Preparing for the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) exam is like navigating through an unfamiliar state. While the rules of the road are similar, there are nuances that are unique—ever heard of the feeder roads in Texas? A “Michigan left,” where you have to U-turn to turn left? Or the jug handles of New Jersey? Although you studied for a multitude of exams in school, preparing for the CPLP can feel like uncharted territory—especially striking a balance between your studies and your day-to-day responsibilities. As learning professionals, we help others on their quest for knowledge but often neglect to heed our own advice. Below I’ll share five of the “mile markers” I incorporated into my CPLP journey and a few of the potential “speed bumps” to avoid along the way.
Building the Business Case
MILE MARKER 1:
ATD has a tremendous amount of resources (email templates, PowerPoint pitch decks, and more) that help you begin the conversation around your personal and professional development. Facts and statistics go a long way in building a business case. Research the associated costs to provide clear expectations to justify your request. Remember to include travel, hotels, meals, and so on if you are planning to attend the live ATD CPLP preparation course in another city.
It’s important to recognize the CPLP as an investment. It’s an investment in yourself, and in my case, it was an investment my company made in me. As with every investment, you are seeking a return. While you build the business case, consider what new skills you will attain and how you will apply them in your role. I wear multiple hats supporting the sales function of a tech company; having such a diversified offering with the 10 areas of expertise in the ATD Competency Model was important for me to bolster my skills, especially in areas where I may not have had much exposure previously.
SPEEDBUMP: Proceed with caution before copying and pasting resources for your business case. You know your manager and can anticipate how they will receive certain messages. Tailor the message toward the benefits to your company and your specific team or role.
Map Out Your Path
MILE MARKER 2:
Planning for the CPLP can seem like a daunting task. There is so much information to sift through, a lot of opinions shared, and your unique learning style to take into consideration. Whenever I feel a challenge is overwhelming, I remember my teenage years: “How do you eat an elephant?” my dad would always ask. “One bite at a time,” would be the groaning response. The repetition obviously worked, because here I am today, sharing the same advice with others. Break the planning into manageable parts. Space them out to leave room for the unexpected. And find a support system!
Leverage your network and community. I went on LinkedIn and scoured my connections for anyone who had the CPLP credentials. I found a respected friend whom I had met at an ATD Community Training Network (CTN) event in Houston. We scheduled a quick call to discuss her CPLP experience, what she wished she had done differently, and which resources were most helpful. By the end of the call, she had provided me with electronic flashcards of the theories and key concepts she had created with her study group when she was preparing. SCORE!
SPEEDBUMP: Double-check any materials that have been created by others with your current version of the CPLP Learning System. My contact took the exam a few years back, so some terms were no longer relevant.
Are We There Yet? Hold Yourself Accountable to Your Commitments
MILE MARKER 3:
As with any long-term commitment, it’s easy to be distracted and lose focus. I love my job and often find myself working late into the evening on passion projects. It was hard for me to prioritize my studies over my work. I had to be dedicated and own the fact that I alone was responsible for my personal development.
Key to my success was a recurring 30-minute CPLP touchpoint that I hosted with my manager. In these sessions, I would share what I learned in the most recent chapter and we would discuss how those topics either applied in our roles currently, or could be applied to improve an internal process or strategy. It allowed me to speak the CPLP language and relate the terminology to things I did every day—but the most important part is that it held me accountable to sticking to my study plan. We also took the practice exams together; this allowed me to highlight what I learned or work through incorrect responses to understand the reasoning.
SPEEDBUMP: Do not neglect the practical for the theoretical. It’s easy to focus on theory, because that is the emphasis of most of the preparation materials. Theory is great (and mandatory to pass the Knowledge Exam), but how you manifest it into action planning will determine the return on investment for you and your organization. And bonus: It will mean less effort is required to prepare for the Skill Application Exam (SAE).
Prepping for the Big Day
MILE MARKER 4:
If you’re like me, tests give you anxiety. The thought of having to select the “most right” answer from a group of good answers still gives me heart palpitations! I second-guess myself and create false reasoning to justify why every answer could be correct. While test anxiety is normal, there are multiple proven methods to reducing stress before the exam. Here are some tried-and-true methods that I found helpful:
• Schedule your test for the time of day when you are most alert and productive.
• Drive by the facility prior to exam day to ensure you know exactly where you need to be.
• Take time off work so you aren’t racing from the office to the testing facility. (This also allows for any last-minute study review.)
• Get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast the morning of your test. You don’t want to feel rushed to finish your test because you’re hungry or tired.
SPEEDBUMP: Avoid telling a lot of people exactly when you are taking your test. Telling friends and family adds unnecessary pressure: “What if I fail? Then I have to tell all these people who’ve been cheering me on!”
You Made It! Celebrate Your Success
MILE MARKER 5:
Results are in and you got the good news—now it’s time to shout it from the rooftops! Let the following individuals share in the celebration:
• Friends and family: I’ve been to countless weddings and baby showers this year. My milestone was a huge work accomplishment—and my friends and family were happy to return the favor in celebrating. A quick humble brag on social media helped rally the masses for an outpouring of congratulatory messages. (One friend even gifted custom M&Ms with my LinkedIn profile photo on them!)
• Co-workers and manager: When I told my manager, she hugged me because she knew how much effort had gone into this achievement. She helped co-pilot my journey, investing in me as I described in Mile Marker 3. The team heard our squeals of excitement and came into the office throwing candy like confetti.
• Talent development network: Add those four letters to the end of your name on LinkedIn and join the exclusive community of CPLP-certified professionals. Go to the ATD conference and sit in that VIP section. Wear that lapel pin proudly—you earned it!
SPEEDBUMP: I’m aware that I have an exceptionally supportive team. Set your expectations as realistically as possible based on your work environment and culture. But there should be no speed bumps for celebrating!
Learn more about earning your CPLP.
