CPLP Re-Certification Requirements and Procedure
CPLP re-certification is required every three years, on each person’s 3-year anniversary of original certification or last re-certification. This preserves the integrity and status of the program by ensuring that a CPLP remains active in the field and is still qualified to hold the Certificate.
CPLP recipients are individually notified by ISTA prior to their re-certification dates, and then the process must be completed within 90 days. If you do not re-certify, your present CPLP certification will be cancelled. The re-certification fee is US$150. Advancement in CPLP level (from Technician to Technologist, or from Technologist to Professional) re-starts the certification period.
Note: CPLP Professional-Level recipients do not need to re-certify – the “Professional” achievement is a lifetime certification.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RE-CERTIFICATION METHOD THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU:
OPTION 1: Résumé
First consider the résumé option. If you qualify, this may be the most efficient way to re-certify. The résumé form asks about your industry participation during the last three years in categories of:
- Employment
- Education
- Teaching and lecturing
- Honors and awards
- Professional memberships
- Show/event attendance
- Presentations and publication
- Other activities
Résumé re-certification is based up scores in each category, with continuing industry employment carrying the most weight. But employment alone will not be enough to qualify, so some amount of participation in at least two of the other categories is required.
The résumé form is available online (in MS Word format) so that you can evaluate whether the is option is appropriate for you. The point ranges for each category are listed on the form for guidance, although the final score will be calculated by ISTA. A minimum of 30 points is required. If you think you might qualify for the résumé option but are not sure, fill out and submit the form early – before registering – ISTA will score it and notify you.
If you register for the résumé option but do not qualify, you will be notified and must then take the appropriate re-certification exam.
Minimum requirements may be met in many ways; example possibilities area as follows:
EXAMPLE 1
- Employment associated with a package testing laboratory and;
- Membership in ISTA in addition to one other packaging professional organization and;
- Attendance at one ISTA educational event such as Dimensions, TransPack Form, China Symposium, Field Data Workshop, etc.
- Attendance at two packaging trade shows.
EXAMPLE 2
- Employment associated with a package testing laboratory and;
- One semester or equivalent of formal education related to engineering or packaging and;
- Presentation of in-house training session.
EXAMPLE 3
- Supervisory position related to transport packaging and;
- Packaging certification (HazMat, IoPP, CPP, etc.) in addition to ISTA CPLP and;
- A score in any other résumé category.
Click here to view the résumé form.
ISTA Members:
Login to the Member Center and choose the Resources Folder to view the Online Learning options.OPTION 2: Exam
If you do not qualify or do not wish to use the résumé option, then you must take the appropriate exam. The Technician exam is an abbreviated version (20 multiple-choice questions) of the current CPLP Technician exam. It covers only the main points and basic concepts – no math or calculations are required. The Technologist exam is an abbreviated version (30 multiple-choice questions) of both the current CPLP Technician and Technologist exams. Again, it covers only the main points and basic concepts – no math calculations are required.
ISTA Members:
Login to the Member Center and choose the Resources Folder to view the Online Learning options.Detailed Instructions and Further Information
After you have registered for re-certification, you will receive a confirming e-mail with login instructions and further information.
Printed versions of the résumé form, study materials, and exam are available at extra charge if you are unable to access them on-line. Contact Lisa Bonsignore at ISTA headquarters, phone 517-333-3437, or by email, for copies.
Note: All CPLP materials and exams are in English. English proficiency is therefore required for successful participation in the CPLP program.