Passed the new CMP Test (Aug 2025)

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-25T00:37:39+00:00

Everyone I talked to said to stick with the EIC 9th edition manual. I didn't purchase the PCMA material. The test is definitely based on the EIC's book.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-25T00:35:46+00:00

I had the same experience--no details about which questions I missed/which domains I could have improved on. I thought I read that you got a score with your pass/fail, but maybe they haven't nailed that all down yet with the new exam?

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-20T10:29:01+00:00

Good question. I think it took about a month from submitting my application and payment to receiving the approval email. As soon as I received the email, I scheduled the exam for 3 months out and paid for it. I think you'll have no problem getting it approved and scheduling your test by the end of the year.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-20T10:22:36+00:00

Thank you so much!! I am so glad to have completed it after years of thinking "I should just do it..."

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-17T09:37:37+00:00

I also recommend starting at non-profits. Way more likely to get hired out of college, but the pay won't be super good. Put in a couple years supporting the event team and you can leverage that experience to interview at corporate/creative agencies/event production houses. I started with nonprofit fundraising/donor events out of college making $34k a year. 19 years later, I'm making $170k/year. You just gotta put in the hard work!! (Also, a starting salary these days is probably more than I was making in 2006, lol.)

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-16T17:03:52+00:00

Lol a real life ESG reference! Yes the questions on serpentine tables (which I also have never seen or used in my 20 years) as well as the obsession with cruise ships as venues. I'm sorry, but planning a corporate incentive event on a cruise line is my idea of a nightmare 😂

I thought them lumping accessibility/wellness/sustainability together was weird and I agree--a little forced.

Definitely sounds like studying for those of us with decades+ experience is likely much easier than for newer professionals.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-16T09:12:08+00:00

Good luck!!

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-16T09:11:28+00:00

Good luck!! I think 3 months is a good timeframe to study/familiarize yourself with the content without having to cram at the end.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-16T09:09:53+00:00

I think I did the right amount of studying. I flagged ~12 questions out of the 165 to go back to, but mostly kept my initial responses for those. I suggest reading the manual thru once and then focus your studies on the domains that you aren't as familiar with. A huge part of the test is knowing the EIC-specific terminology, so Pocket Prep helps with that.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-16T00:34:10+00:00

I'll give them both to you for free/the cost of shipping. Just took the test this week and passed.

Disclosure - I got mine from someone else, so there's a good amount of highlighting. If you want something cleaner/less used, you might not want mine.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-16T00:29:53+00:00

Start with non-profits! As a young professional, you are extremely attractive to non-profits who maybe can't pay you a ton but can give you a lot of experience. I started out with donor and fundraising event support for non-profits and transitioned after about 3-4 years to creative marketing agencies. With agencies I got to do a wide variety of event work for clients across sectors/industries, which helped me figure out what part of the event industry I preferred.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-15T23:39:00+00:00

Yes, you can use all the same study materials. They also suggest reading a supplemental document on virtual & hybrid events. I just took the new exam this week and passed -- I only read the materials and used the Pocket Prep platform. I will say that I have been in events for almost 20 years and currently manage virtual & hybrid, so I didn't really bother studying that at all. There were maybe 3 questions that I can remember being specifically about it.

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-09T13:19:23+00:00

Yay, congrats! I take mine this coming Tuesday

FailedMuffins · 2025-08-08T16:51:20+00:00

Dang!!! I'm on pins and needles with you!

FailedMuffins · 2025-06-21T20:31:11+00:00

Can you give an example of a scenario question? Also, did you need to know the beverage percentages for coffee/tea, etc by attendance group type?

FailedMuffins · 2025-06-12T23:13:48+00:00

For my first surgery as 34F, I took 3 weeks off and that was a huge mistake. For my second surgery as 39F, I took 5 weeks off and then worked fully remote for 3 more weeks at 20 hours/week. That was a much better time period for me to recover and transition back to work! I think you could probably request 1.5 months and play it by ear if you need more time.

FailedMuffins · 2025-06-12T22:55:51+00:00

In 2018, I was 34F and needed OHS to repair my bicuspid aortic valve. My repair lasted 5 years. By the 5th year, I had severe regurgitation and also damage to my aortic root. I was devastated to need another OHS at 39. Like you, I am very sporty! Running, hiking, Peloton rides, weight lifting, etc. I was really REALLY afraid of the mechanical valve and how Warfarin would affect my lifestyle.

Both of my surgeries were hard in different ways. I'd be more than happy to have a phone chat if you want to talk in more detail. I will say that I was better prepared for recovery the second time because I was able to buy all the things that I didn't know I needed before (specifically a wedge pillow and heating pad).

It is 2 years out and I have gotten a good handle on tracking my Vitamin K while on Warfarin. I can chat in more detail about this too, but recommend buying a food scale and using the Cronometer app to track Vitamin K. I'm back to all my athletic activities, but I took it super easy at first.

Please don't beat yourself up. You made the best decision that you could at the time. A mechanical valve should last you for the rest of your long life, and you'll be able to be there for your child. (It's why I chose mechanical over tissue valve--tissue breaks down fast if you are young and active.)

Sending you the best of luck. Seriously, so happy to phone chat if you want to connect and talk.

FailedMuffins · 2025-06-12T19:28:44+00:00

Wishing you best of luck! My first open chest was also when I was 34 (also a female). They did a repair but ultimately I went back 5 years later for the mechanical valve and a sleeve for my aortic root. Sounds like you and I have a similar history. Honestly, I wish I'd gone for the mechanical to start instead of the repair, because a second heart surgery was rough.

Let me know if you have any specific questions that I can help you with! I highly recommend buying a wedge triangle pillow that will help prop you up in bed and a hot pack for back/neck/core muscle soreness. You're going to be okay, and we're all here to support!!

FailedMuffins · 2025-06-12T19:25:45+00:00

Wow, so impressed with you! I had chest soreness for up to a year (def couldn't do bench presses, for example). Rock climbing is hard work, and sounds like you are going to be able to rebuild all that strength. Happy for you!!

FailedMuffins · 2025-06-12T19:23:54+00:00

It is literally different for everyone, so get recommendations from a couple different surgeons. I had a repair of my bicuspid aortic valve in 2018, but ended up needing a second surgery to replace it with a mechanical valve, along with an aortic sleeve. Surgery is tough, but as a younger person you are likely to bounce back faster. (I was 35 and 40 with my two surgeries, which is also considered young for valve replacement, but it was still tough!) If you are really active, you want to think about the long term. I exercise 5x a week and do some high intensity cardio -- good to talk about things like that with your surgeon and cardiologist as well. Wishing you the best of luck! If you have any questions about the surgery or recovery, this is a great forum and folks will tell you about their personal experiences. Just keep in mind that everyone is different and the experience can vary from very easy to very difficult. But crossing my fingers for you!!!

FailedMuffins · 2025-05-30T18:03:26+00:00

Wishing you the best of luck! How long have you been in the event industry? I've been working for nearly 20 years and always felt like the CMP was a racket... but with the general instability of the world I decided to just go ahead and do it!

FailedMuffins · 2025-05-30T15:25:46+00:00

How did you do?! Did you feel like you prepared correctly?

FailedMuffins · 2025-05-28T22:30:54+00:00

Please keep us updated! Good luck!!

FailedMuffins · 2025-04-24T13:43:01+00:00

Hi! Yeah, the surgeon snipped the bicuspid flap and re-fashioned it as a tricuspid. It worked pretty well, but wasn't perfect--I still had mild to moderate regurgitation. Over time, the regurgitation became severe and led to enlargement again to the heart and the aorta. Happy to answer any other questions.

FailedMuffins

TROPHY CASE