Certified Professional Photographer
CPP Liaisons 2015
CPP Mission Statement:
To acknowledge and validate a consistent standard by which professional
photographers can achieve and maintain a recognizable mark of excellence.
What Is Certification?
The certification of specialized skill-sets affirms a knowledge and experience base for
practitioners in a particular field, their employers, and the public at large.
Certification represents a declaration of a particular individual's professional
competence. Certifications exists in many professions (i.e. CPA, CAE)
Certification Contact:
Questions? Contact us at cppmailbox@ppa.com
Phone: 800.786.6277
Julia Boyd: Director of Certification
Cassidy Hoffman: Certification Coordinator
Email: jboyd@ppa.com
Email: choffman@ppa.com
Phone: 404.522.8600 x 254
Phone: 404.522.8600 x 278
CPP Liaisons
What is a Certification Liaison?
Certification Liaisons know the certification program inside and out. The liaison acts as a
spokesperson for certification, assisting candidates and existing certified photographers as
an expert and source of information. Liaisons must maintain their certification and PPA
Membership and are entrusted with responsibilities to the committee to maintain the
integrity of the program.
What are the benefits to being a Certification Liaison?
Certification Liaisons promote certification and administer the certification program under
the credentialing standards set by the National Organization of Competency Assurance
(NOCA). In return, Certification Liaisons are recognized publicly as liaisons and receive
service merits if they are active members of the Professional Photographers of America
(PPA).
What are the duties and responsibilities of a Certification Liaison?
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Believe in the value and worth of the CPP program
Understand the CPP program and process and be able to explain all aspects to candidates, consumers, and existing
certified photographers
Schedule to proctor at least one Certification Examination per year, giving significant lead time (60 days) for
candidates to register and prepare*.
• *Please note that this is a requirement for all liaisons. No service merits will be granted for volunteering if the
liaison does not schedule at least one Certification Exam each year.
• Physically proctor the exam and send the exams back to PPA in a timely manner for scoring.
Recruit and assist candidates through the entire certification process
Promote the CPP program on a local and state level to photographers
Act as the primary source of information for answers regarding certification
Understand that liaisons are accountable to PPA, CPPs, and candidates and will provide feedback and reporting when
necessary
Communicate with PPA through the proper channels when questions arise that can't be answered by a Certification
Liaison
Allow their phone number and e-mail address to be published on the Certification website as a contact for interested
parties
Display CPP designation on business website and/or social media accounts
Work cohesively with other Liaisons in their area if applicable
Agree to maintain the confidentiality of all privileged information, including the Certification Examination and agree
to maintain the integrity and proprietary nature of the Examination. This includes not proctoring exams for family
members or any candidate related to the proctor without another Liaison present.
How to Become a Certified Professional Photographer?
1. Declare your candidacy. Simply fill out the candidacy form. The form itself, fees,
timelines, and all certification-related information including lots of FAQs can be found
on: ppa.com/cpp. To declare your candidacy you must be a PPA Member
2. Prepare for the exam. All candidates have access to a CPP-only hefty online library of
resources to help you! Check them out online.
3. Take the exam. Once you feel confident you are ready to register for an exam. The
exam schedule is updated weekly and you can register online directly from:
ppa.com/cpp/exam .
4. The Image Submission follows the exam. You will receive a set of email instructions to
help you submit your images. Plenty of information is online about the image
submission process. Simply go to ppa.com/cpp/resources .
The Application Process
 Your CPP application is valid for a period of two (2) years from the date processed
 The application fee is $200. This fee is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card
online by clicking Declare My Candidacy
 You may only sit for the exam after you declare your candidacy
 You may take the exam as many times as needed (once every 30 days) during your
candidacy period
 You are only eligible to submit images once you pass your exam
 You will have the three (3) opportunities to successfully pass the Image Submission
requirement. If after your third attempt you do not pass the Image Submission you can
opt for re-candidacy for a $100 fee. The Re-candidacy period will last for one
consecutive year and will allow three (3) additional Image Submission opportunities
For CPP Prep Resources, information and FAQ’s please visit www.ppa.com/cpp
Certified Professional Photographer Exam
Each exam is comprised of 100 multiple choice questions each worth one point. The
material is pulled from the test specifications found at ppa.com/cpp.
You will have two hours to complete the exam and must answer at least 70%
correctly to pass.
You may take the exam as many times as you wish (once every 30 days) at no extra
cost, within your two-year candidacy period. Results are sent out via email 2-3
weeks from the exam date. Candidates who do not pass the exam receive a score
breakdown. Passing candidates receive their numeric score out of 100.
Resources :
• Test Specifications
• Keywords
• Flash Cards
• Exam FAQs
• Sample Test
Core Resource + Suggested Reading List
CPP on PPAedu (7 videos)
CPP Prep Classes
Glossary
Social Media Groups
Certified Professional Photographer Image Submission
After you have passed the CPP exam, you will be eligible to submit your portfolio for review.
There are five Image Submission periods per year, each opened for two weeks at a time.
In this process, you will be required to submit a 15-image portfolio. The first six must fit
within the compulsory guidelines showing your standardized technical proficiency. These
images may come from your existing work or you can create new images specifically for the
submission. The remaining nine images must each come from purchased work from nine
different photographic assignments in the last 24 months.
You will be able to submit your portfolio for review up to three times until it passes, without
incurring any extra charges and will have access to useful preparation
Resources:
Image Submission Requirements & Sample Images
Image Submission Compulsory Videos
Image Submission Prep Class
Image Submission FAQs
Image Submission Definitions
Image Submission Portfolio Article
Image Submission Webinars
Social Media Groups
*Debuting early 2015 – Image Library
Recertification
Once you've earned your CPP designation, you will need to recertify every three years
to keep it current.
To recertify, 15 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required, along with a payment
of $100. The $100 recertification fee is waived if you attend Imaging USA three years
in a row.
The CEU system involved in the CPP recertification process is there to encourage you
to continue your journey in photography education and community service. It also
helps raise the bar in our photographic industry. For more information visit
www.ppa.com/cpp
Recertification
15 Continuing Education Units
(CEUs) every 3 years
Credits are for education that a
CPP has attended as a student
Recertification
• Max of 5 CEUs for teaching or speaking at any PPA related seminar/workshop may be
used towards the 15 CEUs required for Recertification
• 5 units = Teaching or speaking at any PPA related seminar/workshop lasting 3 or
more days
• 3 units = Teaching or speaking at any PPA related seminar/workshop lasting 2 or
more days
• 1 unit = Teaching or speaking at any PPA related seminar/workshop lasting 1 or
more days
• International CPPs will receive 8 CEUs for attending their national convention of at least
3 days
CPP Prep Course Description :
A course designed to aide professional photographers in their pursuit of the CPP
credential. Prep Classes are held at PPA Headquarters and Imaging USA every year as
well as at Affiliate Schools throughout the year.
CPP Exam Specifications Breakdown:
Camera, Lenses and Attachments 12%
Exposure and Meters 15%
Lighting 25%
Composition and Design 25%
Digital Post Production 13%
Image Capture and Output 10%
CPP Liaison Toolkit
Liaisons will now have access to the CPP Liaison Toolkit found under the CPP Liaison
Resource section of ppa.com/cpp
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CPP Candidate Fact Sheet
CPP Image Submission Requirements Cheat Sheet
Links to downloadable Video Material
2015 CPP Test Specifications
CPP Powerpoint to use in Presentations
2015 Liaison Signature
CPP Image Submission Definitions
Social Media Tips
• Use your social media accounts and website
to promote CPP and your position as a CPP
Liaison!
• Comment constructively when asked. A
good rule is to start with a positive
statement.
• Avoid 'ego' banter.
• Be the ripple of genuine 'positive' on a site.
• Don't leak or even suggest topics or changes
that are being considered within the liaison
meetings.
• Don't give an opinion as to whether an
image will or will not pass Certification
image submission. Rather, give
constructive critiques for improvement
or words of encouragement. A good
rule of thumb is to refrain from using
the words 'pass or fail' in your
critiques.
• Do bring any concerns to staff or the
Certification Committee. Do not use
social media to voice your concerns.
Instead, please bring them to staff or
the Committee.
Spread the Word about CPP!
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Schedule your CPP Exam as soon as possible
Promote your CPP Exam
Get involved with your Local Affiliate
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Give the CPP Award at photographic competitions
Mentor a CPP Candidate
Teach a Super 1 Day Class about a relevant CPP topic
Write a newsletter about CPP for your local guild
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Distribute the CPP Candidate Fact Sheet at local guild meetings
Use the Liaison PowerPoint in the Toolkit to give a presentation
Work with convention chairs to recognize CPPs at banquets
Participate on theLoop
Share CPP Videos on social media
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Be knowledgeable about the program by checking out our CPP FAQs
Stay Connected
Remember that as a CPP Liaison you have access to network of professional peers.
Connect with your fellow Liaisons on the CPP Liaison Facebook Group and on the
CPP Community on theLoop.
Also, be on the look out for your CPP Liaison monthly newsletter. This newsletter will
keep you up to date on program changes, new resources and a whole lot more.
More Questions? Feel free to check out the Liaison FAQ’s or email us at
cppmailbox@ppa.com!
Thank you!
Thank you to all of our CPP Liaisons!
We appreciate all of your hard work
and your continued commitment
to promote and strengthen the
Certified Professional Photographer program!