While there are many great designations to pursue in the meetings and events industry, the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation has the broadest appeal and covers just about everything you might come across during your career. The program is based on standards that are the skills, knowledge and abilities needed to be successful in the events world. Obtaining the CMP designation benefits both meetings professionals as well as suppliers globally.
Back in 2009, after working for a relatively small hotel in Las Vegas for about 10 years, I made the move to a large casino resort with nearly 5,000 guest rooms and over 200,000 square feet of function space. I knew that I needed to do something to enhance my knowledge of all the ins and outs of the industry. The CMP program was the most logical choice. It conveyed an increased level of professionalism to my clients, and it helped me more fluently speak the language of meetings and events.
One notable part of obtaining my CMP was preparing for it. Although I was in Las Vegas, I joined a study group coordinated by the MPI Carolinas chapter. There are many in-person study groups that all operate slightly differently, as well as online resources to help candidates prepare, so it's important to figure out which one is right for you. In my study group, we held a weekly conference call. One person oversaw the review of that week’s section. We also had a current CMP on the call to assist us and answer our questions. The study group lasted about 10 weeks. For the final week, we met in person in Charlotte, NC for a full day of study. The following week, we all took the test, and we all passed! While it may not be for everyone, I firmly believe that a study group is a key part of successfully passing the CMP test.
One thing to note is that between the application, the test and the text books, it will cost about $900 to go through the process of obtaining your CMP. Since my hotel was paying for this for me, I wanted to be extremely diligent in preparing, so that I didn’t fail. I did not want to have to tell my boss they paid $900 for nothing. If you do fail though, you can take the test again, but you must pay the exam fee again as well.
Having my CMP was also useful in looking for a job. I moved from Las Vegas to Boston in 2011. While I was looking for a new job there, I found a great opportunity with a CVB for a very large North American city. One of their key requirements was having the CMP designation. This was important to them because it conveyed to clients an increased level of professionalism and knowledge. As you can see, having your CMP will certainly help you stand out in the job market. Additionally, PCMA did a study and found people in the meetings and events industry with their CMP on average make about $10,000 per year more than people that do not have it.
I have also had to recertify to maintain my CMP designation. You must recertify every five years. The Events Industry Council website has a fantastic tool for tracking your CEUs that you can use to apply or recertify. If you attend a pre-approved webinar or event, your CEUs will be automatically added to this website. You can also manually log CEUs on the website. Working on obtaining your CEUs is a great way to stay up-to-date on our ever-evolving industry.
One of my favorite benefits of having my CMP is attending the CMP Conclave. The CMP Conclave is a 2-3 day conference that takes place every fall. Attendance to the conference is exclusive for people that have their CMP. While the education and speakers are fantastic, the networking is equally outstanding. Because there are only CMPs there, you know you are interacting with seasoned event professionals, so there is a lot of great sharing of ideas and experiences. But the best part is you can help write new CMP test questions, as well as review existing ones. By doing this, you are directly shaping the future of the CMP program.
I definitely suggest doing your research on the various industry designations, but the Certified Meeting Professional designation is almost always going to be a great choice for anyone in our industry.
Aaron Missner, CMP
Director of Regional Accounts, Northeast
Wynn Las Vegas