| Overview of Certification Renewal |
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Some History In 2002, IMC USA’s Board asked the Certification Chair to update the existing Recertification Process to better mirror the tone of the new Certification Process. A team of 8 CMCs from across the country was formed and, in late 2003, presented the Board with – and received approval to implement – the attached document to assist IMC USA CMCs in the process of documenting their efforts to retain their designation as a CMC. This new form went into effect in March of 2004.
As you see, we have renamed the process. We do not require a CMC to be re-examined for certification. Recertification is a process to regain, not retain, the designation. Rather, we require the CMC demonstrate their efforts to refresh and/or improve their skills set, making them a better consultant and increasing the “value added” benefit the consultant brings to an engagement. We are renewing ourselves as professionals.
Thus, we changed the name to more accurately reflect the nature of the activity.
Since 2002 we’ve learned from experience and have made some adjustments to the requirements stated on the Certification Renewal Form and to the process of renewing certification. These changes are intended to clarify the requirements and provide more options to a renewing CMC.
The Categories More specifically, we have organized the Certification Renewal Form to focus the CMC on four basic categories of professional development. We expect the CMC to report, at least, the minimum points in each category. (Education, Experience, Outreach, and Ethics) Just as we raised the bar on the new Certification Process, we have raised the required minimum total of points for Certification Renewal from 24 to 30. (To have their certification renewed, the CMC needs to report at least a minimum total of 30 points, and they must report a minimum of 6 points in each category.)
Education
We want the CMC to continue the life-long learning process. That can be done by taking courses, attending seminars, teaching classes, making presentations or picking up other certifications. This continued learning can be in one’s area of specialty or in expanding one’s skills as a management consultant. The point is to open this area to any and all opportunities to increase the CMCs “knowledge base.” Be creative. Don’t forget that not only will you improve your skills and competence as a consultant, you’ll meet some people who may customers, refer you to customers, or otherwise benefit your practice. Some examples of qualifying education are presented below:
• Attend a workshop or seminar in your area of expertise.
We expect the CMC to be practicing their trade. We should be consulting – either for profit or in a pro-bono setting, but the CMC needs to be exercising their skills in working with clients/associates to ensure they are increasing their ability to communicate with and serve the client in any number of settings. What’s important here is the time you spend working as a management consultant. Some examples of qualifying activities are listed below:
• Working full time as an independent management consultant or as a member or partner of a consulting firm. (1200 hours per year) Note: If you are working as an employee of a company and can get permission from your employer to do non-competing pro bono work, this pro bono work would qualify. Please explain the situation in the “special circumstances” section of the renewal form. The Certification Renewal Committee would consider allowing renewal with a reduced number of points.
Outreach
We expect the CMC to be involved in the support of professional organizations. We want the CMC to be actively engaged in the professional community – in any number of ways. We expect the CMC to support IMC USA, at the chapter or national level. CMCs need to help in the development/screening of “new” CMCs. We want CMCs to be the “leaders” in IMC USA or other organizations. The CMC should be “spreading the good word” of management consulting by speaking or publishing. We very much need the CMC to be seen in “outside” organizations and to represent IMC USA in the most favorable light. Some examples of qualifying activities include:
• Presenting, speaking, or acting as a panel member at an IMC Chapter Meeting, Confab, or other national IMC event.
Ethics
Quite simply, we demand our CMCs exemplify the highest ethical behavior both within IMC USA and with the public at large. Continued exposure to consideration of ethics in all parts of our profession is critical to ensure the CMC is prepared to properly handle situations involving questions of ethical behavior. IMC USA has developed an on-line Ethics evaluative tutorial that we want everyone to visit at least once during their three year certification period. We also encourage the CMC to become involved in ethical training both inside and outside of IMC USA, to ensure IMC USA remains current and is seen as a leader in the professional field. Some examples of qualifying activities are listed below:
• Participating in or attending a session at an IMC Chapter, Confab, or other National event dealing with ethics. Participation includes speaking, sitting on a panel, or organizing such a session.
In 2002, we required each CMC submitting their package for Certification Renewal to attest that they have read, understood and pledge to continue to abide by the Code of Ethics. They first signed that pledge when they applied for certification. Many of us renew our vows (some in marriage, some in security settings, or some as required in other organizations) over the period of years, to remind ourselves of our original commitment. We want the CMC to restate their commitment to this crucial aspect of our professional conduct as a member of IMC USA and as a CMC, as part of the renewal.
We recognized that each of our careers is different. We also understand that, in some cases, a career plan might be interrupted or diverted for a myriad of reasons. (Recall to active military service, pursuit of advanced education, assumption of executive leadership/management roles, long term injury, family care issues, etc.) We believe that the CMC should be able to continue in their certification and not be adversely affected by these occasional interruptions. Contact us and allow us to work with the CMC to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution. Remember - retention, not exclusion, is one of the most important outcomes of Certification Renewal.
The Renewal Process
The Certification Renewal Process consists of the following steps:
• Determination of the need to renew – each CMC’s certification date or renewal date is recognized in the year that it occurs. Renewal takes place in the third year after that year.
A Final Note The IMC USA’s goal in offering an opportunity to renew the CMC Certification is to ensure that we add value and credibility to the CMC mark and to the work we perform for our clients. If each of us continues to grow professionally and be visible in the business and consulting community, we will give greater value to our clients and to the profession.
Renewal Documents • Certification Renewal Form and Certification Renewal Overview • Ethics Case Study Template and Code of Ethics Interpretive
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