Certified Meeting Planner Qualifications
A certified meeting planner has passed the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) exam given by the Convention Industry Council (CIC). The exam qualifications are very detailed and specific. The CIC reviews the planner's education, industry involvement, job duties, job responsibilities and industry references. A planner cannot sit for the exam if she has less than three years of meeting planning experience.
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Basic Information about the CMP
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The CIC is the only recognized organization that certifies meeting planners with the CMP designation. The application and exam is a two-stage process. The application must be submitted and approved before a planner can sit for the exam. The goal of the certification process is to provide the industry with a higher standard of accountability.
History
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The CMP certification was founded by the CIC in 1985. Since then, over 13,000 meeting professionals have been certified. The CMP designation is recognized internationally as the standard for professional excellence within the meeting industry.
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Benefits of Achieving your CMP Designation
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According to industry research conducted by Meeting Professionals International, CMPs receive, on average, 4 percent higher compensation than a similarly skilled meeting professional. In addition to receiving industry and peer recognition, achieving the CMP shows a sense of goal-driven commitment to the industry and the profession.
Application Time Frame
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Interested candidates should visit the CIC website to download the most recent application, since requirements, deadlines and costs change annually. The CMP exam is offered twice a year: Summer, usually in July or August, and winter, usually in January or February. Once your application has been approved, you are eligible to sit for one of the exams. The application approval process takes about six weeks. The time frame between application approval and the first available exam is generally about 12 to 5 weeks.
Application Details
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The application approval process is based on a points system. A prospective candidate must have a minimum of 90 total points to qualify for the exam. There are a total of 150 points available. The points are broken down into the following categories: meeting management, management responsibility, education and continuing education, membership and professional contributions in meeting management.
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