MPI and the CIC announced a plan to upgrade the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation as an important and consistent global certification for the meetings industry.
“Enhancing the relevance and global availability of the CMP program is a critical next step in the ongoing development of the meeting and events industry,” said Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of MPI.
More than 14,000 meeting professionals in 35 countries and territories carry the CMP designation, which is the most widely recognized certification in the meetings industry.
According to Didier Scaillet, vice president of Global Development for MPI, one of the prime objectives of the effort is to make the designation more relevant to the international market.
“The goal is of course to preserve the integrity of the designation, so it is not about radically changing it but rather to evolve the application and some of the content to better reflect a global meeting industry,” Scaillet said. “We are also looking at potentially making it computer-based as well, which would ease the process.”
The CIC also said it is endeavoring to lessen hurdles for planners to gain the accreditation.
“Our CMP Board is working hard to streamline the application process and welcomes the support from MPI,” said Eric Allen, chair of the CMP Board at the CIC.
For more information on MPI’s Knowledge Plan, of which the CMP designation is a primary component, visit www.mpiweb.org. For more information about the CMP designation and exam, visit www.conventionindustry.org.
