CMC Triennial Recertification

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CMC Triennial Recertification

This page describes the CMC® triennial recertification process and how to reinstate an expired CMC® Certificate. CMCs recertify every third year by June 30th.

The CMC Recertification process begins May 1st and the deadline to submit your recertification form and payment of $150 is June 30th of each year.

IMC USA will notify you by email when it’s your time to recertify.

Please note: the CMC Triennial Recertification is separate from your IMC USA Membership annual dues. CMCs must recertify every third year by June 30th to remain a Certified Management Consultant. A $70 administrative fee may incur for recertifications submitted after the June 30th deadline.

If you choose not to pursue your CMC triennial certification, your membership will be downgraded from an IMC USA Certified Member to a CMC Candidate Member on July 1st of your recertification year. You will also be required to remove all CMC and Certified Management Consultant references and uses from your website, social media, business cards, letterhead, marketing materials and anywhere else referenced.

History

In 2002, IMC USA’s Board of Directors asked the Certification Chair to update the existing Recertification Process to better mirror the tone of the Certification Process.
 
A team of 8 CMCs from across the country was formed and, in late 2003, presented the Board a new Recertfication process where a CMC® demonstrates his or her efforts to refresh or improve their skills set, making them a better consultant and increase their “value added” benefit the consultant brings to an engagement.
 
We are recertifying ourselves as professionals and documenting that effort every three years.
 
In 2013, the Board modified the process with CMCs with 10 or more years tenure could create their unique continuing professional development plan.  The process name was changed in 2013 from renewal to recertification to conform to ICMCI Standards.
 

The Objective

The Recertification Form has the CMC® report their continuing professional development in four categories: education, experience, outreach, and ethics.
 
Often, you can earn points in more than one category all on the same day, for example: attending the annual conference (Consult-Con), presenting at Consult-Con and attending an Ethics seminar at Consult-Con. When you reach the maximum points for a category, you can often use the excess points in another category. The intent is to provide a framework that allows you flexibility on the specifics.

Education – Continuing Professional Development

A CMC® should pursue a life-long learning process. That can be done by taking courses, attending seminars, teaching classes, making presentations, or obtaining other certifications. This continued learning can be in one’s area of specialty or in expanding one’s skills as a management consultant. Education points can be earned in many, varied activities to increase your “knowledge base.” Be creative. Don’t forget that not only will you improve your skills and competence as a consultant, but you’ll also meet some people who may customers, refer you to customers, or otherwise benefit your practice.
 
The focus:
  • Participate in seminars, workshops, or educational programs, including IMC USA Chapter meetings and IMC USA Academy for Professional Development seminars
  • Present / facilitate a seminar, workshop, or conference
  • Attend IMC USA and other professional organizations’ conferences
  • Complete an academic course at a college or university
  • Obtain or maintain technical specialty certification by another recognized professional organization (e.g., PE, CPA)
  • Complete 30 hours of CPD or its equivalent

    Experience as a Full Time Consultant

    CMCs should work in their profession. We should be consulting, either for profit or in a pro-bono setting. CMCs need to exercise their skills, work with clients and associates, and ensure they are improving their ability to communicate with and serve clients in a variety of settings. What’s important here is the time you spend working as a management consultant and developing your practice.

    The focus:
    • Work full time as a management consultant or as a member or partner of a consulting firm, or
    • Work in a pro bono consulting capacity to any institution or organization that benefits others even if it is for a for profit organization, or
    • Teach a university level or comparable course (if this is not your only consulting activity).

      Outreach

      CMCs should support professional organizations, be actively engaged in a professional community. CMCs should support IMC USA at the chapter or national level. CMCs need to help in the development or screening of “new” CMCs. CMCs can take the “lead” in IMC USA or other organizations. A CMC® can “spread the good word” about management consulting by speaking or publishing. CMCs need to be recognized in “outside” organizations for their expertise and represent the CMC mark for its high integrity and professionalism.

      The focus:
      • Serve on a CMC® Oral Examination panel
      • Serve as a mentor to either a new member or a CMC® candidate
      • Serve as a national Officer, Board member, Chapter President, or Committee Chair for the IMC USA, ICMCI, or another nationally recognized corporation, professional or educational organization, nonprofit, or trade association
      • Serve as an Officer, Board member, or Committee member of an IMC Chapter or other IMC activity such as IMC USA conferences, committees, etc.
      • Instruct or speak at professional organizations, trade associations, IMC chapters or events, or at a university level
      • Publish in a nationally or regionally distributed journal or magazine
      • Author a nationally published book

        Professional Conduct – Ethics

        Quite simply, the CMC® exemplifies 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. The IMC USA Academy Course Catalog lists several ways to earn Professional Conduct points. We also encourage CMC®s to become involved in ethical training both inside and outside of IMC USA, to ensure IMC USA remains current and to ensure you are viewed as a leader, a high integrity professional.
         
        The focus:
        • Complete a course on Ethics at a college or university (including on-line)

          Attend Ethics seminars, workshops or other programs offered by the IMC USA or other professional organizations

        • Teach a course on Ethics at a college or university
        • Participate in an IMC USA or Chapter Ethics Initiative
        • Complete IMC USA Academy Courses on Ethics (see the Certification FAQ’s for Ethics course offerings and points awarded) or its equivalent from another professional organization
        • Author an article or attach a case write up on Ethics

          CMCs With 10 or More Years Tenure

          After three re-certifications, CMCs with 10 or more years tenure using education, experience, outreach and professional conduct as their guide and the CMC Competency Framework as their map, develop their own continuing professional development plan.

          Your Signature

          When you sign your Recertification form, you reaffirm that you have read, understood and pledge to continue to abide by the Code of Ethics, to use the CMC mark responsibly and to return your CMC® certificate and pin should it be revoked.

          Special Circumstances or an Expired CMC® Certificate

          We recognized that each of our careers is different when it’s time to recertify. 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 or 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 you to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution. Remember, retention, not exclusion, is one of the most important outcomes of Certification Recertification.
           

          If your CMC® Certificate has been expired for years, expect the Certification Committee to ask for a new application and an additional fee to reconstruct your records. Contact the CMC® Certification Committee Chair at [email protected] to discuss your circumstances. CMC® reinstatement up to the end of two years after expiration, submit the Recertification Form meeting all requirements for the last three years and explain any special circumstances. 

          CMC® reinstatement 3-9 years after expiration, submit the recertification form meeting all requirements for the last three years and explain any special circumstances. Cost: current recertification fee and an additional $100. The CMC® Certification Committee can request new client evaluations. (The CMC® Certification Committee may not accept the special circumstances and decline to reinstate. In this case, your fee would be returned.)

          CMC® reinstatement 10+ years after expiration. Submit a new CMC® application with new client referrals and explain any special circumstances. The CMC® Certification Committee can request new client evaluations, new written or oral examinations. Costs: CMC® Application fee. (The CMC® Certification Committee may not accept the special circumstances and decline to reinstatement. In this case, your fee would be returned.)

          When Do I Recertify?

          The Recertification Form is due June 30th of every third year from your original certification date.

          The Recertification Process

          The Recertification Process consists of the following steps:

          • Annually, review the current recertification form to determine the points you can earn.
          • IMC USA’s National Office will notify you in the spring of your recertification year. Keep track of your activities the last three years.
          • Ensure you use the recertification form for the current year, since requirements can change year to year.
          • Submit your recertification form following the instructions, explain any special circumstances if applicable; and
          • Include the IMCUSA member or non-member triennial recertification fee.
          The CMC Certification Committee will review each application for completeness and score. Those who qualify will be issued a new CMC Certificate. Special circumstances will be taken into consideration. The committee may approve recertification, or deny any application based on its findings. There are other possible results:
           
          • Deferment – The CRC may work out an action plan for completing requirements not met with specific dates for completion. This would depend upon the willingness of the candidate to undertake any actions required.
          • Denial – The CRC may deny the recertification of any candidate found seriously lacking in attaining the requirements set forth in the Recertification form.
          • Appeal – Any CMC who is deferred or denied recertification, may use the Certification Appeal process of IMC USA.

            A Final Note

            The IMC USA’s goal in offering an opportunity to recertify 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.

            The Cost

            Your certification fee is determined by your IMC USA member status. IMC USA awards the CMC® to members and non-members. There is no requirement for membership in any professional association or to attend any specific course to apply for the CMC®. IMC USA member rates will apply only if you are in good standing at the time you submit payment. If you join IMC USA after being awarded the CMC mark, member rates will be applicable in the next calendar year.

            Initial Certification Application and Assessment (non-refundable)
            Member – $350.00
            Non-Member – $550.00

            Annual CMC Charge
            Member – $445.00
            Non-Member – $550.00

            Triennial Recertification (an assessment of your continuing professional development)
            Member – $150.00
            Non-Member – $250.00

              Download the Recertification Form