Certified Military Community Executive (CMCE)
Voluntary Certification Program

The Certified Military Community Executive (CMCE) Program is a mark of distinction and achievement. Those who have earned the CMCE designation are recognized as achieving the highest levels of job knowledge and leadership. The IMCEA CMCE Program enjoys the distinction of being the only military morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) certification program that is nationally registered by the National Certification Commission. To attain the CMCE designation, petitioners must accumulate an established number of job experience, education and additional points, as well as achieve a minimum passing score on a rigorous written examination.

The purpose and objectives of the CMCE are to raise the professional standards of the MWR management profession by awarding special recognition to those individuals who, by fulfilling prescribed standards, have demonstrated a high level of technical competence, knowledge and ethical fitness for holding management positions in the industry.

The goals are to make available to MWR professionals, on a voluntary basis, a procedure for recognition of personal and professional achievement in the MWR profession; to identify persons with exceptional knowledge of the management principles and technical expertise required in the military MWR management profession; to encourage managers in the profession to participate in a continuing program of professional development; and to make the public more conscious of qualified, ethical and professional managers in the military MWR system.

Those who earn their CMCE receive recognition of professional experience, education, and leadership in military MWR management. They get formal acknowledgement of CMCE status by IMCEA through presentation of the CMCE distinctive lapel pin and Certificate of CMCE Award and they earn the right to use CMCE initials after their name.

 
Petition for CMCE Recognition

CMCE Purpose and Objectives Purpose:
To raise the professional standards of the MWR management profession by awarding special recognition to those individuals who, by fulfilling prescribed standards, have demonstrated a high level of technical competence, knowledge and ethical fitness for holding management positions in the industry.

Goals:

• To make available to MWR professionals, on a voluntary basis, a procedure for recognition of personal and professional achievement in the MWR profession;
• To identify persons with exceptional knowledge of the management principles and technical expertise required in the military MWR management profession;
• To encourage managers in the profession to participate in a continuing program of professional development;
• To make the public more conscious of qualified, ethical and professional managers in the military MWR system.

Benefits of CMCE Designation:

• Recognition of professional experience, education, and leadership in military MWR management.
• Formal acknowledgement of CMCE status by IMCEA through presentation of CMCE distinctive lapel pin and Certificate of CMCE Award.
• Right to use CMCE initials after your name.

The Steps to Certification
Petitioner files on the CMCE form for evaluation by IMCEA National Office. Certification Committee evaluates Petition for CMCE and awards appropriate education, job experience and association points. Petitioner notified of eligibility or ineligibility for the written examination. If petitioner is qualified for the written examination, CMCE Study Materials are distributed to petitioner. If Petitioner is not a member of IMCEA, petitioner remits $50 processing fee to IMCEA National Office. If the petitioner is an IMCEA member, there is no charge for the initial certification. Arrangements are coordinated with IMCEA for written examination. If petitioner does not qualify for the written examination, petitioner is notified by IMCEA National Office and encouraged to resubmit Petition for CMCE after one year. Written examination is administered only to qualified petitioners.

Point System for CMCE
Meeting the criteria for achieving certification is not an easy feat. A point system based on job experience, education, and additional points awarded for Association activity or special achievement and recognition, and a written examination provides a quantifiable means to measure the petitioner’s qualifications to earn the CMCE designation. Points are awarded for each area, with emphasis placed on job experience, because it is primarily through "hands on" experience that a manager is able to develop and demonstrate competence. Education is also heavily weighted because true professionals pursue self-improvement through a continuing education system. Association activity is rewarded in the form of additional points, as they represent the MWR professional’s willingness to contribute to the overall betterment of the MWR profession by participating in IMCEA activities. Additional points are also awarded for exceeding established minimum point levels in job experience and education, special MWR recognition through special awards, and special contributions to the MWR system.

Job Experience Points (50 points minimum required): Experience points are awarded on the following basis:

• Military MWR program or facility managers, directors, office chiefs or equivalent level leadership or management position: 10 points per year.
• Assistant program managers, directors, office chief or equivalent leadership or management position: 5 points per year.
• Civilian hospitality or recreation manager position: 5 points per year (one-half credit for each six- months period, but less than one full year experience in any of the above positions.)

Educational Points (25 points minimum required):
Points are awarded for accredited college level schools, certain military, IMCEA, or other sponsored courses or activities on the following basis:

• Accredited college or university: 6 points per year (.2 points per semester hour).
• Associate Degree in Hospitality or Recreation field: Additional 2 points. Bachelor Degree in Hospitality or Recreation field: Additional 5 point
• IMCEA Annual Conference: 5 points
• Each IMCEA Workshop: 2 points each.
• Other hospitality or recreation professional association annual conference: 2 points each.
• Other hospitality or recreation professional association workshop: 1 point each.
• Military MWR management course in residence one week or longer: 1 point per week up to a maximum of 5 points for any one course.
• Military MWR management correspondence course: 1 point.
• Each Military sponsored MWR management workshop, conference, or seminar: 1 point each.

Additional Points (minimum of 30 points required): Points are awarded for IMCEA Association activity, exceeding the established minimum passing score on the written examination, and for special accomplishment or recognition in the military MWR community as follows:

• Managers of the Year recipient (Roy C. Olson Award, MWR Leadership Award, Irving Rubenstein Memorial Award): 2 points.
• Significant contribution to MWR: 2 points.
• Significant contribution to IMCEA: 2 points.
• IMCEA Membership at the National level: 2 points per year.
• IMCEA Membership at Regional Chapter level: 1 point per year.
• IMCEA President: 3 points per year.
• IMCEA Officer: 2 points per year.
• IMCEA Director: 1 point per year.
• IMCEA Committee Chairperson: 1 point per year.
• IMCEA Committee Member: 0.5 point per year.
• Sponsor of new IMCEA Member: 1 point each new member.
• Featured Speaker (minimum 30-minute presentation): 2 points each.
• Attend Affiliate Chapter Meetings: .1 point per meeting attended.

Qualifying for the Written Examination
Eligibility for the written examination follows verification by the IMCEA National Office that the petitioner has accumulated the required minimum levels established for each point category. Once minimum levels are verified, IMCEA will notify the petitioner of his or her eligibility and distribute CMCE Study Materials to the petitioner.

The Written Examination
The final step in the CMCE process is the closed book written examination. All candidates for CMCE are required to score a minimum of 70 points (1 point per correct answer) on this 100 question, multiple choice examination. The examination is normally administered during the IMCEA Conference. Exceptions include taking the examination by appointment at the IMCEA National Office or at a mutually agreed upon military installation Education Center under the auspices of a certified Test Control Officer.

Tallying the Points for Award of CMCE Designation
To become a Certified Military Community Executive, petitioners must earn a total of 175 points according to the following schedule:

Job Experience………………………………. 50 points minimum
Education …………………………………… 25 points minimum
Written Examination ……………………….. 70 points minimum
Additional Points …………………………… 30 points minimum

CMCE Sustainment Program
To remain certified as a CMCE, awardees must re-certify every three  years. Re-certification is accomplished through accumulation of twenty additional points since original certification or since the previous re-certification. All documentation to support accumulation of the points must be provided to the IMCEA Executive Director not less than three months prior to the expiration of the three-year certification period shown on the CMCE certificate issued by the IMCEA National Office. The CMCE designation may be revoked in the event a CMCE does not accumulate the required 20 points unless, in the judgment of the Certification Committee, extenuating circumstances exist and the deficiency can be readily overcome.

Click here for the Petition for Recertification

CMCE Program Administration
Responsibility for administering the CMCE Program rests with the Certification Committee, which is appointed annually by the President of IMCEA. The Executive Director of IMCEA or his designee shall serve as Certification Secretary and be responsible for the details of the Program. The Certification Committee and Certification Secretary are responsible for the preparation of the written examination, to include revising and updating. The Certification Committee Chairperson will appoint an Examination Administrator. The Examination Administrator may be an IMCEA staff member, an educator, a testing expert or a testing agency, as deemed appropriate by the Certification Committee Chairperson. The qualifications of each petitioner for CMCE will be judged strictly on the criteria outlined above. Final scores will be computed by the Examination Administrator and submitted to the Certification Committee Chairperson. Certification Secretary will inform CMCE candidates of examination scores. If a candidate fails to achieve a minimum of 70 points on the written examination, candidate is eligible for retest after six (6) months from the date of the last examination. The initial processing fee will be applied to re-tests. All details pertaining to a petitioner’s request for certification will be kept confidential by all involved in the certification process prior to final certification.