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The ICMCI programme is operated through the Member Institutes of ICMCI, and provides an exemplary means for engagement of these Members with substantial consulting firms so that they can enable their staff to proceed to obtaining the CMC.

The scheme is aimed at those consulting practices that recruit, select, train, develop, and assess the competence of consultants who on joining were not yet at the standard of the international profession, that is were not yet at CMC standard.

The Member Institute engages with the firm in a programme that focusses on the key development activities of their consultants.  The processes and practice are assessed against the internationally recognised ICMCI standards.  This is a unique opportunity for a consulting firm as there is no other such assessment available that is authoritative independent and confidential.

In addition, the assessment enables the Member Institute to be able to specify a milestone during the ACP's development and appraisal process that a candidate could be ready to be prepared for an application to become a CMC. On an an ACP by ACP basis the Member Institute will specify what is is required for the Institute to award the candidate the CMC.  This may be a general requirement (such as passing an ethics examination) or be very specific (such as providing client feedback).  Whatever the defined process this will be less than that required for an independent application.  This saves the candidate effort (essentially saving replicating some of the assessment and appraisal activity undertaken by their employer) and the Member Institute also has a simpler process.

It is stressed that the CMC can only be awarded by the Member Institute: the ACP makes a recommendation (with supporting evidence) that the candidate has reached the agreed milestone achievement level.

Benefits reported to date by ACPs. Candidates and Member Institutes

  • “There was no other way for me to demonstrate to my partners managing the firm that we were consistent with international best practice” HR partner in a major international firm
  • “This enabled us to be able to offer the opportunity to new graduates of having an internationally recognised qualification should they leave.  The candidates were aware that only a certain percentage would remain more than four years with us and this gave them another reason for joining us.  When you are trying to recruit the 'best of the best' in competition with other consultancies, any edge is valuable” Another senior partner responsible for graduate recruitment.
  • “Our arrangement included a representative of the local Institute sitting on our internal Certification Board.  This made the Board examination more professional and increased the reputation of the board with our internal staff and candidates” Managing Director of a large practice.
  • “I would not have been aware of the professional institute without the ACP programme, but now I have a deeper understanding of the requirements to be a competent consultant, have atended many CPD events and am proud to to have CMC on my business card”  A CMC
  • “Not having to repeat all the work which need for =our annual appraisal, and even worse not having the change it all into a different format, made the difference between me applying for a CMC and not doing so: I was, thankfully, just too busy for the full process”  Another CMC
  • “The ACP process has enabled us to engage with many large practices, and as a consequence clearly demonstrate our relevance and value to them”  A Member Institute
  • “When we formed nearly forty years ago, the large practices were key to that formation. As time has progressed many of our original members are now away from the the large firms, but still are a significant proportion of our membership. The ACP scheme enabled us both to re-engage with the large firms and also to make the age profile of our membership more representative of the age profile of the profession in our country” A Member Institute.

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