IAP2 USA - Professional Certification

Public Participation Certification Program

BECOME AN IAP2 CERTIFIED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROFESSIONAL!

The assessment process was developed by a Task Force of IAP2 members from USA, Canada, and South Africa in consultation with our membership. Thank you to our volunteers for making this happen!

The program offers two levels of certification: Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3) and Master Certified Public Participation Professional (MCP3). The CP3 designation is awarded upon successfully completing a three-step assessment based on 5 Core Competencies. The MCP3 is an application process that responds to mandatory and optional criteria. You may apply for MCP3 Certification after obtaining CP3 Certification.

Interested? Take a look at the Professional Certification Program, Policies, & Procedures Manual

QUICK LINKS
► Review the 2025 Information Kit and Frequently Asked Questions document
► Review the Core Competencies - evaluation is based on meeting these 5 criteria
► Download and review the CP3 Application
► View the Tipsheets
► View the Terms + Conditions
► Download and review the MCP3 Application and Quality Standards
► To learn more about the process, watch the Professional Certification Informational Webinar
►P2 Objectives Webinar P2 Objectives: Why they are essential in professional certification and how to prove you have the required capabilities

Certification Scholarship Available

The Debra Duerr Memorial Scholarship is available to eligible P2 practitioners.

Thank you to our donors for making this possible!

More information Scholarship Application

THE CP3 APPLICATION JOURNEY

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW BEFORE APPLYING

To earn the CP3 credential, you must meet or exceed every one of the 29 criteria. The criteria are assessed as follows: 10 in your written application, 13 in your case study P2 Plan, and the remaining 6 at the assessment center.

For each of the 10 criteria assessed in this Application, provide a written response that demonstrates your knowledge and experience. Base your responses on P2 projects in which you personally and individually met the criterion. For Part 4, supplement the three project descriptions you provide in Part 3 as needed to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. Choose projects that best represent the competencies and criteria assessed in this Application, and not necessarily to highlight how many projects or the range of projects you have worked on during your career.

Provide a brief written response to each question. Please limit your responses to the allowed number of words. On the allowed number of words will be assessed. Carefully edit and proofread your writing. Criterion 4.4, Ability to Communicate in Writing, will be based on a holistic assessment of all your written responses in this application.

2026 CP3 ASSESSMENT CENTERS

Assessment Center dates will be confirmed once we have received a sufficient number of applications to proceed. Tentative dates are listed below. Please check back for updates or contact us for further information.

Tentative 2026 Assessment Center Dates:

April 30, 2026 - May 1, 2026

September 12 - 13, 2026

COST

$300 CP3 Application
$450 Case Study Review
$2,150 CP3 Assessment Center process
$425 MCP3 Application

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3)-level competencies represent the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills, behaviors, and capabilities that are indispensable to every public participation professional. Assessors use a three-step process to assess candidates’ knowledge and skills:

Submission of a written Application and Professional Portfolio
Preparation and submission of a Public Participation Plan in response to a case study
Preparation for and participation in a live, online Assessment Center.

Assessors use the application, case study, and the assessment center to assess your knowledge and skills in five categories of Core Competencies across 29 criteria. The Core Competencies are as follows: