AMA Certified Professional in Management™

As a leader in management training and education, AMA developed management competencies and a certification program in professional management to improve performance excellence.

• Our mission is to create a standard of excellence in management.
• Our vision is to improve society by helping individuals and organizations achieve performance excellence through management certification.

In order to accomplish this mission and vision, AMA has created eligibility requirements; a fair, valid and reliable examination; and ongoing maintenance of recertification requirements through which candidates can demonstrate their management competencies.

The ideal target audience is early to mid-level managers. A few possible audiences:

• One with no management experience who wants the certification to support promotional opportunities in the future
• One who recently became a manager and wants the certification to demonstrate that they have met the credential’s standards
• One with management experience who wants the certification to demonstrate that they have met the credential’s standards

Managers are defined as anyone who manages people and process, so they may hold a title of team leader, supervisor, manager, assistant manager, etc., within their organization.

Those who possess the AMA Certified Professional in Management™ credential communicate that they have met the credential’s standards and bring value to business and industry, employers and supervisors, other professionals and the public.

Attaining the credential may give certified professionals a competitive edge over other colleagues and applicants for the same job.

Those who have the credential will be able to show current and future employers that they have met a standard that exemplifies critical knowledge, skills and abilities needed for professional managers – including in areas related to professional effectiveness, relationship management, business acumen and analytical intelligence.

Organizations hire employees with various certifications–project management, human resources, IT, etc. The reasons why organizations would want certified managers include:

• Increased level of assurance that managers holding the designation have a better quality of skills and knowledge of management than those who do not.
• Organizations can rely on the certification and recertification process to address skill gaps in their management population and ensure continuous development.
• In general, people do not leave jobs, they leave managers. The certification will ensure managers have the skills and knowledge to increase productivity and create a positive work environment.
• The standard in management includes competencies in the 4 domains of effective management–Professional Effectiveness, Relationship Management, Business Acumen and Analytical Intelligence. Developing competence in these 4 areas will increase organizational performance.
• Client and investors may have greater confidence in how the business is managed.

AMA and ACT conducted a job task analysis for the role of the manager. A draft description of a competent manager was developed and validated and aligned to the structure of the AMA Total Professional℠ at the manager level. The competencies for a manager are in four areas: professional effectiveness, relationship management, business acumen, and analytical intelligence. The Management Body of Knowledge includes detailed information on each competency within each area.

There are multiple pathways to eligibility, each of which is based on education and professional experience:

Certification is based on qualifying for and passing the exam. The prep course or any other course providing Professional Management Units (PMUs) are optional. The candidate can choose to take the exam without preparation, but this is not advised. AMA provides a prep course that includes The Management Body of Knowledge to help prepare the candidate. AMA will soon have registered educational providers (REPs) for additional options for preparation.

In order to get the certification, we recommend that you:

• Download the candidate handbook and test specifications
• Check to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements
• Study from the recommended resources
• Take a practice exam

You may also find it helpful to enroll in a Certified Professional in Management Exam Prep Course.

There are no formal courses or study requirements to take the exam. However, a candidate should consider attending a course to solidify their knowledge related to essential competencies for managers. Courses that are offering exam study materials can be obtained from the AMA website and includes the Certified Professional in Management Exam Prep Course from AMA. The course from AMA follows the topics in The Management Body of Knowledge and is generally aligned to the content of the test.

The Management Body of Knowledge has been written by a group of subject matter expert and is aligned with various parts of the test content outline. In addition, there are resources listed in the candidate handbook.

Yes, you can purchase the practice exam online.

The exam is aligned to the AMA Total Professional™ at the manager level and follows the topics listed in the content outline or test specifications. The AMA Total Professional includes key competencies and tasks associated with four areas: Professional Effectiveness, Relationship Management, Business Acumen, and Analytical Intelligence.

The examination is organized as follows:

The credential is held by the individual and will follow the individual throughout their career as long as they maintain their credential.

The exam is comprised of 175 single response, multiple choice questions designed to assess the applicant’s knowledge and skills in performing managerial tasks.

The exam itself is 3.5-hours. In addition, there is an optional tutorial before the exam and a post-test survey making the actual seating time 4 hours.

PSI provides the actual testing centers where candidates will go to take a proctored exam. The candidate will need to bring a valid driver’s license or other government issued ID to the testing center for identification purposes.

No; the exam is administered online, separately, at a PSI testing center. The examination required for certification is NOT part of any course.

After your application is approved and you receive an authorization, you can schedule your exam online. You must schedule your exam before arriving at a PSI test center.

You may decide to schedule your examination to occur within the next testing window that follows the completion of your study. Check the website for the dates of the scheduled testing windows and coordinate your preparation with the scheduled testing windows.

The AMA prep course is guaranteed so if you do not pass you can take another prep course at no additional charge.

Three times within your one-year eligibility period, but one time within one testing window. The eligibility period starts once your application is approved.

You will need to start the process over and re-apply to take the exam after your current eligibility period expires.

Yes, there are two fees associated with earning the certification–the $50.00 non-refundable application fee and the $450 USD examination fee.

The fee to take the exam again is $350 USD.

At any PSI testing center. Once you receive your authorization to test letter and start the process of scheduling your test you will be able to locate a PSI test center that is convenient to you. You will not be able to search for a test location before you receive your authorization to test.

The certification expires 3 years after it is attained unless continuing education requirements, called Professional Management Units (PMUs), are maintained.

Candidates will earn the right to place CPM after their names on business cards and signatures. Successful candidates will also be sent a link to a time-limited, digital representation of the credential that describes the knowledge and skills required to earn the certification.

Certificate holders will have to renew their certification every 3 years through attaining 60 Professional Management Units (PMUs) through education and professional development activities.

Education - 32 PMU Minimum: 1 hour = 1 PMU

• 3 PMUs Minimum in the area of: Professional Effectiveness
• 3 PMUs Minimum in the area of: Relationship Management
• 3 PMUs Minimum in the area of: Business Acumen
• 3 PMUs Minimum in the area of: Analytical Intelligence

Education can be:

• Formal – classroom or seminar (Evidence for audit – certificate of completion, transcript or badge)
• Informal – self education through reading or attending informal venues such as a ‘lunch and learns’ (Evidence for audit – notes and dates of education)

Advancing the Profession – 28 PMU Maximum: 1 hour = 1 PMU

• 8 PMUs Maximum Working
• 20 PMUs Maximum Volunteering or Creating/Presenting Content

Work is defined as:

• Serving as an active contributing team member
• Serving as a team lead
• Having responsibility for organizing other team members
• Driving and motivating team members
• Acting as an influencer or “go to” person without title authority
• Managing one or multiple direct reports
• Possessing functional or technical expertise

(Evidence for audit – Attestation providing evidence of employment for at least one year during the time you hold your credential)

Volunteering is defined as:

• Participating in the development and maintenance of the CPM certification program:

  (Evidence for audit – attendance)

  • 2-day meeting: 16 PMUs
  • 1-day meeting: 8 PMUs
  • 1 - 2-hour conference call: 2 PMUs
  • Certification Steering Committee: 20 PMUs (includes meetings and conference calls)
  • Advisory Board Committee: 20 PMUs (includes meetings and conference calls)
• Creating or Presenting Content:

  (Evidence for audit – copy of presentation, publication and/or course curriculum)

  • 5 PMUs preparing for and presenting in an informal venue such as a ‘lunch and learn’
  • 10 PMUs for preparing and presenting a presentation at a conference
  • 15 PMUs for preparing and publishing a peer-reviewed professional journal article
  • 20 PMUs preparing and presenting a college course on management
  • 20 PMUs for writing a chapter on management for an edited volume

Continuing education units specific to the AMA Certified Professional in Management™ (AMA-CPM™) certification are called Professional Management Units, or PMUs.