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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.
MRIA Maintenance of Certification Program (MCP) Points System
Several principles were followed in developing a framework and a process that would enable the MCP points system to be implemented:
- For any course or event purchased through the MRIA Portal, the MCP points will be assigned automatically.
- 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.
- 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.
- The person who holds the CMRP decides what professional development is appropriate at his/her career stage.
- CMRP holders not situated in large urban centers will have sufficient access to professional development activities to meet the Maintenance requirement.
- 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.
- 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.
- MRIA will randomly audit CMRPs’ professional development with proper advance notice.
- MRIA recognizes that there will be cases where professional development cannot be pursued and each case will be adjudicated accordingly.
- MRIA will be pleased to consider and attribute points to any activity not covered in the examples below, based on information provided.
- 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.
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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.
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MRIA Maintenance of Certification: Points Chart
50 earned points need to be accumulated over a two year period.
25 excess points (over the 50 required and earned) can be carried forward to the next 2 year period.
Learning- Attending and/or participating in a marketing research-related event |
Completing an approved professional development course, workshop, seminar, webinar or online course.
Some examples are:
a) MRIA core and non-core PD courses and Webinars
b) AMA marketing research courses and webinars
c) CMOR Respondent Cooperation Workshop
d) MRA seminars
e) Burke Institute courses
f) AAPOR/WAPOR pre/post workshops or seminars
g) ESOMAR workshops or seminars
h) Other marketing research specialized courses |
One full day - 20 Points
Two full days - 40 Points
Three full days- 60 Points
Half day - 10 Points
One-two hours - 5 Points |
Completing a post secondary continuing education course relevant to your career from a recognized institution |
One full day - 20 Points
Two full days - 40 Points
Half day - 10 Points
One full time credit course - 60 Points |
Attend an international conference related to your field of work (e.g., ESOMAR, AAPOR, WAPOR, TTRA, MRA, QRCA, IMRO, ARF, CASRO, MRS, AMSRS, AMSRO, etc.) |
One full day - 20 Points
Two full days - 40 Points
Three full days - 60 Points
Half day - 10 Points
One-two hours - 5 Points |
Attend an MRIA Chapter event (educational) |
Half day or less - 5 Points
Full day - 10 Points |
Attend an MRIA B2B event (educational) |
Half day or less - 5 Points
Full day - 10 Points |
Attend an MRIA national or regional conference
(e.g., annual MRIA conference, QRD, NetGain) |
One full day of conference - 20 Points
Half day - 10 Points |
Internal and/or self-governed events
To qualify the following applies:
- the session was organized and planned (not just a spontaneous discussion among colleagues)
- it was led/facilitated
- there was a learning focus or outcome
- it had 2 or more participants, not including the leader/facilitator/speaker
|
One full day - 10 Points
Half day - 5 Points
Up to a maximum of 20 Points for the two year period |
|
Leadership Skills - Demonstrating leadership skills |
Completing an executive level, post secondary course in executive management such as leadership, accounting, HR, international management, project management, etc. |
One full day - 20 Points
Two full days - 40 Points
Half day - 10 Points
One full time credit course - 60 Points |
Earning MRIA’s CMRP designation |
25 Points (in the year following one in which designation is earned) |
Election/appointment to MRIA’s National or Chapter Boards (e.g., Officers, Directors and Portfolio Chairs) |
Per year served – 20 Points |
Representing MRIA on external committees
(ISO, ESOMAR, Response Rate, Government body, ad hoc committee) |
Per year served – 20 Points |
Participation on MRIA national sub-committees
(Research & Development, Education, Standards, etc.) |
Per year served – 20 Points |
Participation on an MRIA conference committee
(National Conference, NetGain, QRD, etc.) |
Per conference – 15 Points |
Serve as a Director on a corporate or non-profit organization Board (other than MRIA and without monetary compensation) |
Per year, per board – 10 Points |
Pro Bono work (e.g., Offering your own personal professional marketing research skills and services to a non- profit organization at no cost. In essence donation of professional services.) |
Per year served – 20 Points |
|
Knowledge Sharing |
Formal presentation or speech at an international, national or local marketing research conference (e.g., NetGain, QRD, QRCA, MRIA, ARF, MRA, ESOMAR, AAPOR, WAPOR, etc.) |
Per presentation or speech – 20 Points |
Promoting the Marketing Research and Intelligence industry and the MRIA (e.g., participating as a panelist at a post secondary institution, MRIA booth at a student job fair or similar) |
10 Points |
Writing articles, book chapters or papers of a professional nature or presenting a free MRIA Webinar that contributes to the development of CMRP competencies (e.g., VUE, CJMR, Quirks, Research World, etc.) |
Article 250-1500 words – 10 Points
Article 1500 – 5000 words – 15 Points
Writing a book chapter – 20 Points
Conducting a free MRIA Webinar – 20 Points |
Book or refereed paper reviewer |
Per review – 5 Points |
Examples of obtaining 50 points over a two year period:
2011
√ Attend the MRIA National conference (20 pts)
√ Attend one local MRIA event (5 pts)
or
√ One term online course at Athabasca University, School of Business such as Strategic and Competitive Analysis or Decision Analysis (60 pts)
or
√ Complete a one day Burke course (20 pts)
√ Attend a one hour free Webinar offered by MRIA (5 pts)
or
√ Write an article for Quirks (10 pts)
√ Participate on an MRIA conference committee
(National, NetGain, QRD, etc…) (15 pts)
2012
√ Attend a one hour free Webinar offered by MRIA (5 pts)
√ Complete a professional development course offered by MRIA (20 pts)
or
√ Write a VUE article (10 pts) and attend 3 local MRIA events (15 pts)
√ Write an article for Quirks (10 pts)
or
√ Attend a one hour AMA webinar (5 pts)
√ Attend a half day chapter event (5 pts)
√ Attend a one day MRIA national or regional conference (20 pts)
or
√ Serve on the National or Chapter Boards (20 pts)
√ Attend a half day MRIA Chapter event (5 pts)
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MRIA Maintenance of Certification: FAQ
Q - I live in Regina and I participate on the Prairie Chapter executive by conference calls. Does that count?
A - YES
Q - I attended a one day conference in Sydney, Australia. Will this count?
A - YES. You can attend a one day conference relevant to your career in Sydney, BC or Australia and it will count regardless of where it takes place in the world. Surfing or whale watching would not count. If in doubt as to whether the points will be recognized, please submit the course/program/conference to MRIA before you go.
Q - I took an internal course by one of my peers on regression. Does this count?
A – NO, unless it is open to all members of MRIA.
Q - I worked on my MBA. Will I receive any credit?
A- YES, we will acknowledge one course credit per year.
Q - What if I cannot accumulate 50 points?
A- There is a Certification Advisory Committee to hear your individual case. It will determine whether there are valid and acceptable reasons why you could not fulfill your points requirement.
Q - Is this a money grab?
A- NO, many activities do not cost even one penny. We also encourage you to take courses anywhere that develops your career, not just MRIA courses.
Q - Why implement this now?
A– The MRIA Board has passed a motion to implement a “Maintenance of Certification” requirement for all CMRP designation holders. We are using 2010 as a test year, so members can get used to the Maintenance idea and see how easy it can be to accumulate points by doing what they have been doing all along. The actual Maintenance of Certification program will start in 2011.
Q - It looks like I have to really take mostly MRIA courses or be active in MRIA.
A- NO, we actually encourage you to take courses anywhere that develops your career. There are thousands of professional development courses/conferences/seminars/webinars that are available both online and in physical form. You can even offer to give presentations or webinars.
Q - Does an online course count as much as a physical course?
A- YES
Q- Does the price of the course reflect the value of the course?
A– NO, we realize it costs more for anyone to attend an ESOMAR conference in Athens than a conference in Toronto. The value is what you get out of the conference. You choose the conference and the value it has to you. It’s your career.
Q- I really don’t like MRIA or anyone telling me what I should do.
A– Please understand that we are encouraging you to keep up with new knowledge, practices and methods and ways to do things. Ask your doctor, dentist, teacher, trainer, accountant if they take professional development courses and ask them why. Would you want to use an MD that graduated in 1960 and hasn’t attended any professional development courses? Similarly, do you want to be the expert specializing in crosstabs for the rest of your life?
Q- What will happen if I don’t want to participate in the points system?
A- Your CMRP will be rescinded. MRIA will follow a rigorous and transparent process to remind you to participate and then warn you at critical stages before a registered letter will be sent to you.
Q- There is a recession right now and I cannot afford to attend costly professional development activities.
A– That is why it is spread over two years and you can carry points over. Many activities do not cost one penny; writing an article, giving a presentation, etc.
Q- Does this mean any activity in 2010 will not count and I cannot carry over 25 points into 2011?
A - YES, 2010 is a practice year and as such no activity conducted in 2010 will count in 2011; the carry over opportunity starts in 2011. Up to 25 points in 2011 can be carried over to 2013. You need a total of 50 points over the 2011 and 2012 January to December period.
Q- I am too busy to participate in this point system.
A– It is your career, and hence your choice and your decision as to whether you want to maintain your professional level of competence and MRIA’s CMRP designation.
Q- I don’t need the CMRP to be a professional.
A– Again, that is your decision. Procurement officers will be promoting and encouraging CMRP qualification in RFPs. MRIA insists that we are a professional body. To demonstrate it, member certification and continued professional development to maintain certification were implemented.
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