Left-to-right: Trevor Joyal (Calgary), Kirsty Neill (Calgary), Gay Robinson (Calgary), Megan Fitzgerald (Vancouver), Sarah Dechter (Flagstaff, AZ), Lara Tierney (Calgary)

Launched in 2016, the North American Professional Certification program is open to all IAP2 members in good standing who have completed the 5-day IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation (formerly Certificate course). Applications are rolling.

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 review process further responds to mandatory and optional criteria. Candidates may only apply for MCP3 Certification after obtaining CP3 Certification.

They join these CP3 and MCP3 (Master Certified) holders across North America.

This internationally-recognized credential has now been achieved by 25 IAP2 members across North America.

IAP2 International is excited to welcome four new Certified Public Participation Professionals (CP3s).

IAP2 Canada and IAP2 USA collaborated to develop a rigorous 3-step assessment process that includes a written application, a written case study response, and a 1.5-day in-person assessment center with both knowledge and skill assessments to evaluate candidates’ within 5 core competencies as assessed using multiple criteria.

The following candidates successfully completed the Fall 2018 Assessment process:

Tina Geiselbrecht, CP3 Arizona, USA	Cassie Hemphill, CP3 Montana, United States
Kim Hyshka, CP3 Alberta, Canada	Tannis Topolnisky, CP3 Alberta, Canada

Completion of the Foundations program is a prerequisite for the North American Professional Certification program, and for application to the International Trainer Development program to be licensed to deliver the Foundations in Public Participation courses.

Learn more at
IAP2 Canada or  IAP2 USA

Click here for upcoming application deadlines.

Click here for a directory of CP3 and MCP3 Certified Public Participation professionals.

IAP2 works to advance the practice of public participation by organizing and conducting professional development activities to serve the learning needs of members. Participants who completed the Certificate in Public Participation training (subsequently revised and renamed the Foundations in Public Participation program in 2016) received a certificate of completion to demonstrate they had completed the program. Over time people began to use the certificate to make the claim that they were certified public participation professionals. This article lays out the framework for how the words Certificate, Certified, and Certification are used within the work of IAP2.

• How to cite course completions. Students who attend our 5-day Foundations in Effective Public Participation course and our 2-day Strategies for Dealing with Opposition and Outrage in Public Participation receive a "certificate of completion." These certificates acknowledge attendance but do not reflect the kinds of formal knowledge and skills assessments that would be required for licensure or professional certification. At the same time, to say that you’ve completed the course has great value in the international community of public participation practitioners. Appropriate citations for course completion would be:
  
  
• Foundations in Public Participation, completed May 2018
• Strategies for Dealing with Opposition and Outrage, completed June 2018


Completion of the Foundations program is a prerequisite for the North American Professional Certification program, and for application to the International Trainer Development program to be licensed to deliver the Foundations in Public Participation courses.

• Professional Certification in North America is a rigorous 3-step assessment process that includes a written application, a written case study response, and a 1.5-day in-person assessment center with both knowledge and skill assessments. The program evaluates candidates’ within 5 core competencies as assessed using multiple criteria. The assessment is conducted by a team of assessors, and is open to anyone who has completed the IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation training and is a member of IAP2. The US and Canadian affiliates programs are almost identical; however, the Canadian program includes two criteria for engaging with indigenous populations. More information about the North American Professional Certification programs is available on the IAP2 USA and IAP2 Canada websites. We expect assessment to be available in Southern Africa in the near future.

• The IAP2 Trainer Development Program is an in-depth program suitable for highly-qualified P2 practitioners with adult training experience who want to become licensed to deliver IAP2 courses. The trainer development program is a 6-12 month process that includes a written application, a series of online classes, in-person intensive training, and co-delivery of the entire course with a licensed trainer. Trainees receive coaching and assessment throughout the program under highly qualified IAP2 faculty. IAP2 currently offers two trainer development programs: one for licensing trainers to deliver the Foundations program and one for licensing trainers to deliver Strategies for Dealing with Opposition and Outrage course. Completion of the Foundations program is a prerequisite for application to the Foundations Trainer Development program. Similarly, completion of the Outrage course is a prerequisite for the Outrage Trainer Development program. You can register to receive updates about the trainer development programs at IAP2 Trainer Interest Form.

We appreciate your interest in IAP2 and in advocating for effective public participation. Please let us know if you have additional questions by emailing contact@iap2.org.

13 July 2018

The next IAP2 Canada Certification Assessment Centre is scheduled for November 30 - December 1st, and the application period is now open. Please note that we only run an Assessment Centre twice a year - the next one is proposed for June 2019.

The designation “Certified Public Participation Professional” indicates that you meet or exceed an internationally-recognized set of standards as a P2 practitioner. It means you possess the Core Competencies and have an established “track record” in the field. (It is not the same as receiving a “Certificate of Completion” in the IAP2 Foundations course; completing Foundations is a prerequisite for certification.)

Last December, we welcomed three new Certified Public Participation Professionals (CP3s): Jessica Delaney, Anne Harding and Yvonne Morrison. Here are a couple of their stories:

Anne Harding “I decided to get my certification for a number of reasons: I believe in the program, I believe in IAP2 and the professionalization of the practice and at the time, I was the only certified CP3 who practices P2 “in-house” within a company (Suncor Energy). More than that, it was about checking on my own skills, having worked in the resource sector for 11 years and following IAP2 Core Values and Code of Ethics, so this was a good opportunity for my own professional development to test where I was at.” (Learn more about Anne’s experience with the CP3 process and be prepared.)

Jessica Delaney “I’ve been in P2 for over fifteen years and have seen the practice evolve from a “Community Relations” exercise into a sophisticated and step-wise process. (My) long-term goal is to see the practice of public participation continue to evolve and serve the needs of not only proponents and sponsors of processes, but community. (Jessica has some tips for potential candidates)

So - are you ready for that next big step in your career? Download the Information Kit here and read the Frequently Asked Questions; then apply!

Please remember that this is intentionally a rigorous process; the assessors have to be convinced that you have the Core Competencies. The application will take time (previous candidates have suggested up to 20-40 hours to complete the forms and other written work) so don’t delay!

The deadline to apply is August 10, 2018. Applicants will find out if they move on to the next stage September 10 and the Assessment Centre will take place November 30 - December 1 in a location to be announced (based on convenience for the greatest number of applicants).

info@iap2canada.ca