IAP2 established the Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3) program in response to a growing demand from its members and practitioners worldwide who sought a standardized approach to professionalizing public participation practices. To meet this need, a dedicated task force, comprising IAP2 members from the USA, Canada, and South Africa, collaborated with our global membership to develop a rigorous assessment process.
The outcome of this collective effort is the CP3 designation, which is conferred upon individuals who successfully navigate a comprehensive, multi-step assessment. This assessment evaluates candidates based on their proficiency in five Core Competencies, which encompass essential skills and knowledge within the field of public participation.
The designation, Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3), is the assurance that an individual meets a set of internationally recognized criteria. Credentials are awarded upon completion of a three-step assessment based on five core competencies that were developed through an extensive consultation process.
View the Information Package
What's Involved?
To apply to be a CP3 you must:
- be an IAP2 member
- have successfully completed either the 5-day IAP2 Certificate in Public Participation or the Foundations in Effective Public Participation training, where a certificate of completion has been issued from IAP2.
- Certification is achieved through a three-step process where Assessors evaluate candidates’ performance based on the Core Competencies. A candidate must pass each step before they can proceed to the next step:
Step 1: Application
Requires a detailed resume with job history, professional references, up to three project descriptions, and responses to questions that correspond to specific criteria. Download and fill out the application form.
Step 2: Case Study
A hypothetical Case Study will be provided. A detailed Public Participation (P2) plan will be prepared for the Case Study.
Step 3: Assessment Centre
A panel of Assessors work together to review applications and case studies, and conduct each Assessment Centre. Assessment Centres are virtual and include:
- Interviews
- Presentation
- Group Work
Upon the successful completion of the Assessment Centre, the designation of CP3 is awarded to the candidate.
What Does it Cost?
- $250 – Application review. You can make the payment Through this Event.
- $450 – Case Study review
- $1,800 – CP3 Assessment Centre
The total cost of certification is $2,500. All fees are in Canadian dollars.
