Certified Success
Author: Zach Chouteau
June 2008
Smart Planner
Even for seasoned meeting planners, many certification titles can be hard acronyms to follow. Here’s a brief lexicon of certifications within the industry, what they stand for and how they are obtained.
CMP—Certified Meeting ProfessionalCoordinated by the Convention Industry Council, CMP is the foremost certification within the meeting, convention and exhibition industry. The requirements are based on professional experience and a written examination. conventionindustry.org
CMM—Global Certification in Meeting Management
Offered by Meeting Professionals Inter-national, candidates go through a four-step process—pre-residency, five-day residency, examination and post-residency. A minimum of 10 years of experience in the industry is required. mpiorg.com
CPPM—Certified Planner of Professional Meetings
Overseen by the Connected International Meeting Professionals Association (CIMPA), becoming a CPPM takes professional experience and academic examination. cimpa.org
CHME—Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive
Available through the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
Candidates must complete a professional paper and pass the CHME exam; pre-examination requirements comprise three written summaries on professional experience, association service and education; applicants must be actively employed within the hospitality industry. hsmai.org
CASE—Certified Association Sales Executive
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has developed a certification by building on a program originally developed by Marriott International. This certification is designed for industry sales associates who aspire to become “meeting consultants” for the association community. pcma.org
CSEP—Certified Special Events Professional
Provided by the International Special Events Society (ISES). To qualify for the exam, requirements include at least three years’ experience and current, full-time employment in the special events industry. ises.com
CME—Certified Manager of Exhibits
Created by the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA), this program is designed to help individuals earn valuable industry recognition and advance their careers. From start to finish, it takes approximately three years to obtain your CME, acquired by gaining Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through seminars and other activities. tsea.org
CEM—Certified in Exhibition Management
The CEM designation was created in 1975 to provide a professional designation for individuals in the exhibition industry. Aspirants must complete a nine-part program and pass a test within each program section within three years; conferred by the International Association for Exhibition Management. iaem.org
CTSM—Certified Trade Show Marketer
The CTSM program is sponsored by Exhibitor Show, which is regarded as the industry's leading educational conference. Candidates must complete a curriculum of 28 Exhibitor Show seminars that equal 42 hours of classroom study, followed by a three-hour comprehensive exam. Candidates must also be currently employed in the field of trade-show marketing. exhibitornet.com
CSP—Certified Speaking Professional
The Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, conferred by the National Speakers Association and the International Federation for Professional Speakers, is the speaking profession's international measure of professional platform skill Speakers must be members of NSA or another IFFPS organization for at least three years and complete a rigorous application process to earn the CSP designation. nsaspeaker.org
