If you enjoy planning meetings and events for your company, perhaps you'd like to consider focusing your career on this more in the future. There are many ways you can go about doing this, one of which is to become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).

The CMP designation was developed by the Convention Industry Council (CIC) in 1985 to recognize those who have achieved the industry's highest level of professionalism. It's now been over 20 years and more than 13,000 professionals in over 35 countries are part of this global community.

Through this program, individuals who are currently employed in meeting management have the opportunity to pursue continuing education, increase their industry involvement, and gain industry-wide recognition by achieving the CMP designation. Requirements for certification are based on professional experience (minimum three years in meeting management), application approval and a written examination.

Application Process

The certification program requires you to complete and file an application along with a $225 fee. Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum requirements based on the following criteria:

• Experience in meeting management (35 points max)
• Management responsibility (50 points max)
• Education and continuing education (25 points max)
• Membership in a professional organization (10 points max)
• Professional contribution to the field (30 points max)

You must earn 90 out of 150 points to qualify.

Exam Process

The one-day exam ($450) is offered a couple of times a year including internationally at several locations concurrently and consists of a paper-pencil test with 165 multiple choice questions. However, 15 of the questions (unidentified) are not graded and are not included in your score.

Instead, these randomly inserted questions are new or revised questions included to determine their viability and to eliminate any that might cause a future problem.

The test itself is organized into five main areas which include:

• Strategic event planning process (24%)
• Financial and contract management (20%)
• Facilities and services (18%)
• Logistics (20%)
• Programs (18%)

In addition to the application and exam, recertification is required every five years at a fee of $200. You must earn a minimum of 60 points on the recertification application process based on education and experience gained within the five-year period since your last certification. No examination is required.

This means that it is extremely important to maintain good records of all your education and experience throughout your entire career in order to provide accurate information for your initial application, as well as for each recertification.

The CMP is truly the foremost certification program of today's meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry as it recognizes individuals who have achieved the industry's highest standard of professionalism. To learn more including application and exam tips and details, check out the Certified Meeting Professionals Candidate Handbook.