largest credential program in the meetings industry.
Planners of faith-based meetings are part of the wave. More than a half dozen are among graduates in the last two years. One of them is Jo Ann Hardy, CMP, who graduated in the January 2006 class. She is director of corporate events for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan in Detroit.
But certification is not for everyone. For one thing, it’s a time-consuming and expensive process. For another, there are plenty of experienced, highly qualified meeting planners who don’t feel compelled to obtain the CMP certification, saying that their experience speaks for itself. Others point out that until the industry can work out standards for processes, language, and contracts, it’s premature to put forth a professional certification program.
To help you decide if certification might be for you, here’s a look at what’s involved in the CMP program, as well as how it differs from another certification program, Certification in Meeting Management.
Who runs the CMP Program?
The Washington, D.C.-based Convention Industry Council (CIC), a consortium of 32 member organizations in the convention, hospitality, and travel industries, launched the CMP program in 1985 to “increase the proficiency of meeting professionals in any component or sector of the industry.” A Certification Board, designated by CIC, governs the program and consists of one representative from each of CIC’s meeting planner organizations and four from supplier members.
Who qualifies for CMP program?
In order to be considered for the program, you must have a minimum of three years experience in meeting management-whether you are a planner or a supplier in the industry. You must also have a full-time job in a meeting-management capacity.
How do you apply?
You must purchase a CMP Candidate Handbook/Application Kit for $45 from CIC. The completed application form is sent to CIC with a nonrefundable submission fee of $175. The CMP exam, which applicants must take and pass, is given twice a year, and application forms must be received by certain deadlines in order for a person to be enrolled in one of the exam classes.
Are all applicants accepted?
No. To be accepted as a qualified applicant, you must accrue a minimum of 90 out of a possible 150 points, which are based on factors such as experience in meeting management, education and continuing education, membership in professional organizations, and professional contributions to the field. You must receive a notification of eligibility before you can register to take the CMP Exam. Once you have that notification, you submit the exam registration fee of $375 by a specific deadline. Accepted applicants then get a notification with a link to the exam registration sites, and they can choose which site to take the exam.
How do you prepare for the exam?
There are a number of recommended study materials, which are sold by CIC as well as MPI and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). CIC also offers study tips online, including a CMP Blueprint, which outlines in detail the five key areas covered by the exam. These are: Strategic Planning, Financial and Contract Management, Facilities and Services, Logistics, and Program Management. In some cities, there are also CMP study groups that get together to help prepare for the exam. Accepted applicants can also take the CMP practice exam.
What kinds of questions are asked on the exam?
There are 150 multiple-choice questions based on the content outlined in the CMP Blueprint. Each exam has different questions from the CMP “Item Bank,” a list of questions created by a group of CMPs called the CMP Conclave. A few of the questions require simple restatement of material studied, but most questions outline a specific scenario, and examinees must determine the correct answer based on various conditions described.
How long is the CMP certification valid?
In order to maintain your certification, you must recertify every five years. This requires submitting a recertification form and documenting ongoing involvement in the meetings industry through continuing employment and education. According to CIC, those who continue to use the CMP designation but fail to apply for recertification after five years risk legal action against them.
Where can I go for more information?
You can read more about the program at the CIC website: www.convention industry.org. CIC’s Michelle Measel is the CMP coordinator; reach her at michelle@conventionindustry.org.
What is the CMM credential?
The Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) is a credential program launched in 1997 by Dallas-based Meeting Professionals International. The program is for meeting planners and suppliers who have 10 years or more of experience, and who “want to be recognized as strategic contributors to the bottom line of their organizations.” Currently, there are approximately 3,000 professionals with this designation.
How is the CMM different than the CMP?
According to MPI, the CMM program focuses on strategic management issues (rather than logistics and program management), and its scope is more global than the CMP program. There is more emphasis on how meetings affect the strategic objectives of organizations.
The application process involves paying $75 for an application form, and if accepted, paying a registration fee approximately $1,800 for MPI members and $2,200 for non-members. The fee includes a residency program (but not lodging) and the cost of the subsequent CMM exam. The program runs once a year. For more information, visit MPInet.org.
