CMP Strategy - Continuing Education—What Counts for CMP?
By Joanne Dennison, MSEd, CMP
If someone wants to apply for the CMP or re-certify, one of the requirements for most applicants, is 25 hours of continuing education. Three of the most common points of confusion are:
- What is a continuing education hour?
- What content counts?
- Where can I get continuing education that “counts?”
The following attempts to dispel some of the CMP Program myths and give CMP candidates and those re-certifying their designation a clear understanding of what they need to know and do.
What Is An Hour?
An hour, which is called a
clock hour on the applications, may also be called a “contact hour” or “classroom hour.” A clock hour is one hour spent in a structured learning environment, for example with a presenter, instructor, facilitator, discussion leader, or panel. It can be in person or virtual. It does not include trade shows, recreation or entertainment (unless there is a structured learning component), or committee meetings.
A structured learning environment should have measurable learning objectives listed specifically in the description of the session. This will also help when determine what content will count for CMP credit.
CEUs (Continuing Education Units) are sometimes used interchangeably with clock hours. The
International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
developed the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) in 1970 and is the caretaker of the CEU. But the term “CEU” often causes confusion with CMP candidates because the true definition of “CEU” is calculated differently than a “clock hour.” But there is an easy way to determine your continuing education hours no matter what the unit is called:
EIC awards continuing education on an hour-for-hour basis down to the quarter hour. Therefore, if you participate in an activity that is 90 minutes, you will report 1.5 CE hours on your application. It is that easy.
What Content/Topics Count?
This question has become a big one since the CMP-International Standards (CMP-IS) went into effect in 2012. The reality is that the requirements are not that different then they were under the former CMP Blueprint.
The CMP Blueprint was the body of knowledge for the CMP, based on the 27 Functions of Meeting Planning. This outline is updated every five years based on changes in the meetings industry.. If you applied, or re-certified prior to 2012, your continuing education had to pertain to one of the 27 functions.
When the CMP-IS was put into place, it replaced the 27 Function Blueprint. The required areas of knowledge are now in the 9 Domains of the CMP-IS. This too was designed in response to updates to the knowledge needed to be a successful meeting professional. All continuing education now has to pertain to one of the 9 Domains. On the application it must be noted which Domain to the activity aligns with. The complete
CMP-IS is on the Event Industry Council website. Those completing an application, can easily find the correct Domain in the CMP-IS.
Some of the time it is very easy to see what Domain a program pertains to, because it is right in the title of the presentation. For example a session called “Handling Risk” is going to fall in Domain C-Risk Management. When it is not as obvious, it should be in the description and learning objectives for each educational session attended. If you cannot find the connection between the skills in the Domains and the learning objectives of the program, it most likely does not count for CE credit.
Where Can I Get Continuing Education that “Counts”?
Many of us get our clock hours by attending industry events sponsored either by our professional associations or by corporations such as hotel and media companies. Continuing education can also be found through colleges or community organizations. As long as it is a structured learning environment and the learning objectives fit the Domains, it counts. the activity cannot be a promotion for any organization or its products or services, although it can be sponsored by anyone.
The CMP office at EIC does not have to approve each session before it is offered. It is up to the applicant to choose the right sessions that fulfill a subject area in the CMP-IS Domains. If the sponsoring organization wants to have their attendees to receive CE credits for their offerings, they need to be familiar with the CMP-IS Domains, and pick the topics and presenters accordingly. If they want it to be very “user friendly” for the attendee they should make sure the learning objectives clearly show how it fits into the Domains, and can list the Domain with the session.
Now EIC has introduced the CMP Preferred Provider. Classes offered and indicated as pre-approved, will automatically be accepted. In fact if you register with the same email for the educational session, as the email you have on file at EIC, it will be downloaded automatically, pre-approved, into your EIC transcript.
Again—education can be accepted from other sources that a CMP Preferred Provider as long as it meets the requirements above. In the end, however, the applicant is the one responsible for making sure they are familiar with the CMP-IS, look for continuing education that fulfills the subject area, and completes the application correctly.
I hope I have cleared up some of the myths and rumors with this article, and have provided clear steps on how to fill in your CMP exam or re-certification application.
Joanne Dennison, MSEd, CMP is passionate about educating in the meetings and events profession. She has taught CMP preparation courses for 20 years in North America and even China and Thailand. Her free video Study and Test Tips are YouTube. Contact her for information about upcoming classes at
joanne@joannedennison.com
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(Updated March 2018)
