Examination Details and Preparation

Discover LearningBuilder: ISMPP's New Certification Management Platform!

Click here to view the recording of the ISMPP U webinar on the new platform. 

Note: To view the free recording and slides you will need to sign in to the ISMPP Learning Hub or sign up for a free account by clicking on "Sign Up" in the upper right corner in the ISMPP Learning Hub. 

Click here to view "LearningBuilder Frequently Asked Questions".

CMPP Exam Now Available Online!

CMPP candidates now have the option to take the exam online — almost anywhere (eg, office, home) any time (24 hours/day, seven days/week). Candidates will still have the option to sit for the exam at one of the many Pearson global test centers. Once your CMPP exam application is approved, Pearson will provide instructions for scheduling your exam either at a global test center or online via OnVUE, Pearson's remote, online proctoring technology.

 For more information about the online exam option, click here.

EXAM OVERVIEW

Qualified candidates can take the three-hour exam during two 30-day testing windows each year either online or at approved testing center locations throughout the world.

Dates for the next examination window are:

Next Examination:

September 1-30, 2025

Application Deadline:

August 1, 2025

Our testing partner, Pearson Vue has expanded our access to over 6,600 testing centers worldwide!  To find a testing center near you, click here.

CMPP Examination Application:

Please follow the instructions below to access the CMPP exam application in LearningBuilder.

• For ISMPP members: Log in to LearningBuilder using the ISMPP member link. This will synchronize your ISMPP member profile with your CMPP profile in LearningBuilder and allow you to access the CMPP exam application.

• For non-members needing to submit certification or recertification applications: Pay the $235 non-member administrative fee*, which includes a complimentary year of membership in ISMPP. This fee covers the cost of setting up your profile in LearningBuilder to access the exam application. Click here to join ISMPP, and after joining you may access the CMPP exam application. 

 *Although you may opt out of your ISMPP membership, the non-member administrative fee is required and non-refundable. Renewing your ISMPP membership yearly is recommended, as it provides many opportunities to earn recertification credits, including free monthly ISMPP U webinars and access to member archives, which contain pre-approved ISMPP U recordings and conference sessions.

Your ISMPP membership is valuable as it provides many CMPP study resources and renewing it every year is recommended for opportunities to earn recertification credits, including free monthly ISMPP U webinars and access to member archives, which contain pre-approved ISMPP U recordings and conference sessions.

Application Process and Exam Fees

The CMPP™ application process is handled directly by ISMPP. Examination administration is managed by an external certification partner (Pearson).

Click here to download the Candidate Handbook, which contains details about the examination and application process.

Click here to view the Certification Fact Sheet

The exam fee is $575, except for the developing countries, where the fee is $385. The retake fee is $195 for those candidates who do not pass the exam and retake it during the next testing window. If you are not an ISMPP member, you must pay the ISMPP membership fee before you can access the exam application.

Scheduling Process for Test Centers

To Schedule an appointment (after you have received an authorization email from Pearson):

1. <Sign In> https://home.pearsonvue.com/ismpp
2. From the Dashboard>Schedule an exam>Pre-approved exams, click on the exam name:  CMPP:  Certified Medical Publication Professional
3. Agree to PTI Policies
4. Find a test Center
5. Find an appointment
6. “Is everything correct?” select <Next>
7. “Almost there…” select <Submit Order>
8. YOU ARE BOOKED! will display and an Appointment Confirmation email will be sent within a few minutes.

To Reschedule an appointment

1. <Sign In> https://home.pearsonvue.com/ismpp
2. From the Dashboard>View an upcoming test center appointment, click on the exam name:  CMPP:  Certified Medical Publication Professional
3. Exam Appointment Details, select <Reschedule>
4. Find an appointment
5. Agree to PTI Policies
6. “Is everything correct?” select <Next>
7. “Almost there…” select <Confirm Reschedule>

YOUR APPOINTMENT IS RESCHEDULED! will display and a Confirmation of Rescheduled Pearson VUE exam appointment email will be sent within a few minutes. 

To Cancel an appointment

1. <Sign In> https://home.pearsonvue.com/ismpp
2. From the Dashboard>Schedule an exam>Pre-approved exams, click on the exam name:  CMPP: Certified Medical Publication Professional
3. Exam Appointment Details, select <Cancel>
4. “Cancel your appointment”, select <Confirm cancellation>
5. YOUR APPOINTMENT IS CANCELED! Will display and a Cancelled Appointment email will be sent within a few minutes.

Click here for instructions with screenshots for scheduling, rescheduling, and canceling an appointment.

For online exams, candidates may use Pearson's online reservation system as they would for exams at a test center.  Candidates can also schedule online exams 24 hours per day, seven days per week from any device with internet access.

About the CMPP™ Exam

As is standard with this type of certification, the CMPP™ exam has been prepared to ensure that each candidate has a broad understanding across a set of critical information domains, and to ensure a minimum acceptable standard of practice across the industry. The current pass rate of the exam is ~80%.

The three knowledge domains tested are:

• Developing a publication plan

• Implementing a publication plan

• Fostering ethical and compliant behavior in publications

Part of the development process includes the psychometric validation of the examination, which assesses candidates on all aspects of professional publication planning. The examination includes 150 multiple-choice, psychometrically validated, computer-based questions. Examinations are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Eligibility Criteria

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university or an equivalent educational degree as determined by ISMPP, and

• Four thousand (4,000) hours of active, verifiable employment predominantly involving developing a publication plan, implementing a publication plan, and fostering ethical and compliant behavior in publications as defined in the Candidate Handbook. Such qualifying work includes employment with medical publication planning or communications agencies; pharmaceutical companies; biotechnology or device companies; and/or medical publishing firms.

[NOTE: Four thousand (4,000) employment hours and/or freelance/contracted assignment hours are the equivalent of two (2) years of full-time work experience].

OR

• High School Diploma, or an equivalent, completed educational course of study, as determined by ISMPP; and

• Ten thousand (10,000) hours of active, verifiable employment predominantly involving developing a publication plan, implementing a publication plan, and fostering ethical and compliant behavior in publications, as defined in the Candidate Handbook. Such qualifying work includes employment with medical publication planning or communications agencies; pharmaceutical companies; biotechnology or device companies; and/or medical publishing firms.

Exam Results