Program Overview

Why CMM?

CMM designees have stated that participating in the program gained them a seat at the executive table, secured a promotion or earned them a raise.  According to a recent MPI member survey, the average salary of a meeting professional with a CMM is roughly $20k/year more than members with a CMP and nearly $30k/year more than members with no credentials. Therefore, whether someone is looking to sharpen their leadership skills or take their career to the next level, the CMM program will guide them in their quest for excellence!

Aside from the experience-based program requirements, there are no other prerequisites to apply and more importantly, once you have earned your CMM, you may use the designation indefinitely as there is no renewal requirement. To provide the greatest learning and networking opportunities, class sizes for the CMM program are kept to a maximum of 50 candidates.

The Academic Nature of the CMM Program 

The Certificate in Meeting Management Program is not a conventional executive education training program. It is academic in nature, rather than an event, conference, or traditional meeting. Much like graduate school, the program involves a good deal of reading, case analysis, group interaction, peer-to-peer consulting, development of presentation skills, and completion of a work-based capstone project.

Application Process

To apply, submit a résumé that shows you have at least seven years of professional experience in the meeting and event industry with a minimum of three years of management experience with two years of profit and loss responsibility. You will also be asked to provide a personal statement of interest and a letter of recommendation from a professional colleague or supervisor.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in the meeting and event industry
• 3+ years of management experience
• 2+ years of profit and loss responsibility

Required Documents

• Personal Statement: Personal statements should include responses to the following: 1) Describe your experience in meeting management. 2). Identify your gaps in the meeting management skillset. 3) How will earning the CMM designation help you in your career? 4) What challenge or opportunity do you currently have at work that participating in the CMM program could potentially help you solve or capitalize upon?

• Letter of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation should be written by a professional colleague or supervisor, appear on official company letterhead with a signature and clearly state the candidate’s suitability for the CMM program.

• Résumé: Résumés should be up to date and include professional work experience, with job titles and descriptions. It must clearly demonstrate that you meet program qualifications.

Once your application is approved, you will receive a status update via email and will then be able to complete the registration process. Registration deadlines are a full month prior to the program start date, so plan ahead. The CMM is offered at least twice annually and an approved application status is valid for 24 months, which means you will have two years to choose a cohort to attend without having to reapply.

CMM Scholarships are available through the MPI Foundation.