Before you Start Your CCMPTM Application
Before you start, the absolute first thing you need to do is read the Standard for Change Management and the ACMP Change Management Code of Ethics, from cover to cover.
Why?
Because your whole application is about describing your experience and expertise as it relates to these core documents.
For both your experience and your essays, everything should be showing the alignment of your work and knowledge with the Standard. Right from the definition of your role in the experience section, as a Change Practitioner or a Change Lead (See Section 4.6 of the Standard).
After you have read the document cover to cover, and only then, should you should start your application.
Writing your CCMP Essays
While writing your essays, keep the purpose of the essays at the forefront of your mind – proving your expertise and experience as a Change Manager. You’re showcasing YOU.
Which Process Group is Relevant?
Each question is tied to a Process Group. Your first step is to identify which one! It is handy that the questions are split up this way, in part because you may have only had involvement in certain aspects of a change management initiative, not necessarily the whole thing from start to finish. This way, you’ve got choice and can select questions that are more relevant to your experience. Plus, I have yet to come across a change management initiative that could be nicely summarized from start to finish in only 500 words – not when you want to talk about the nitty gritty aspects of change management. People and plans are messy!
After understanding which questions tie to which Process Group, think through your experience and which initiatives are best for addressing the questions while focusing on your skills and insights. In some cases you might have more than one idea for a single question, that’s good, because you can scrap an essay if you’re struggling with the answer.
Review your Keywords and Core Concepts
Flip to Appendix B and look at the appropriate Process Group and the associated Subject Groups, for the essay question that you are focusing on. These are your keywords! You’ll want to address as many aspects of the Process Group and Subject Groups as are relevant and reasonable to include in your essay.
Once you have identified the Process Group and read the high-level version in the Appendix, find it in the relevant sections. For example, Learning & Development Plan is in 5.3 Develop the Change Management Plan as well as in 5.4 Execute the Change Management Plan. Read both sections, to ensure you are framing your answers as closely aligned to the Standard as possible.
Write Your Essays
I found it extremely difficult to stay under 500 words. I targeted 400 and naturally my answers grew as I fleshed out more detail in my responses. Target 400 words in your first draft, then review to ensure you have included as many key words and tie backs to the concepts in the Standard as possible.
Review Your Essays
If you can, print out a copy of the essay questions, or make a digital copy to another document where you can edit.
For each part of the essay question, go through your answer and ensure you have answered that specific portion of the question. If you have, cross out (physically or digitally) that part of the question. You may find yourself editing your response to ensure you’ve thoroughly addressed a portion of the question. That’s a good thing, that’s why we’re reviewing! The ACMP website says one of the most common reasons for rejection of essays is failure to fully answer the question.
If you are able, get a friend or colleague to also review your essays. Ideally, you have access to a CCMP to review for you, however the grammar, flow and completeness can still be effectively edited by others.
Submit Your Essays (At a Good Time)
Upon approval of your application, you have 12 months to write your exam. However, if you need to rewrite the exam, it also needs to fall within the 12 months. You can write the exam up to three times, before needing to resubmit an application and pay for another application.
For that reason, I strongly recommend not submitting your application until you are 30-60 days from when you would like to write the exam. That way, you have around ten months left of application validity, to rewrite the exam if necessary. Plus, you won’t find yourself scrambling to find a time to fit the exam into your life, in month 12!
ACMP provides guidance that they will review your application in 2-3 weeks, however my application, including an audit, was fully processed in 3 business days.
Have your exam date in mind before you submit your application, so that you can book your exam as soon as your application is approved. Then, you’re committing to studying and obtaining your designation!
Consider Joining the ACMP for the Application Fee Discount
When you go to submit your application, you will need to pay the application fee; at the time of this writing, it is $750 USD. There is an application fee discount for ACMP members, meaning the cost to join the ACMP is only $50, instead of the usual $199. The membership includes the ability to attend webinars, which count for PDUs to maintain your credential. Therefore, I recommend opting to join the ACMP and taking advantage of the discounted pricing.
