Mission Accomplished: How I Passed the CPSM Exam and You Can, Too!

When I was setting my goals for the new year last January, I decided to get serious about studying for the Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) exam. Even though I was new to the AEC industry, I met the eligibility requirements through my other marketing and business development experience, and I figured there was no better time than the present. 

After several months of preparing, I am happy to share what you already know from the title of this blog: I passed on my first try. I am proud to join the group of 1,000+ professionals who have mastered the SMPS Domains of Practice for Professional Services Marketing. To me, this professional recognition demonstrates my commitment to the field of professional services marketing, and opens doors to career opportunities I may not have the same access to without.

If you are interested in earning your CPSM credential and becoming certified, you can, too! Here are some tips from my experience preparing for the test I would like to share with you.

1.    Plan Ahead for Your Preferred Testing Window

The exam is offered during two testing windows each year (one in spring and one in fall), so plan ahead for when you need to begin studying based on when you want to take the test. If you miss the application deadline for your preferred testing window, you will have to wait until the next testing window to sit for the exam.

While the application is not complicated, you do need to account for the time needed to gather information (for example, obtaining a copy of your college transcripts) so don’t wait until the last minute.

The CPSM exam is administered at computer-based testing facilities managed by Prometric. Once your application is approved, you are able to select your testing center location and book your exam appointment from the available dates and times at that location. The testing centers can fill up quickly, so if you know you really want a certain day of the week or time of day, register for your testing appointment early so more options are available to you.

You will also want to plan ahead financially. When applying for the CPSM exam, you typically pay both the one-time application fee and the exam sitting fee (required each time you take the test). For SMPS members, this comes to a total of $520, which is certainly an investment for most.

BONUS TIP: SMPS Seattle offers an annual scholarship on a limited basis for full CPSM certification reimbursements ($520) to Members who pass the exam. Learn more here.

2.    Get the Books

The exam only covers content from the MARKENDIUM, AKA the SMPS Body of Knowledge, which is the comprehensive educational resource for the successful practice of marketing and business development in the A/E/C industries. The MARKENDIUM defines the six Domains of Practice for the Society and professional services marketing, with one book covering each Domain, and is what you will need to master in order to pass the exam. Your own AEC firm might have best practices or processes that differ from what is taught in the MARKENDIUM, and it’s important to know that when it comes to the exam—the only right answer is what’s in the MARKENDIUM.

Having physical copies of the books was very helpful. I traveled with them in my work bag, left them out on my coffee table, and marked them up with highlights and sticky notes. You can loan them from SMPS Seattle by contacting the CPSM Co-Chairs, or purchase them new or pre-owned from vendors like Amazon.

Joining a study group will help motivate you to keep pace with reading each of the six Domains alongside the rest of your peers. Let’s talk about that next.

3.    Join a Pacific Regional Study Group (and Participate!)

The Seattle chapter offers free study groups through the Pacific Regional CPSM Study Sessions. To participate in this group led by awesome volunteers, you simply register online to join a cohort of fellow exam-takers and other resources to help you succeed.

A few tips:

4.    Practice and Test Your Knowledge

Once you have applied for the exam, you will get one free practice test from Professional Testing Corporation (PTC), the authorized exam administrator. The practice test will be on the same platform as the real exam, allowing you to get familiar with the user-interface as well as practice sample questions.

BONUS TIP: Here is a sample prompt for using AI (remember to always be polite to the robots): 

“Hello, AI! I am studying to pass the Certified Professional Services Marketer Exam. Can you quiz me on the SMPS Domains of Practice for Professional Services Marketing? Please provide multiple choice options with one correct answer.”

5.    My Final Tip Is: Stick to Your Goals and Don’t Give Up.

The CPSM exam doesn’t have a reputation for being easy, and it’s not uncommon to attempt the exam more than once before passing. Even though I was thrilled to have passed on my first attempt, I was mentally prepared to try again in the spring. In fact, before I sat for the exam, I remember telling friends at work that I might move my exam to the spring window because I was nervous I wouldn’t pass in the fall. In the end, I mustered the discipline to focus harder on studying and embraced the opportunity to go for it—whether that meant I had to do it once, twice, or even three times. One of the surefire ways to not pass is if you don’t give it a try.

Earning my CPSM credential was one of the highlights of my career last year. The resources offered through SMPS and its volunteers truly made passing the exam more accessible and more fun. If you are interested in taking the exam, you will receive even more tips and tricks through the Pacific Regional Study Group from folks who have been there and want to help you get there too.