One of the critical components of certification (CIMA^®/CIMC^®/CPWA^®) is an education requirement. Currently, designees are required to complete and report a total of 40 continuing education (CE) hours, including 2 ethics CE hours, each two-year certification renewal period. Education programs delivered and/or sponsored by registered CE providers must meet criteria approved by our certification governing bodies.

Effective October 1, 2011, the three options for participation as a continuing education provider are:

1. As an IMCA Registered Continuing Education Sponsor—Click here to download Criteria and Application for Registered Continuing Education Sponsor.
2. As a provider of accepted continuing education programs—Click here to download Criteria and Application for Continuing Education Program Acceptance.
3. As a provider of continuing education programs not yet accepted by IMCA—education program sessions must be a minimum of 50 minutes to be considered for CE credit and must meet our accepted topics requirements. Certificants who attend CE programs not yet accepted by IMCA are required to report attendance using the CE Submittal Form and include a detailed agenda.

Continuing Education (CE) providers are required to maintain CE program attendee records.

All existing CE programs that have been accepted by IMCA prior to October 1, 2011 will be honored through December 31, 2011. However, the existing CE program must be resubmitted through the new CE acceptance application process beginning January 1, 2012 in order to continue to be recognized as an accepted CE program.

If there are other continuing education providers within your organization, please provide them with this information to ensure your continuing education program continues to be recognized and accepted by IMCA.

To view the format required for program acceptance, click here.

If you have additional questions please contact the Certification Department at certification@imca.org.