I frequently get questions on how to prepare for and pass the CMRP certification exams. So this article is meant to highlight a few insights I believe would be of benefit to the intending candidate. But first and foremost, I must state that the CMRP certification is not a tick in the box, nor is it in the class of numerous certifications we see peddled around today with no actual value to the bearer. It is in a class of its own and tests actual active knowledge of practicing professionals. It is ANSI approved and hence meets the highest standards. This provides assurance to anyone that the bearer has been tested on the relevant skills area and is capable of performing at world-class levels when put to the test.
For any intending candidate, I would first say congratulations in advance for recognizing the need to benchmark your skills against best in class standards. The CMRP certification would test your abilities against best in class industry practices and as such, candidates must take cognizance of that as part of their preparation. Let me clearly state here that there are several routes in preparing for the CMRP exams and no single route is all-encompassing. The following tips would provide relevant guidance. These are personal opinions as a professional and one who has been certified.
1. Get at least one of the recommended texts for each pillar
The exams are based on the pillars of reliability as identified by the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals. For each pillar, there are several recommended texts. However, Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices by Ramesh Gulati has been quite popular with candidates preparing for this exams. It’s a great read as it deals with the important subject of best practices and can be easily purchased on Amazon. I would also recommend attempting the practice questions at the end of each chapter.
A good addition to this would be the following
The Toyota Way by Jeff Liker
7 Habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey
Maintenance Planning and Scheduling by Doc Palmer
Making common sense common practice by Ron Moore.
2. Become a member:
Being a member of the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals comes with a lot of advantages. Access to the SMRP library, Webinars, and other literature are a great help for candidates. SMRP also hosts discussions by top professionals that break down the pillars and Body of Knowledge into understandable bits. One of my favorite literature is the Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices compilation by SMRP.
3. Get some training:
While there is no singular course that can completely prepare you for the CMRP certification exams. Some organizations offer preparatory classes that discuss best practices around the pillars and body of knowledge. The purpose of this trainings is to check and align your knowledge and experiences with best in class levels. It is not compulsory but its an option if you chose to get some training. The Maintenance Institute Africa offers one such training Online Self-Paced, Live Online, Online with Coaching and In Person in Nigeria and Clients Sites around the world. You can follow this link to learn more. Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices Masterclass
4. Familiarise yourself with the CMRP question structure
Understanding how the exam questions are structured is a great strategy to help you get started and save time when you finally sit for exams. SMRP already provides some practice questions to help you get familiar. You can visit the CMRP exams study resource site using this link. https://smrp.org/CMRPExamStudyResources
5. Never stop learning
An important aspect of the SMRP strategy is to keep professionals learning and growing. Should pass the certification exams and bear the CMRP title, there would need to get recertified after 3 years. You would have to earn points yearly toward recertification or else take the exams again once your certification expires. The easier route is to keep learning and improving on your skills. Attend webinars, summits, training to glean knowledge from other professionals or be a contributor yourself. The key is to never remain idle once certified. I would recommend you plan an attend the SMRP conference or the International Maintenance Conference on an annual basis. Regional conferences are also a good way to keep abreast depending on your location. If you are anywhere in Africa then join us for the Port Harcourt Maintenance Summit or the Africa / Nigeria Maintenance and Reliability Conference this year.
I wish you the best as you continue on your journey to becoming a world-class professional and hope our paths cross in the near future so we can learn from each other.