The ASP Family of Credentials

  SMP SPP SPA REP
 
Full Name
 Strategic Management Professional Level II Strategic Planning Professional Level I Strategic Planning Associate Qualified ASP
Registered Educational Provider (REP)
Role
 Works with C-Level Executives and their Teams Works with Executives, Managers, and their Teams Becoming a professional as a student or in a associate role or just transferring to a Planning Department Provides ASP qualified training and consulting education on ASP’s BOK
BOK - Body of Knowledge
Eligibility Requirements
  • 5 years (minimum) as an internal Executive or external Consultant leading multiple Strategic Planning assignments
  • College Graduate or 10 years experience
  • Demonstrates Mastery of entire BOK through REP Courses/PDUs
  • Obtained SPP Certification
  • 2 years (minimum) in an internal planning role or junior external Planning Consultant
  • College Graduate or 5 years of work experience
  • Demonstrates Mastery of Level I in BOK through REP Courses/PDUs
PDUs - Professional Development Units
  • Last year in a degreed program (Undergraduate or Graduate Degree)
  • CAP STONE Exam
  • Or someone starting out in Planning transferring from another discipline
  • Agree to sit for SPP within 3 years
Note: No experience in Planning or Business Acumen required
  • Yearly Qualification of REPs
    • Courses
    • US BOK materials
    • Lead instructors must qualify also
Steps to Obtaining Credential
  1. Submit Required Application
  2. Take and Pass Certification Levels I (SPP) and II (SMP) Examinations
Note: ASP Pioneers are Exam Exempt as they built the Exams.
  1. Submit Required Application
  2. Take and Pass Certification Level I Examination
  1. Submit Required Application
  2. Take and Pass Certification Level I Examination
  1. Submit Required Application and back up materials
  2. Pay Application and REP Course fee
  3. Post/advertise on ASP website
  4. Eligible to use ASP logo on all materials, to place ads in ASP Newsletter and priority to present at ASP Conference or pre/post events
Exam Information
  • SMP Exam covers entire BOK competencies through REP Courses/PDUs
  • Level I - 3 Hours; 160 Questions
  • Level II - 3 Hours; 160 Questions
By Professional Testing Corporation www.PTCNY.com
  • Covers Level I competencies in BOK through REP Courses/PDUs
  • Level I - 3 Hours; 160 Questions
By Professional Testing Corporation www.PTCNY.com
  • Demonstrates knowledge of Planning only
  • Level I - 3 Hours; 160 Questions
By Professional Testing Corporation www.PTCNY.com
  • No Exam, just Application
Application/Exam Fees for ASP Members
  • Application - $100
  • Exam - $300
Exam takes about 3 hours to complete.
  • Application - $100
  • Exam - $300
Exam takes about 3 hours to complete.
  • Application - $100
  • Exam - $300
Scholarships may be granted to ASP Members
Exam takes about 3 hours to complete.
  • Yearly Application - $100
  • Yearly Fee - $1000 (1 Course)
  • Yearly Fee - $2000 (2-4 Courses)
  • Yearly Fee - $3000 (5+ Courses) and listing on ASP Website
    Listing on ASP Website for all 2010 prorated (10/12 mos). Payment Plans ok.
Application/Exam Fees for Non-Members
  • Application - $150
  • Exam - $400
  • Application - $150
  • Exam - $400
  • Application - $150
  • Exam - $400
No Scholarships		 N/A
Re-Certification Credential Requirements
  • Every 5 years/Re-submit Application
  • Re-take Exam or submit 9 CEUs/90 PDUs on BOK from ASP/REPs
    - Pay Application/Exam fees
  • Provide 10 potential Test Questions
  • Every 3 years/Re-submit Application
  • Re-take Exam or submit 6 CEUs/60 PDUs on BOK from ASP/REPs
    - Pay Application/Exam fees
  • Credential good for only 3 years when they are expected to submit SPP Application
  • 6 CEUs/90 PDUs on BOK from ASP/REPs
  • Re-take SPP Level I Examination
    - Pay Application/Exam fees
  • Yearly Qualification

ASP CERTIFICATION PROCESS PLAN – FINAL

January 8, 2010

PURPOSES

This business plans sets forth the framework to help facilitate the ASP Board to implement a Strategic Management and Strategic Planning Professional Certification process (and Strategic Planning Associate Designation too).

  1. Establish Strategic Planning and Management as a recognized professional discipline with Think-Plan-Act as its essential components.
  2. Provide an objective criterion for users to assess the competence of candidates for staff or consultant positions requiring Strategic Planning expertise.
  3. Establish “the” Body of Knowledge for the profession; (including ethics over time)
  4. Establish a robust set of educational programs through Registered Educational Providers for assisting individuals in their preparation for initial certification and recertification.
  5. Serve as a revenue source, generating positive cash flows for the association from the beginning and ongoing.
  6. Establish ASP as the premier association in Strategic Planning and Strategic Management for both internal and external planning professionals, Worldwide.

ASSESSMENT OF NEED

The ASP Certification Team conducted a survey of Members to determine the “market” for a certification in strategic planning and strategic management. The results of that survey are on the ASP website as an Appendix to this plan. Listed below are a couple of key findings:

  1. 71.4% of the respondents stated that they felt attaining credentials or certifications in this field were Somewhat or Highly important.
  2. The respondents felt that advancing the profession, advancing individual career and helping to identify qualified professionals were all significant value propositions that would accrue from a strategic planning credential or certification.
  3. The respondents saw the following personal benefits from a strategic planning credential or certificate.
    1. Credibility in current position
    2. Staying up-to-date in current field
    3. Acquire new knowledge and skills

The results indicated a high degree of interest in and perceived value obtained from a credentialing or certification process in strategic planning for both Junior and Senior Planning Professionals.

The survey results combined with the Boards perception of a need and that of the Certification Core and Extended Team suggest that there is sufficient interest in pursuing the process of establishing these certifications for the profession further.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM CRITERIA: This Program will be Simple (KISS), clear and focused, yet still rigorous and inclusive of all sectors and geography to draw large #s of people to be Certified.

ASP CERTIFICATIONS AND PROCESS

Two levels of certification will be awarded by ASP:

  1. The Strategic Planning Professional (SPP)
  2. The Strategic Management Professional (SMP)

In addition, a Strategic Planning Associate (SPA) designation—not Certification will be awarded by ASP as noted in this document

APPLICATION FRAMEWORK:
The steps for Level 1 and Level 2 are specified below. The key is that the Framework around which the entire Application is organized will be by the Body of Knowledge Framework to ensure the Applicant has the breadth and depth of the 21st Century Best Practices in Planning. Therefore each component of the Process will be organized by:

Lead-Think-Plan-Act-Business Acumen-Roles

NOTE: One CEU = 10 contact hours = 10 ASP PDUs
(An ASP Professional Development Unit-PDU = one contact hour)

LEVEL #1: THE CORE:
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROFESSIONAL (SPP) CREDENTIAL		 LEVEL #2: ADVANCED:
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL (SMP) CREDENTIAL
STEP #1: APPLICATION : (Using a Point Scoring System TBD)

1. EDUCATION – documentation of participation in a total of “x” CEUs or equivalents of education or degrees/certification programs in leadership, strategic thinking, strategic planning and taking strategic action appropriate to this level of certification from an ASP registered educational provider (REPs-institution, firm or association). That has qualified their curriculum and lead instructors with ASP vs. The body of knowledge.

NOTE: Some prestigious Universities may have their courses grandfathered regardless of whether they are qualified REPs or not. We will strongly recommend they align their courses with our Body of Knowledge

REP Points are worth double the others to incentivize attendance.

NOTE: ASP CONFERENCES AND CHAPTER MEETINGS WILL COUNT AS CEU EQUIVALENTS or PDUs:
NOTE: One CEU = 10 contact hours and one Chapter Meeting will = one contact hour= 1 PDU. The two-day Annual Conference will be worth one CEU (10 contact hours = 10 PDUs)

2. TEACHING AND/OR WRITING – Points will be given for Teaching others in the field, as well as books and articles written in the Think-Plan-Act field.

3. EXPERIENCE/REFERENCES – a minimum total of two years experience. The experience is to be allocated into the areas of leadership, strategic thinking, strategic planning and taking strategic action. A minimum of two references from individual knowledgeable about positions you have held in one or more of the areas in which you have documented your experience as well as one character reference.

4. BUSINESS AND/OR SOCIETY ACUMEN – self-assessment of demonstrated academic and/or practical competence or years of experience in business (quality and depth).

5. A CASE STUDY - a write up of something they have done in planning along with lessons learned. The key is to make it objective with a pass/fail. Criteria will be established for this by the ASP Certification Governance Team.

== TOTAL POINTS: in totaling all the above points, an application score of “y” or better would be passing and allow them to take the final certification exam.

 STEP #1: APPLICATION: (Using a Point Scoring System TBD)

1. EDUCATION – documentation of participation in a total of “z” CEUs or equivalents of education or degrees/certification programs in leadership, strategic thinking, strategic planning and taking strategic action appropriate to this level of certification from an ASP registered educational provider (REPs-institution, firm or association) that has qualified their curriculum and lead instructors with ASP vs. the body of knowledge.

NOTE: Some prestigious Universities may have their courses grandfathered regardless of whether they are qualified REPs or not. We will strongly recommend they align their courses with our Body of Knowledge.

REP Points are worth double the others to incentivize attendance.

NOTE: ASP CONFERENCES AND CHAPTER MEETINGS WILL COUNT AS CEU EQUIVALENTS or PDUs AS NOTED ON THE LEFT (Chapter Meeting = 1 hour= 1 PDU) (Conference = 1 CEU = 10 PDUs)

2. TEACHING AND/OR WRITING – Points will be given for Teaching others in the field, as well as books and articles written in the Think-Plan-Act field.

3. EXPERIENCE/REFERENCES – five or more years experience. The experience is to be allocated in to the areas of leadership, strategic thinking, strategic planning and taking strategic action. A minimum of three references in leadership positions from individuals who are knowledgeable about positions you have held in the areas in which you have documented your experience as well as one character reference.

4. BUSINESS AND/OR SOCIETY ACUMEN - self assessment of demonstrated academic and/or practical competence or years of experience in business at a sr. business level.

5. A CASE STUDY – a write up of something they have done in strategic thinking, strategic planning, implementation/change and strategic leadership with lessons learned. The key is to make it objective with a pass/fail. Criteria will be established for this by the ASP Certification Governance Team.

== TOTAL POINTS: in totaling all the above points, an application score of “y” or better would be passing and allow them to take the final certification exam.
STEP #2: Certification Exam (Conducted by a Neutral 3rd Party-Professional Testing Corporation of NYC)

1. Exam questions would cover the “core” content in the Body of Knowledge.

2. An Ethics exam component would also be included over time.

3. An exam score of “A” or better with Multiple Choice questions will be considered passing.

 STEP #2: Certification Exam: (Conducted by a Neutral 3rd Party-Professional Testing Corporation of NYC)

1. Exam questions would cover the “entire” Body of Knowledge.

2. An Ethics exam component would also be included over time.

  1. An exam score of “B”% or better with Multiple Choice Questions will be considered passing.

ORAL BOARD: (May be before or after Step #2)
A 30 MINUTE Oral Board with Virtual dialogue and Review will be conducted to ensure verification of their Senior Level Certification. The key question to be answered is: “Would I hire this person to lead my strategic thinking, development, review and execution process?”
RECERTIFICATION PROCESS—STRATEGIC PLANNING PROFESSIONAL:
Two Options:

1. They can be Recertified every 3 years by re- taking the “Core” content Exam in the Body of Knowledge.

2. Or they can have taken “6 CEUs/60 PDUs of Strategic Planning training on the Body of Knowledge over the past 3 years from Registered Education Providers and ASP Events

In either case, they have to fill out and pay the application again and pay the test fee as well.

They will also be required to submit some future test Questions and Answers to help keep the exam up to date.

 RECERTIFICATION PROCESS—STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL:
Two Options:

1. They can be Recertified every 5 years by re- taking the “Core” content Exam in the Body of Knowledge.

2. Or, they can be Recertified every 5 years by showing they have taken “9” CEU Credits/ 90 PDUs on the Body of Knowledge from Registered Education Providers and ASP Events.

In either case, they have to fill out and pay the application again and pay the test fee as well.

They will also be required to submit some future test Questions and Answers to help keep the exam up to date.
STRATEGIC PLANNING ASSOCIATE
  1. 1. Submit a Level I Application without filling in the Experience, Bus. Acumen or Case Study.
    Just fill in:
    --Education
    --Any teaching or writings
    --References
  2. 2. Take and pass the Level I Certification Exam

NOTE: They then have 3 years to become a Level I Certified Strategic Planning Professional (SPP)—following the Criteria for an SPP above.

 GRANDFATHERING SENIOR-MOST PROFESSIONALS: THE PIONEERS WHO DEVELOPED THE EXAMS

A shortened version of this Application and Certification Process will be developed for those senior-most professionals with over 15 years of experience in the field who developed the Exam Questions and Answers —still ensuring rigor and comprehensiveness. Must be completed in 2010 window for this only.

NOTE: they must agree to use the certification and help promote it in return.

Here