Certified Meeting Professional or Certified Meeting Manager: Which Is Best for You?

Should you get your CMP certification or CMM certificate? I’m glad you asked.

You might already know that Certified Meeting Professionals make more money than their peers. CMPs make an average of $86,000 to $96,000 per year.

But did you know event industry pros who hold the Certificate in Meeting Management make even more? According to MPI’s Association Insights member survey, CMMs on average make $107,00 to $115,000 a year. That’s $20,000 a year more!

Why is that, and what’s the difference in these two certifications?

Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP) focus on logistics

To sit for the CMP exam, applicants must have at least two years of work experience and 25 clock hours of continuing education credit. Then, students have to pass a standardized test that assesses their knowledge of core meeting planning skills. Once they pass, they earn the right to use the CMP designation after their name.

In short, the CMP credential shows that you understand the logistics required for basic meeting and event execution. Because it’s renewed every few years, it proves your commitment to keeping up with industry trends and continuing your education.

These days, many hotel sales positions and entry-level meeting planning jobs require the CMP certification. This way, planners can ensure that their staff has essential meeting planning skills.

Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) holders strategize and lead teams

If you’ve been in the industry for more than seven years and still don’t have your CMP, you may wonder if it’s worth getting now. Or, if you have your CMP, you might wonder whether the CMM is an upgrade.

You might want to become a certified meeting manage if you want a new job with more responsibility or a leadership position. Here’s why:

• The CMM is like the MBA of the meetings industry. Graduate school professors teach a business school curriculum that’s tailored to the hospitality, travel and meetings industry.
• Taking the certified meeting manager course gives you 25 clock hours, which is the exact number you need to apply to sit for the CMP exam.
• In the coursework, you’ll learn negotiation strategies, process improvement, change management, cross-functional global leadership strategies, operational and financial performance analysis, flexible budgeting, profit forecasting, and more essential executive leadership skills.
• The final project tests your knowledge by asking you to take an existing business problem and develop a solution for it. In that way, you apply what you’ve learned immediately.

Which certification is best for you?

Are you just starting out, looking for a job in meetings management or one that caters to meeting professionals? It’s probably best for you to become a CMP.

Are you more interested in leading a meetings department or advancing to the C-suite? Achieve the Certification in Meeting Management.

Want to show you understand core competencies and you’re serious about becoming an industry leader? Go for both.

Ultimately, however, how to invest in your professional development is up to you. Plan well and prosper, friends!

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