In 1976, AACE International launched its first professional certification, and today, that certification is the Certified Cost Professional (CCP).

Over the past 47 years, the certification examination format for the CCP has evolved from a 2,500-word technical paper accompanied by a paper and pencil exam to the current computer-based examination coupled with a technical paper.

In today’s fast-paced work environment of dashboards, charts and graphs, and summary narratives, the technical paper component of the CCP Examination has become outdated. Yes, there are still applications for 10+ pages of technical data accompanied by a bibliography and footnotes. Still, in more cases than not, the analysis communicated to a busy manager consists of a summary-level narrative that is direct and to the point.

Considering this fact, the CCP Certification Committee of the Certification Board conducted a feasibility study to determine if it was time to update the examination by replacing the technical paper with a more appropriate communication assessment that would better align with today’s workplace culture. The feasibility study results presented an opportunity to enhance the CCP examination by adding a memo component that the candidate would write during the exam instead of the separately prepared technical paper. This in-exam memo would be similar to those presented in AACE’s professional-level certification examinations, such as the CEP, EVP, PRMP, and PSP.

While a CCP technical paper is written outside the examination testing environment, it is part of the overall CCP examination. From the very beginning, the objective of the certification program was to ensure that people receiving a CCP designation demonstrated that they could communicate ideas, statements, recommendations, and solutions logically and reasonably. The CCP examination needed more than just multiple choice and scenario questions; it required a method to evaluate the candidate’s communication skills – how the candidate structured words, analysis, and recommendations. Thus, the requirement to submit an acceptable technical paper that contributed to the candidate’s overall examination scoring was implemented. Fast forward to today. With the advancing technology of CHAT GPT, AI tools, and continuing plagiarism issues, the reliability and validity of using the technical paper component of the CCP examination process to assess candidates’ abilities need to be reevaluated.

After the feasibility study and the resulting opportunity to add the in-exam memo, the CCP Committee conducted a beta test of the memo scenarios prepared to replace the separate technical paper. In April 2023, current CCP technical paper graders volunteered to be the beta testers for the proposed memo scenarios. These volunteers wrote the memo using the Kryterion examination platform, just as it would appear during an actual examination. After writing the memo, the beta testers supplied feedback on the clarity of instructions, the memo scenarios, and the grading process. The CCP Committee reviewed the feedback/comments and made necessary adjustments to the memo scenarios, grading instructions, and grading rubrics. On June 10, 2023, the CCP Committee presented their plan to adopt a new structure for the CCP examination by transitioning from a 2,500-word technical paper to an in-exam memo to the Certification Board, which was unanimously supported.

Therefore, starting in the first quarter of 2024, the CCP certification exam will no longer require a technical paper written before taking the examination. Instead, the CCP examination will incorporate a memo scenario within the computer-based examination context, whereby the candidate will write a short business memo to management relating the analysis and recommendation(s) in response to a given scenario. The in-exam memo will be graded as part of the overall pass/fail result of the CCP examination.

Because the CCP examination is the overarching certification covering a wide variety of topics relating to being a cost professional, the examination will allow the candidate to choose from a selection of scenario memos that focus on evaluating cost and the interaction of cost with the other disciplines of cost engineering. Depending on experience and expertise, the candidate will choose a scenario memo that best matches their competencies based on skills, knowledge, and experience.

The candidate must read the memo scenario and the instructions carefully. The instructions have essential information critical to successfully writing the memo. The candidate will need to evaluate the scenario issue, demonstrate their understanding of the problem, decide what solution or solutions would be appropriate, make a recommendation(s) for what action should be taken, and close the memo.

The Certification Board believes updating the CCP examination format will better reflect the current workplace environment, better assess a candidate’s communication abilities, and amplify the overall skills of the CCP-certified professional.

Charles E. Bolyard, Jr.,  CFCC PSP FAACE Hon. Life, Chair of the Certification Board, applauded the effort of the CCP Committee and stated, “As Chair of the Certification Board of the AACE Certification Institute, I am both excited and pleased that the excellent efforts of our CCP Committee have resulted in the introduction of an enhanced Certified Cost Professional (CCP) Certification Examination format. The transition from a separate technical paper to an integrated memo component within the computer-based testing format for the CCP exam is a welcomed and significant improvement in our professional certification examination offerings across a broad spectrum of industries.”

Stay tuned in the coming months, as the CCP Committee will present tips for how to write the CCP memo and offer more information about this new process. Please direct any questions on this matter to certification@aacei.org.