Become Certified
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Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) certification program has developed eligibility requirements to make the application process impartial for all applicants while ensuring professional competence. Certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) demonstrates to clients, employers, colleagues, and the public at large that an individual has met the highest standards of professional practice, including completing a combination of educational and work requirements, successfully passing a certification exam, agreeing to adhere to ethical principles and standards, and committing to ongoing professional development.
Each requirement serves to ensure individuals certified by the Certification Council have an acceptable level of knowledge and skills needed to provide applied sport and performance psychology services as defined in the scope of the CMPC program. The Council acknowledges applied experience and demonstrated knowledge are essential to earning the CMPC credential.
Certification candidates must meet all eligibility requirements established by the Council at the time of application. Candidates cannot become certified without passing the certification exam.
Complete details regarding the eligibility requirements are outlined in the CMPC Certification Program Candidate Handbook. A summary of application requirements is listed below.
CMPC Fact Sheet: Setting a Higher Standard in Mental Performance
The disciplines included within the sport psychology field applicable to those holding the CMPC designation include: clinical psychology, educational psychology and clinical mental health counseling, social work, industrial-organizational psychology, and sport psychology from a sport science basis. A CMPC may work with a wide variety of participants in sport and performance.
*Unaccepted degree areas include: business/leadership, education, M.D., occupational therapy, sociology, and sport management to name a few. To determine if a degree not listed here meets the eligibility requirements, please contact the CMPC Certification Council.
The CMPC Council is responsible for setting policies and processes that uphold the highest standards for mental performance credentialing. Due to the increased interest in CMPC and volume of applications, the CMPC Council is unable to provide individualized assistance such as "soft review" of coursework or evaluation of transcripts at this time. Even if a CMPC Council member did provide a "soft review" it would not be binding until officially reviewed as part of the formal application process. The Council understands that candidates face decisions regarding registering for courses. We strongly encourage CMPC candidates to work closely with an Approved Mentor regarding selecting coursework and mentored experiences.
To apply for new CMPC Certification:
- Complete and submit the CMPC Application Form in the Certemy portal by following the instructions provided. Applicants must have earned a master’s or doctoral degree in an area clearly related to sport science or psychology from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education (or non-US equivalent) and completed coursework/educational experiences for university credit, or courses offered by AASP, to fulfill eight knowledge areas: K1*. Professional Ethics and Standards; K2*. Sport Psychology; K3. Sport Science; K4. Psychopathology; K5*. Helping Relationships; K6*. Research Methods and Statistics; K7. Psychological Foundations of Behavior; K8*. Diversity and Culture. Graduate-level credit must be completed in the knowledge areas designated with an asterisk (*). Click here to see examples of areas of study that are considered related to sport science or psychology, and those that are not considered related.
- Have official transcripts sent from the university/college of qualifying master’s or doctoral degree to AASP. The institution should email all transcripts directly to certification@appliedsportpsych.org. Submit official transcripts from each university/college at which any other coursework was completed. CMPC Admin uploads official transcripts into Certemy on behalf of the applicant on a biweekly schedule once all other steps have been completed. See the Application Forms page for more information about the transcript upload process.
- Applicants must have completed a 400-hour mentored experience consisting of a minimum of 200 hours spent in direct client contact, a minimum of 150 hours spent in support activities, and a minimum of 50 hours spent in mentorship (i.e., face-to-face mentorship, electronic mentorship, and direct knowledge of services). A minimum of 100 hours across these categories must be spent with competitive sport populations. Mentors must be approved to provide mentorship by the Certification Council. Browse the Registry of Approved Mentors.
- Submit a signed Mentorship Verification Form from each mentor. For more information regarding the mentorship process, please review the CMPC Mentor Guidelines and Best Practice Recommendations, Group Mentoring Policy, and Guidance on Beginning the CMPC Mentored Experience and Engaging in Virtual Consulting.
- Submit a completed and signed Ethical Code statement. This page is found within the application in Certemy.
- Pay the application fee of $375. CSPA Student/Apprentice Members apply for new certification pay an application fee of $300 USD.
- Applicants are eligible to take the certification exam following the Council’s review and approval of their application and accompanying documentation. Approved applicants are required to schedule and take the exam at an approved testing center or via live online proctoring within six months of their application approval. CMPC Program staff will provide instructions on how to schedule the test date within the email notice of approval.
