Professional Certified Marketer (P.C.M.) Recertification by Tony Green

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The decision to take the test to become a P.C.M. has been made.  After completing an application, paying a fee, and passing the five hour 200-question multiple choice examination you are now a Professional Certified Marketer. Now what?

The certification from the initial test lasts three years. During the first certification period 36 hours of credits including training, classes, or articles related to marketing are required to maintain your certification.

A marketer you should always be improving their skill set and keeping up to date with the latest trends. But let’s be honest with jobs and families picking up training may be challenging especially if prospective events are scheduled after working hours. 

My first piece of advice: Take gathering your credits piece by piece by using the different delivery methods a few hours every quarter. Some the available methods include online webinars. The American Marketing Association (AMA) offers periodic webinars on a variety of marketing topics.  Other methods comprise physical attendance at events related to marketing.  In my case, the Silicon Valley Marketing Association (SVAMA) conducts many high quality events which allow you to keep up with the latest trends in marking while getting a chance to network with other marketing professionals. Also, any work related training in marketing you participated in would count as well.

My last piece of advice is to be organized and make sure you document all the events you attended.  Even if the event in only an hour in length you will be surprised on how quickly that can add up. You have worked hard preparing for the test and passing the exam. Furthermore your certification now functions as a calling card to your professionalism. Why should you let the P.C.M. certification lapse?  You earned it.  Why lose it?