The Certified Conference Professionals (CMP) program, managed by the Event Industry Council (EIC), was launched in 1985 to enhance the knowledge and performance of conference professionals, promote the status and credibility of conference professionals, and improve unified standards of practice.
CMP is not mandatory, but it is the most widely recognized certification by conference planners and is also among the certifications that senior planners attach great importance to. It is also the only certification for third-party verification. As of 2024, more than 13,000 conference planners hold this certification.
The CMP Healthcare Sub-Professional (CMP-HC) program was launched in 2014 to meet the growing CMP needs of the healthcare industry. Those seeking this certification must first pass the CMP exam. Only 46 people have CMP-HC certification.
Before starting: CMP qualification
To take the CMP exam, you must have two things:
- Work Experience – 36 months of full-time experience in the conference industry, or 24 months of related degree. Both experience and degree must occur within the last five years.
- Continuing Education – In the past five years, 25 hours of continuing education may be included in industry-related courses, workshops or professional activities, which may be non-independent activities if the topic is consistent with one of the 12 domains in the CMP-Interthational Standard Standards (CMP-IS).
Individuals must also ensure compliance with the CMP ethics code, which is a basic standard for a set of values and behaviors. .
Exam details
Before starting your study program, EIC recommends that you review the CMP-International Standard (CMP-IS) to determine which of the nine areas you have the least experience and then focus your energy on that area. In addition to the standards, you also need to read the CMP manual and appendix.
The answers to the exam will be based on a combination of real-world experience and required education.
CMP testing is available year-round at one of Prometric’s global testing centers or remotely. The exam consists of 165 multiple choice questions. The EIC website offers a variety of resources, from preparation of materials to sample exams.
CMP application submission fee is $350 (non-refundable) and exam fee is $525 (non-refundable).
