CPSM – the What, How, and Why?
Posted by [email protected] on Nov. 2, 2022 / Subscribe 0
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a few dozen hundred unread emails in your inbox, your to-do list is generally longer at the end of the day than at the start… let’s not mention the unfinished projects accumulating at home. All that to say, most of us have A LOT going on!! So, the idea that we have the availability to prepare for (and pass!) the demanding CPSM exam for somewhat unquantifiable returns is far-fetched. Can it be done? Absolutely. Is it worth it? By my assessment—it depends, but the reality is, there are very few shortcuts if you do decide to pursue the certification.
TLTR: The process is long; the benefits are long-lasting. Read on to learn more.
What to Expect
The Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) Exam is a 150-question, multiple choice exam that covers the six “domains of practice” that encompass best practices of marketing and business development within the AEC industry: Marketing Planning, Marketing Research, Client and Business Development, Proposals, Promotions, and Management.
Things to know:
- Questions on the exam are meant to apply to a relatively large national firm, non-specific to either a designer (architecture/engineering) or builder (construction). This means that for many of us, the correct answer does not necessarily align with our own personal experience. It’s all very general.
- You must read all six books with Markedium. Markendium is the collection of literature that covers the six domains. One book per domain. Many potential exam questions are pulled from details buried in the literature and the only way you’d know the correct answer is by reading each thoroughly.
- A passing grade is 75% or higher. It’s not a cake walk. The rate of passing itself is well below 75% and closer to 50%.
- SMPS is in the process of updating Markendium. The next testing period in March 2023 (the exam window is only open in March and September each year), is expected to be the last one supported by the current Markedium So if you’ve started studying but had to set it aside, or you attempted the exam but didn’t have the best of luck the first time around, now is the time to brush up and knock it out before you likely would need to start over again with new study materials.
How to Prepare
Everyone has their own approach to studying that works for them. (When a fellow member introduced me to digital flashcards, I laughed… I’d already begun assembling my very tangible, old-school pile of 5”x3” index cards.) Below is the general study approach that I took this past year ahead of passing the exam in September. I offer it up, not as a guide, but to demonstrate what degree of effort may be necessary to be successful come test time.
Nine months out
- While I strived to begin the study process in January (planning for a September exam), all those pesky responsibilities that we talked about (add in my impressive procrastination skills) slowed things down considerably.
- I did benefit from participating in a multi-week CPMS Bootcamp (thank you SMPS Philadelphia!). Listening to the overviews and conversations helped me understand what I was getting myself into, and what to focus on come study time. SMPS South Florida is now offering a FREE CPSM Study program to all SMPS members. Check it out!
Six Five Four and a half months out
- Like I said, impressive procrastination. At this point though, I cracked open Markendium and started diving into the material. Sometimes I managed to take a focused lunch break and study, but most of my prep over the next several months occurred on the weekends, either hunkered down at the Barnes and Noble café or in the passenger’s seat of my car as my family traveled to/from various summer excursions. The hardest part of the exam is finding the time to study, and study well.
- My approach: I gave myself about two weeks to get through each Markendium book, while taking pretty copious notes. Then I’d create flashcards for all the glossary words listed in the back.
Two weeks out
- The notetaking proved very helpful. By the end, I’d essentially created a CliffsNotes version of Markendium which became very helpful for review. I didn’t need to reread the entire collection again.
- I would reread my notes for a section and then run through the flash cards. The flash cards pretty much went with me everywhere for a while… as cumbersome as 300 index cards in your purse is…
- I also went back to the CPSM Bootcamp material. If you’re going to participate in a study course with an SMPS chapter, make sure that they record their sessions so you can go back and review the most critical points of the material. (SMPS South Florida does provide recordings.)
Exam time
- I scheduled my test for a Saturday afternoon but opted to take Friday off from work to stay focused and give myself some time to decompress.
- You’ll be taking the exam at a monitored testing facility. They are not the most welcoming or comfortable of spaces but it the lack of any atmosphere definitely keeps you focused on the task at hand.
- Sleep well, eat well, and remind yourself that the world will keep turning regardless of how you fare on this completely elective exam.
Why go through it?
I am glad that I chose to pursue the CPSM certification. I’d considered it for several years but was skeptical of how it would really benefit me in the long run. My employer wasn’t familiar with the certification or its significance and I’m not sure that being able to put some letters at the end of my name will have any major bearing on the course of my career. But, the process has already proven extremely valuable.
While I was studying and taking my “CliffNotes,” I was also taking personal notes about how I could apply the ideals and best practices at my own company. It’s a long list! While I didn’t agree with every facet of Markendium or find it all relatable to a 100-person transportation engineering firm, I did learn about success stories at other AEC firms that could be tailored; ideas I likely never would have thought up on my own. The content will undoubtedly inform much of my approach to strategic planning and management for the rest of my career.
In my experience, preparing for the CPSM exam takes a great deal of commitment. My advice to those who choose to pursue the certification is avoid simply looking to the finish line; seek out value in the preparation process. It will likely make the sacrifices of time and energy feel less arduous and the payout feel far more rewarding.
I am extremely proud to count myself among the highly qualified AEC marketing and BD professionals around the country that also carry the CPSM certification and I am happy to share any insight or advice with those interested in taking the exam in the future. You can reach me at [email protected].
To learn more, visit: https://www.smps.org/learning/certification/how-to-become-a-cpsm/
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