Are you interested in becoming a Chartered Management Consultant?
There are four routes to become Chartered:
- Senior Leader Route – New for 2025
- Experienced Professional Route
- On-Programme Route
- With a level 5 academic qualification in Management Consulting, via the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
Senior Leader Route
The senior leader route is only available to firms that have expanded accreditation in place. This involves a mapping specialist working with the firm to establish an understanding of the criteria that senior leaders within the firm are expected to meet thereby defining from which level of seniority the new route can be offered.
To be awarded ChMC, the senior leader must evidence that they are professionally active with a proven track record of 5+ years’ management consulting, have the right breath and depth of experience to meet the requirements of the ChMC competencies, be committed to continuing professional development and an ethical way of working, and have two sponsors who will support their application. Assessment can take as little as two hours to complete.
Experienced Professional Standard Route
Experienced professionals are consultants who can apply for Chartership when they have at least 5 years’ experience in management consulting. You can become chartered through the completion of a written assessment and professional discussion. The written component has various sections to complete, the consultant makes their case to become chartered, and needs to evidence how their experience relates to the core competencies from the ChMC Qualifications Framework. This is then followed by a one-hour professional discussion with an assessor.
Experienced Professionals Depth Interview Route
This option gives more weighting to the professional discussion for those with experience. The Depth Interview route has a written component where consultants will evidence their experience against the 10 core competencies of the framework, this is then followed by a longer two-hour professional discussion. The written component is shorter than the standard route. The Depth Interview route cuts down the volume of preparation time required and is helpful for consultants who may be constrained by time.
On-Programme Route
This route is available to consultants with less than 4 years’ management consulting experience where a firm has its training and development programme accredited.
A firm’s programme is mapped to the competency framework to ensure consultants meet all 53 competencies. The On-Programme route is used to develop consultants, and aids talent and retention. When the consultant has 4 years’ experience, they can apply to be assessed for Chartership. Each consultant will have to submit a written assessment and undergo a one-hour professional discussion.
Please note, you may only apply for ChMC via this route if your firm’s training and development programme is accredited, otherwise the other option is to go through the Experienced Professional route once you have 5 years’ experience.
Associate Award
Associate ChMC was created as a midway recognition point for consultants registered on-programme and is aimed at giving professionals greater recognition earlier on in their career as well as helping to attract and retain talent. Consultants can apply to be assessed with 2 years’ consulting experience and will be operating at the Applied level of the ChMC competency framework. Each consultant will have to submit a written assessment and undergo a one-hour professional discussion. The Associate ChMC is only available to firms with an accredited programme in place.
If you would like further information or to schedule a call back, please contact Trent Weber, MCA Business Development Manager by email trent.weber@mca.org.uk
Find out if your firm has an accredited programme here.
On receipt of your participation form, CMI will forward a draft agreement containing the terms and conditions for the Chartered Management Consultant Accreditation. Once signed, we will agree a timetable for the accreditation process.