The Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation

The CMC is the designation of a Certified Management Consultant. It is recognized in 47 different countries and is the highest earned recognition that can be achieved in the management consulting profession. It is the standard for excellence, competence, and ethics in consulting.

The Mark of Excellence

When selecting a management consultant, executives are well advised to seek individuals who meet the profession's standards of competence and ethics. The CMC designation is a valuable aid in this quest. Certification by the Institute of Management Consultants is the mark of excellence among management consulting professionals. Less than 1% of all consultants have achieved this certification. For more information see Why hire a CMC?

Certification

When you see the initials "CMC" following a consultant's name, it means that he or she is a Certified Management Consultant and has met the strict certification requirements of The Institute of Management Consultants. The Institute was founded in 1968 by the principal associations in the consulting field to establish publicly recognized standards of competence and professional conduct for the individual management consultant. Candidates for Institute certification undergo a thorough investigation of their consulting experience; they are interviewed by a panel of senior consultants to verify their competence; and they must pass a written examination evidencing their knowledge of the Institute's Code of Ethics.

• A Certified Management Consultant must have had at least three years of experience in the full-time practice of management consulting, with major responsibility for clients projects during at least one of those years
• The CMC has had to provide multiple references, most of them officers or executives of clients served. These references have been investigated to assure that the consulting relationship met the client's objectives.
• The CMC has had to provide written summaries of client assignments (disguised to protect client identity).
• The CMC has had to pass a qualifying interview by senior CMCs, demonstrating professional competence and currency in areas of specialization, application of experience, and understanding of the management process.
• The CMC has had to pass a written examination demonstrating understanding of the Code of Ethics and consulting principles.

  Code Of Ethics

  IMC members pledge in writing to abide by the Institute's Code of Ethics. Their adherence to the Code signifies voluntary assumption of self-discipline above and beyond the law. Key provisions of the Code require that IMC members:

  • Safeguard confidential information and render impartial, independent advice
  • Accept only those client engagements they are qualified to perform
  • Agree with the client in advance on the basis for professional charges
  • Develop realistic and practical solutions to client problems

  The Institute enforces the Code by receiving and investigating complaints of violations and by taking disciplinary action, including revocation of certification against any member who is found guilty of Code violation.

  Clients

  1. We will serve our client with integrity, competence, and objectivity.

  2. We will keep client information and records of client engagements confidential and will use proprietary client information only with the client's permission.

  3. We will not take advantage of confidential client information for ourselves or our firms.

  4. We will not allow conflicts of interest which provide a competitive advantage to one client through our use of confidential information from another client who is a direct competitor without that client's permission.

  Engagements

  5. We will accept only engagements for which we are qualified by our experience and competence.

  6. We will assign staff to client engagements in accord with their experience, knowledge and expertise.

  7. We will immediately acknowledge any influences on our objectivity to our clients and will offer to withdraw from consulting engagement when our objectivity or integrity may be impaired.

  Fees

  8. We will agree independently and in advance on the basis for our fees and expenses and will charge fees and expenses that are reasonable, legitimate and commensurate with the services we deliver and the responsibility we accept.

  9. We will disclose to our clients in advance any fees or commissions that we will receive for equipment, supplies or services we recommend to our clients.

  Profession

  10. We will respect the intellectual property rights of our clients, other consulting firms, and sole practitioners and will not use proprietary information or methodologies without permission.

  11. We will not advertise our services in a deceptive manner and will not misrepresent the consulting profession, consulting firms, or sole practitioners.

  12. We will report violations of the Code of Ethics.

  When you see the initials CMC following a consultant's name, it shows that he or she is a Certified Management Consultant and has met strict certification requirements of the  Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) and the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI)  a proof meaning the consultant has met world class standards of competence, ethics and independence, and is eligible for reciprocity between ICMCI member institutes.