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CMP Certified: All You Need To know

May 31, 2022

What is a CMP certification? How can I be CMP certified? If either of the preceding questions are your concerns, this article seeks to shed more light on what a CMP certification is, who can be CMP certified, and how to become CMP certified. This blog seeks to give you the best insight to a CMP certification program and how to be well prepared for it.

The Certified Meeting Professional CMP is a certification for event professionals that was established in 1985 by the Events Industry Council (previously known as the Convention Industry Council). To earn a CMP certification, candidates must first complete the CMP application to demonstrate their eligibility, and then pass a written exam in meeting management. As of May 2018, more than 11,000 meeting professionals in more than 55 countries have received the CMP certification.

It takes two steps to apply for the CMP certification program. Applicants must first apply to join the Events Industry Council and then pass a written exam on meeting management.

 

The CMP Program

The CMP exam was created and is maintained by meeting professionals from around the world who donate their time to ensure that the program reflects current meeting management best practices. The CMP accreditation is held by over 11,000 meeting professionals in 55 countries around the world. This unique community represents every area of the industry, from firms and groups to government and institutional organizations.

For event planners, designers, and strategists who want to show their professionalism to employers, peers, and clients, the Certified Meeting Planner designation is a must-have. However, because the test is difficult, meeting professionals who wish to pass must prepare in a variety of ways, including self-study, skills gap analysis, needs analysis, and prep courses.

The CMP programme is focused on increasing the professionalism of professional meeting management in all sectors. This is how it is achieved:

  • Creating a broad body of knowledge in the field of meeting management
  • promoting industrial ethics, norms, and procedures.
  • promoting the progress of meeting management as an art and science.
  • Increasing CMPs’ worth to their employers
  • Getting the most out of the goods and services supplied by CMPs

 

The Importance Of Certified Meeting Planner Certification

Meeting planners who have the CMP earn (on average) more than $10,000 more yearly than their non-certified peers, according to a recent industry survey performed by PCMA. CMP certification is a symbol of excellence in event planning and management. Certification gives you access to more and better opportunities. Clients have higher expectations for meetings than ever before, and CMP certification is recognized by recruiters and potential employers in the growing business.

The commitment necessary to obtain a CMP reminds us of the more obvious reasons why this investment is important. I’m sure there are plenty more, but here are a few to think about right now. Obtaining a CMP events certification will:

  • Provide you with a broad understanding of industry practices and standards.
  • This will offer you established credibility as an industry professional among your peers; clients and employers will regard you as an authority in the field.
  • gives you financial advantages when it comes to contract and/or salary negotiations
  • It provides you with access to business networking events and organizations.

 

Getting Your CMP Certificate

Requesting permission to take the Certified Meeting Planner test is a long, drawn-out process within itself! When applying, it’s a good idea to go over all of the requirements thoroughly. The CMP application has two sections. The first section is about professional experience, and a candidate must meet requirements that fall into one of three categories:

  • Candidates must have completed 36 months of full-time meeting planning work experience.
  • Candidates must have 36 months of full-time experience as a meeting management instructor at an educational institute was provided.
  • Candidates must have a hospitality degree and previously worked full-time in the meeting planning sector for 24 months.

The second section:

A candidate must have completed 200 hours of work in an industry-related internship and 25 hours of continuing education coursework in order to meet all of the requirements in the application’s second section. As outlined by the CMP International Standards, you will be required to present relevant documentation demonstrating your attendance, participation, and completion of applicable coursework.

Within 2-3 weeks of submitting it to the Convention Industry Council, you will receive notification on the status of your application and whether or not your candidacy has been approved. If your application is denied, you have 14 days to appeal to the CIC Office. If it’s been authorized, you’re ready to move on to the next step, which is deciding which of the four CMP exam dates works best for you and studying for the exam.

You will surely discover that the next phase necessitates a significant amount of time and effort. Hopefully, you’ve considered whether or not taking on this project now is a good fit for you. Add in the fact that studying for the exam will take you about 100 hours. This statistic is best divided into 30 hours set aside for formal study groups and another 70 hours set aside for independent study.

 

CONCLUSION

In our opinion, the most compelling reason for pursuing a CMP certification is a personal decision. The satisfaction of knowing you’ve completed your education in the field you’ve worked so hard in and are passionate about has its own wonderful benefits, and there’s a strong case to be made for professional development. However, keep in mind that only you can understand what it means to have the CMP designation after your name, so take your time and do your homework. There are a plethora of online tools available to help you. Start by going to the Convention Industry Council’s website.