I heard about the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) credential when ATD (then ASTD) awarded the first CPLP in 2006. I was teaching at the University of Louisville in Kentucky while taking contract training jobs for local businesses. Thanks to ATD’s publications, I learned much about training and development. In 2008, I was finishing up my PhD work in public policy and management and was at a crossroads. I was applying for training jobs in the Kentucky state government and for federal government jobs.
At the beginning of 2008, I purchased the CPLP Learning System and spent the summer studying the books. I read one of the 10 books and then rewrote the material into a notebook. Putting the information in my own words helped me better retain it. Plus, the convenient size of the notebooks allowed me to review the material whenever I had free time, such as waiting in line or at a doctor’s appointment.
In September of 2008, I was offered a job at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). I was to start in late December. Before traveling to Washington, D.C., I took the knowledge exam. I passed that with high scores and then began preparations for the second exam, which was a demonstration of my training ability. But, first, I moved to D.C. to work in the federal government.
While at OPM, I tried setting up training sessions to fulfill the work product of the CPLP. Unfortunately, my new duties and finishing up my dissertation took priority. I put the CPLP on hold until I could find the time to commit. This hold lasted nearly nine years.
It wasn’t until I began work at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that I started thinking about trying for the CPLP again. I was hired in September 2015 to be the training administrator for the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA). As such, I was back to training design and delivery full-time. On January 1, 2017, I made a New Year’s resolution to obtain the CPLP by the end of the year. I purchased the new Learning System, downloaded the PDF file, and read it on my Kindle.
The only thing that didn’t change in my studying for the CPLP knowledge exam was my method of rewriting the content into notebooks. As several studies have shown, writing notes by hand and putting concepts into your own words helps with retention. I spent the summer of 2017 studying and took the knowledge exam in October. It was a great moment when I received the passing score!
A month later, I was scheduled to take the new Skills Application Exam (SAE). I chose the Managing Training SAE and began preparing in earnest. The ATD’s SAE handbook was a great help, especially the practice SAE test. I took the practice test early, which was good because it showed me where my weak spots were. I redoubled my study efforts and took the SAE on December 1, 2017.
The SAE was tough, and I used the entire time allotted. I finished answering all 100 questions in the first two hours. Admittedly, I had marked numerous questions for review and spent the last hour going over the questions. As a training administrator and a manager for leadership development programs, I found the SAE training management scenarios to be realistic and an excellent test of my abilities. The hardest part was waiting for the exam results.
The day I received the official notification that I was a new CPLP was a great day. I was on a phone call at work when the email came across my screen. After reading the email in full, I immediately posted to LinkedIn and Facebook. It was wonderful receiving the “likes” acknowledging my achievement. A few days later, I received my lapel pin, which I proudly wore to a professional event. When my official certificate arrives, I plan to hang it in my office at USPTO.
It has been a long journey to the CPLP, and it has been worth it. I’ve had the privilege of watching CPLP grow from a new professional certification to a highly valued designation of an experienced and skillful training and development professional. The CPLP is a tough credential to obtain, and it will take time. I hope you don’t take nearly 10 years—but careful study and preparation will help you achieve recognition for your expertise as a training and development professional.
