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MRIA Maintenance of Certification Program (MCP) Points System

In March 2008, the MRIA Board passed a motion to implement a maintenance of certification program (MCP) affecting all CMRP designation holders. The MCP is based on a points system which is explained below.

The purpose of the MCP is to ensure that all holders of the CMRP designation are pursuing continuing professional development. Most, if not all, professions require continuing professional development of their members.

Several principles were followed in developing a framework and a process that would enable the MCP points system to be implemented:

1. For any course or event purchased through the MRIA Portal, the MCP points will be assigned automatically.
   
   
2. A web based application will be launched, where members will be able to enter MCP points for activities not registered for in the MRIA Portal. This application will be integrated with the Portal, so that points from the Portal will be transferred to it. It is the responsibility of the CMRP holder to keep track of professional development activities by maintaining records and keeping receipts.
   
   
3. As each person’s career is different, professional development for each person will be different. There are no compulsory courses, programs or activities that CMRP holders must follow.
   
   
4. The person who holds the CMRP decides what professional development is appropriate at his/her career stage.
   
   
5. CMRP holders not situated in large urban centers will have sufficient access to professional development activities to meet the Maintenance requirement.
   
   
6. While MRIA courses, programs and conferences are eligible for Maintenance points, CMRP holders can earn points for professional development programs outside of MRIA. There are many to choose and therefore only a few are mentioned as examples.
   
   
7. We exclude any normal work activity from eligibility for Maintenance points. We also exclude reading of books, magazines, internet, and newspapers as we feel that these are routine avenues for learning in everyone’s life.
   
   
8. MRIA will randomly audit CMRPs’ professional development with proper advance notice.
   
   
9. MRIA recognizes that there will be cases where professional development cannot be pursued and each case will be adjudicated accordingly.
   
   
10. MRIA will be pleased to consider and attribute points to any activity not covered in the examples below, based on information provided.
    
    
11. As a bonus to start the CMRPs off on the Maintenance of Certification Program, it is allowed to transfer up to 25 points accumulated in 2010 into the 2011-2012 cycle.

The Maintenance of Certification Points System: How does it work?

Professional Development will be measured by a point system. The point system is simple: one must accumulate 50 points within a two-year period, January to December. One can obtain 0 points in year one and 50 in year two, or vice versa. One can also transfer up to 25 points (once over 50 pts) into the next two-year period.

Many CMRP holders are already currently pursuing professional development activities, and they will easily be able to fulfill the minimum requirement of 50 points every two years. The system is flexible and, above all, depends upon the CMRP holder to chart a course of action for their own professional development, whether they are a recent CMRP or an established industry leader.

In allocating points, MRIA tries to make events equal no matter where they are held. So an international conference receives the same number of points as a national conference. A seminar in the U.S. receives the same number of points as a seminar held in your hometown. The CMRP holder makes the decision on relevance, based on their own career path.

CMRP holders should keep complete documentation of their PD activities in the case of a random MRIA audit. Paid receipts and attendance certificates are sufficient.

Points can be accumulated under any or all three of the following areas: Learning; Leadership Skills; and Knowledge Sharing. It is felt that these areas reinforce continuing professional development, and are similar to those mandated by other professional bodies.

There are points for participating in MRIA and other Associations. There are points for sharing knowledge. There are points for improving your own skills, be it core marketing research (qual or quant), business management or a new and developing area of interest such as social media. You be the judge. It’s your career.

Read more:

Points Chart & Examples | FAQ: Maintenance of Certification