Become Certified

CMPCs have obtained objective validation of their expertise in helping clients develop and use mental, life, and self-regulatory skills to optimize performance, enjoyment, and/or personal development in sport or other domains (e.g., performing arts, military).

CMPCs are individuals with a master’s or doctoral degree in sport science, psychology or a clearly related field* who have met specific course requirements and have completed an extensive, mentored applied experience. Certification candidates must meet all eligibility requirements established by the Council at the time of application. Candidates cannot become certified without passing the certification exam. 

The disciplines included within the sport psychology field applicable to those holding the CMPC designation include: clinical psychology, educational psychology and clinical mental health counseling, social work, industrial-organizational psychology, and sport psychology from a sport science basis. A CMPC may work with a wide variety of participants in sport and performance.

Download the CMPC Certification Candidate Handbook

CMPC Fact Sheet: Setting a Higher Standard in Mental Performance

*Unaccepted degree areas include: business/leadership, education, M.D., occupational therapy, sociology, and sport management to name a few. To determine if a degree not listed here meets the eligibility requirements, please contact the CMPC Certification Council.

The CMPC Council is responsible for setting policies and processes that uphold the highest standards for mental performance credentialing. The CMPC Council is unable to provide individualized assistance such as "soft review" of coursework or evaluation of transcripts. The Council understands that candidates face decisions regarding registering for courses. We strongly encourage CMPC candidates to work closely with an Approved Mentor regarding selecting coursework and mentored experiences.

Find a listing of Approved Mentors here.
 

To apply for new CMPC Certification:

• Complete and submit the CMPC Application Form in the Certemy portal by following the instructions provided. Applicants must have earned a master’s or doctoral degree in an area clearly related to sport science or psychology from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education (or non-US equivalent) and completed coursework for university credit, or courses offered by AASP, to fulfill eight knowledge areas: K1*. Professional Ethics and Standards; K2*. Sport Psychology; K3. Sport Science; K4. Psychopathology; K5*. Helping Relationships; K6*. Research Methods and Statistics; K7. Psychological  Foundations of Behavior; K8*. Diversity and Culture. Graduate-level credit must be completed in the knowledge areas designated with an asterisk (*).
• Have official transcripts sent from the university/college of qualifying master’s or doctoral degree or other coursework used on the application to the CMPC Program either via email to certification@appliedsportpsych.org or hard mailed to the address below. CMPC Admin uploads official transcripts into Certemy on behalf of the applicant on a biweekly schedule once all other steps have been completed. See the Application Forms page for more information about the transcript upload process.

  ATTN: CMPC Certification Council
  Association for Applied Sport Psychology
  8365 Keystone Crossing, Suite 107
  Indianapolis, IN 46240

• Applicants must have completed a 400-hour mentored experience consisting of a minimum of 200 hours spent in direct client contact, a minimum of 150 hours spent in support activities, and a minimum of 50 hours spent in mentorship (i.e., face-to-face mentorship, electronic mentorship, and direct knowledge of services). A minimum of 100 hours across these categories must be spent with competitive sport populations. Mentors must be approved to provide mentorship by the Certification Council. Browse the Registry of Approved Mentors.
  • Check out these video tutorials from the mentee and mentor perspective for documenting and verifying mentored hours.
• Submit a Record of Mentored Experience Hours Form and have each mentor verify the hours in the online application portal, Certemy. For more information regarding the mentorship process, please review the CMPC Mentor Guidelines and Best Practice Recommendations, Group Mentoring Policy, Guidance on Beginning the CMPC Mentored Experience and Engaging in Virtual Consulting, and Candidate Handbook.
• Submit a completed and signed Ethical Code statement. This page is found within the application in Certemy.
• Pay the application fee of $375 at appliedsportpsych.org/payment. CSPA Student/Apprentice Members applying for new certification pay an application fee of $300 USD.
• Applicants are eligible to take the certification exam following the Council’s review and approval of their application and accompanying documentation. Approved applicants are required to schedule and take the exam at an approved testing center or via live online proctoring within six months of their application approval. CMPC Program staff will provide instructions on how to schedule the test date within the email notice of approval.