CIC Announces Plans for New Healthcare Certification

Today, the Convention Industry Council announced the beginning of the development process for a healthcare subspecialty to the CMP® program. Development will begin in the next 60 days and it is expected that in the summer of 2013, Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP) will have the opportunity to pursue the industry’s first healthcare meetings certification. 

"The once niche area of healthcare meeting management is growing and CIC is prepared to meet the demand with the creation of a healthcare certification," said Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, Chief Executive Officer of CIC. "Over the next year, CIC will undertake a rigorous development process that includes an in-depth job analysis, assessment of professional qualifications, selection of continuing education requirements and the creation of an examination."

The International Medical Meetings Professionals Association (IMMPA) first approached CIC about a certification for healthcare planners given CIC’s leadership in the existing and internationally recognized CMP program. CIC agreed that a healthcare subspecialty was needed and will look to IMMPA members and other healthcare meeting experts to provide detailed subject matter expertise in the development of the certification. 

Candidates interested in pursuing the exam must first obtain their CMP. The certification will be built upon the CMP foundation and general meeting planning knowledge is a prerequisite. The new certification will not repeat information included in the CMP, but will test only on those aspects of planning particular to healthcare meetings. 

"Meeting professionals in the healthcare segment face the stiffest and most complex government regulations of any industry," said Pat Schaumann, CMP, CSEP, DMCP, President of IMMPA. "With required reporting and transparency, understanding compliance is critical for anyone involved in healthcare meeting management. Certification for healthcare meeting professionals provides a number of benefits including career enhancement, professional recognition, personal satisfaction and professional opportunities."

More information regarding qualifications and exam dates will be become available in early 2013, once the development process is well underway.