The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Process

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The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Process
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What is CIC?

•  The Convention Industry Council (CIC) is a
  federation of 32 national and international
  associations representing all aspects of the
  meeting, convention, and exhibition industry.
  The CIC owns and administers the Certified
  Meeting Professional (CMP) certification.

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Agenda

• CMP History
• The CMP Process
• Application
• Exam Preparation
• The CMP Exam
• The Role of CIC Member Organizations
• Discussion/Questions

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The CIC Mission

• Provide a focal point for the industry to work
  collectively to exchange information
• Help increase the professionalism of the industry
• Develop programs to serve the industry and its
  professionals
• Recognize and raise industry standards

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Major CIC Programs

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
• Hall of Leaders
• Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX)
• CIC Manual/Publications
• Economic Impact Study

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Certified Meeting Professional? (CMP?)
Certification Program

• Governed and administered by the CIC
• Not an individual membership, but a professional
  designation
• CMP is owned and managed by the CIC. CIC member
  organizations provide study groups for CMP
  preparation
• Follows best certification practices

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The CMP History

• Began in 1985 by The Convention Liaison Council
• Always Certified Meeting PROFESSIONAL, not
  planner
• Began as a response to increase the
  professionalism of meeting managers
• Only industry certification endorsed by all 32
  CIC member organizations

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CMP Program Goals

• Identify a body of knowledge
• Establish the level of knowledge and performance
  required for certification
• Stimulate the advancement of the art and science
  of meeting management
• Provide unique networking opportunities for those
  involved in the program

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CMP Program Goals Continued

• Increase the value of practitioners
• Recognize and raise industry standards, practices
  and ethics
• Maximize the value received from the products and
  services provided by CMPs

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CMP Benefits

• Authority to use the CMP designation on
  Letterhead, Business Cards, etc.
• Global Recognition
• Professional Development
• Personal Achievement / Competitive Advantage
• Newsletter Subscriptions
• Network of Fellow CMPs

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CMP Program Players

• CMP Board of Directors
• CIC Staff
• Testing Agency Thomson Prometric
• Psychometrician Test Development Expert
• Volunteer CMPs item writers, assistant
  proctors, study group leaders, promoters of the
  program

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CMP Board of Directors

• Representative of CIC member organizations and
  CMP stakeholders
• Establish and document the level of competence
  required for CMP
• Develop and Review final exam forms
• Oversee all aspects of the program
• Market and promote CMP

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CMP Statistics

• 11,747 worldwide as of July 2006
• 32 countries represented
• 478 new CMPs from the July 2006 examination
• Majority (70) are planners
• Suppliers and other industry professionals
  welcomed

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The CMP Process

1. Obtain the CMP Candidate Handbook (includes CMP
   application) from CIC
2. Complete and submit the application
3. Review the CMP blueprint material
4. Study/prepare
5. Sit for the exam
6. Re-certify every five years

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Completing the Application

• Website www.conventionindustry.org
• Follow the link to order the CMP Candidate
  Handbook
• Make a copy of application, do a draft
• Submit completed original application to CIC
  along with required documentation application
  fee

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Application Requirements

• A minimum of three years work experience in
  meeting management
• Responsibility and accountability for the
  successful completion of meetings
• Unemployed individuals may apply within 12 months
  of the onset of unemployed status

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Application Point System

• A Minimum of 90 points is required
• Experience maximum points - 35
• Management responsibility 50
• Education/continuing education 25
• Membership 10
• Professional contributions in meeting management
  30

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Eligibility

• Application submission fee valid for two years.
• Candidates have two years from the time of
  eligibility to take and pass the exam.
• This two-year period starts as soon as CIC
  notifies applicants of their eligibility.

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Exam Deadlines

• The exam is January 20, 2007. Deadline to submit
  application is September 12, 2006
• The next IMEX/Frankfurt exam is April 16, 2007.
  Deadline to submit application is January 8, 2007
• The next exam is July 28, 2007. Deadline to
  submit application is March 19, 2007

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Program Fees US

• CMP Candidate Handbook 45 (US)
  shipping/handling
• Application Submission Fee 175 (US),
  non-refundable
• Exam Registration Fee 450 (US)

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Study Resources

• CIC Manual, 7th Edition
• CIC International Manual, 1st Edition
• APEX Industry Glossary

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Study Groups

• Independent from CIC
• Groups can be self-led or professionally
  facilitated
• Cost and frequency of meetings depends on the
  group
• Study group guidelines are available on CIC
  website
• Many study groups offer a weekend immersion
  course for study tips guidelines

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CMP Blueprint- Body of Knowledge

• 6 topic areas called Domains
• Exam questions are written to assess candidates
  knowledge of meeting management in these
  particular areas
• Numbers in brackets number of questions on CMP
  exam

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CMP Policies Tips

• Adhere to the CMP policies and deadlines outlined
  in the CMP Candidate Handbook
• Study the CMP Blueprint areas in the Handbook
• The CMP Blueprint is divided into 5 main Domains
  with a range of 27 to 36 questions from each
  Domain
• Study each and every meeting management topic
  regardless of number of questions anticipated

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Study Tips

• Purchase both the CIC Manual , 7th edition and
  CIC International Manual, 1st edition as the
  majority of the exam questions are inspired from
  these publications.
• CIC does NOT endorse sample tests for
  candidates other than the on-line practice tests
  available for purchase from CIC website.

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Exam Info

• Exam items undergo review process - CMP item
  writers, the CMP Board of Directors Exam
  Committee the testing agency
• Items measure competency and skill
• Writing reviewing questions ongoing process to
  keep exam current

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Exam Info

• Each test comprised of a new selection from the
  CMP Item Bank
• CMP Item Bank, is a database of test questions
  prepared by CMPs at CMP Conclaves
• Exam is designed to measure competency rather
  than academic excellence
• Exam is scored as either pass or fail

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Test Format and Score

• 165 multiple choice items (questions)
• 3 1/2 hours
• You may comment on items
• Flawed items are discarded from scoring
• Answer sheet scored by computer
• Tests are screened for cultural nuances

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Recertification

• Initial certification is valid for three years
• Complete a recertification application
• CMPs who recertify on time, do not have to take
  another exam to be recertified!
• Based on continued employment, education and
  professional contributions

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The Role of CIC Member Organizations

• Help promote the CMP Program to Chapters of the
  member organization
• Have one person in each Chapter familiar with
  program
• Work with CMP International Committee
• Hold study groups and recognize those individuals
  that have received the designation

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Questions/discussion

• Thank you for your interest and hopefully your
  participation!