Several exciting changes are being implemented to the ISMPP Certified Medical Publication Professional™ (CMPP) program! Responding to valued input from ISMPP members and CMPP certificants, the changes center on new opportunities to earn continuing education (CE) credits, important updates to the recertification policy, and implementation of a new exam blueprint.
The Basics and Key Updates
The ISMPP CMPPTM program was launched in 2009, as a formal, voluntary, professional certification to promote adherence to the high standards of integrity and transparency required in the field of medical publications. This is the only credential for medical publication professionals. ISMPP works with a third-party professional testing partner to manage the CMPP exam, utilizing psychometric validation to assess exam answers.
The Certification Board congratulates the 2017 class of certificants! ISMPP welcomed a record 98 new CMPPs in March, 102 in September, and 47 who recertified by exam.
Currently, ISMPP has 1,153 CMPPs from 23 countries (58% North America, 35% Europe, 9% Asia Pacific) and across all sectors (55% agency, 24% pharma/device/biotech, 10% other, 5% publishing, 2% academia).
ISMPP’s testing partner, Pearson Vue, has expanded access from 700 exam centers in 23 countries to over 6,600 sites in 180 countries, providing candidates with more convenient locations to take the exam.
ISMPP offers two testing windows annually. Join the growing number of CMPPs by applying for the exam!
| Exam Window | Application Deadline |
| March 1-31 September 1-30 |
February 1 August 1 |
New Credit-Earning Opportunities
Many ISMPP members are looking for additional opportunities to earn CE credits. In response, the Certification Board, Credentialing Committee, and Recertification Committee have been updating the qualifying CE activities included in the Recertification Handbook to incorporate a range of self-study options.
Self-study is defined as activities in which the instructor and student are separated by time and location, or the student engages in the learning activity without an instructor. Examples of self-study include, but are not limited to:
- Prerecorded audio/video programs
- Recorded webcasts
- Self-paced online courses
- Self-study using published material
- Preparatory courses: online or print
The Recertification Handbook will include audit-worthy documentation examples for participating in and creating new self-study activities. The Request for Credit Approval Form has been updated to reflect creating and participating in self-study content that is not listed in the Approved CMPP Activities list.
This expansion of qualifying activities will increase opportunities for CMPPs to earn recertification credits beyond the staple of programs that includes ISMPP meetings, ISMPP U sessions, industry presentation development/participation, and exam development activities.
In addition, the Certification Board has issued a call for volunteers for a new task force that will support the expansion of credit-earning opportunities for CMPP recertification through proactive identification of qualifying programs. The task force will first focus on identifying existing/available self-study activities for recertification credit consideration. The Certification Board will also be recruiting faculty to create new self-study content specifically for CMPPs.
A survey will be distributed in Q1 2018, to obtain member feedback related to recertification self-study activities. This input will help guide the self-study option expansion effort.
Recertification Policy Update
ISMPP recently updated the CMPP recertification policy to a three-year certification cycle with reduced CE credit requirements (see Table 1 below). Please visit the Recertification page of the ISMPP website for more information and to access the full policy and handbook.
Table 1. Recertification Credit Requirements
*The number of required CE credits per year is the same for both cycles: ≥8 per year but ≤12 in final year
New Exam Blueprint
In 2017, ISMPP launched a new exam blueprint (see Figure 1 below), which was the result of a year-long effort involving over 20 subject matter experts (SME). The SMEs identified the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a publication professional, remapped over 600 exam questions, and completed a standard-setting exercise.
Figure 1. New CMPP Exam Blueprint
The new blueprint combined the domains for “Publication Plan Development” and “Tactical Plan Development” into one domain, “Develop Publication Plan.” A new fourth domain, “Monitor Evolving Trends Related to the Medical Publication Profession,” was created to reflect the role of publication professionals in keeping up with the evolving landscape (ie, nontraditional platforms, metrics, data gathering and dissemination). (See Table 2 below.)
Table 2. New Domain: Monitor Evolving Trends Related to the Medical Publication Profession
Please access the Candidate Handbook for information on candidate eligibility, application completion and fees, scheduling the exam, preparation for the exam, and more.
Thank You!
ISMPP would like to thank our dedicated volunteers for their time and contributions to the ISMPP CMPPTM program!
| Certification Board | Credentialing Committee | Recertification Committee |
| Chair: Suzann Schiller Vice-chair: John Gonzalez, PhD Secretary: Jason McDonough, PhD Trustee: Tim Collinson Trustee: Mary Richardson Trustee: Beth Whann Public Director: John Parascondola, PhD |
Faith DiBiasi (Co-chair) Rachel Sherman (Co-chair) Kim Buscemi Trish Deja Claudia Piano Tom Rees Shannon Winters |
Dana Fox (Chair) Cynthia Calabresse Kristen Clark Pia Graham Amanda Johns Sharon Napolitano Meredith Rogers Susan Scott |