Program to Recognize Continued Professional Development by CCMs
Tables of Activities and Points

Each AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist shall continue to engage in professional development and service activities to maintain their active status. To document this, a CCM must accumulate 28 Professional Development Score (PDS) points over a continuous five-year period. A specific activity can only be counted under a single numbered item.

Individual CCMs are encouraged to propose additional activities that demonstrate professional growth by notifying the CCM Board chair. If the CCM Board accepts them, they will be added to this list. The active participation of all CCMs is encouraged if this list to maintain its relevance with time.

This list of activities defines professional development in a broad sense. It recognizes that activities that serve the meteorological community and society at large and develop skills and provide avenues for professional growth that complement activities leading to greater technical competence. Point allocations reflect development goals and do not necessarily reflect the amount of effort or time required.

* If you are unclear if a specific project falls into this category, please contact the Broadcast Board Chair

** These points are not earned by someone who normally serves in a teaching faculty position (that credit is earned through Professional Experience)

Professional Development
1) Successful completion of professionally related formal training activity: Activities include short courses, on-line learning courses, seminars, or similar learning experiences of at least one hour in length. 0.500 point per each hour of training activity
2) Successful completion of, or instructor for, an undergraduate or graduate level course offered by an institution of higher learning* 5.000 points per course
3) Successful completion of office-sponsored professionally related training activity: Activities must be instructor-led for multiple employees on technical or office sponsored topics. 0.500 point per hour of training activity
4) Attend a conference or symposium 1.000 point per day attended, maximum of 3 points per conference
5) Attend a technical seminar or lecture that is not part of a technical conference on professionally related topic: presentation must be at least 50 minutes long 0.250 point per lecture attended
6) Gain new area of expertise**: In-depth study of a new topic in order to become knowledgeable in it is considered development when the effort is commensurate with equivalent formal training. Studies may be performed either independently or by working with experts on the topic. The new expertise gained must be demonstrated by the preparation of a technical/scientific report or the provision of written technical advice to a client. 2.000 points per area of new expertise, maximum of 12 points per 5 year period
7) Lead a portion of a short course or workshop* 3.000 points per unique course or workshop
8) Give a technical lecture or seminar to an organized group. 0.500 point per lecture
9) Present a paper or stand with a poster at a technical conference. 2.000 points per paper or poster
10) Author or co-author a text book. 10.000 points each
11) Author or co-author a peer reviewed paper or book chapter. 5.000 point each
12) Author or co-author a preprint for a technical conference. 1.000 point each
13) Design and Develop a Continuing Education or University course on a professionally related topic: these are technical courses for people in other professions who are not primarily students (e.g., “meteorology for attorneys)* 3.000 points per course
14) Author or co-author a popular book with technical content. 7.000 points each
15) Author or co-author a technical article in a popular magazine. 3.000 points each
16) Serve on a thesis/dissertation advisory committee for a university/ college student* 2.000 points per committee
17) Mentor a young graduate meteorologist: this should be an on-going discourse with a co-worker, colleague, subordinate, etc. 1.000 point per person, per year
18) Mentor a student on a scientific or technical matter: At least an hour must be spent with each student* 0.250 point per student per year
19) Subscribe to and read technical journal 1.000 point each per year
20) Maintain membership in scientific and technical societies. 1.000 point each per year
21) Successful completion of any COMET module on the MetEd web site (http://www.meted.com). Members should keep paper copies of their quiz results or on-line surveys and are encouraged to check this site frequently since modules are added regularly. 0.500 point per module completed with a 0 or 1 difficulty rating. 1.00 point per module completed with a 2 difficulty rating. 1.25 point per module completed with a 3 difficulty rating. Maximum 16 points per 5 year period
Professional Experience
1) Active employment in the profession: Consulting, Forensics, Forecasting, Research, Technical Management, Environmental Monitoring, Education, etc. 1.000 point per 6-month period of active employment
2) Serve as Project Manager or Principal Investigator on basic or applied research program or consulting project for internal development, a funding agency, or a client** 10-50 hours: points are given by time spent on one or more projects for an entire year with a maximum of 2.0 points available per year. These are essentially “billable hours.” Self-funded research work can be counted if a final deliverable (written report, process, database) results. 0.500 point per year
3) Serve as Project Manager or Principal Investigator on basic or applied research program or consulting project for internal development, a funding agency, or a client** 50-100 hours: points are given by time spent on one or more projects for an entire year with a maximum of 2.0 points available per year. These are essentially “billable hours.” Self-funded research work can be counted if a final deliverable (written report, process, database) results. 1.000 point per year
4) Serve as Project Manager or Principal Investigator on basic or applied research program or consulting project for internal development, a funding agency, or a client** over 100 hours: points are given by time spent on one or more projects for an entire year with a maximum of 2.0 points available per year. These are essentially “billable hours.” Self-funded research work can be counted if a final deliverable (written report, process, database) results. 2.000 points per year
5) Serve as Lead Forecaster for a Special Project**: Serve as a lead forecaster for special projects such as the Olympics, America’s Cup Race, Around-the-World Balloon Flights, Field Programs, Emergency Response Support, Homeland Security Support, etc. These are not restricted to weather forecasts, but can also be hydrologic forecasts, air quality forecasts, etc. 2.000 points per project
6) Serve as an Expert Witness (deposition, trial) 1.000 point per event
7) Testify or serve as an expert at a regulatory hearing, commission meeting, congressional hearing, or similar function. 1.000 point per event
8) Serve as Technical Advisor or Reviewer**: on technical issues for government agencies, media corporations, universities, school boards, local governments, etc. 1.000 point per activity
9) Participate (author, co-author, or reviewer) in the development of a national or international voluntary consensus standard. 3.000 points per standard
10) Serve on Technical Review Board for governmental or professional society. 3.000 points per Board, per year
11) Serve as National or Local Officer in a Professional Society: serve as an officer or a councilor at a national or local level for a professional organization. 2.000 points per appointment
12) Serve as board or committee member of a Professional Society: serve on any committee or board of a relevant professional organization, or serve on a conference program committee for a professional conference, workshop or meeting (i.e., AMS, NWA, NCIM, CWSA, AWMA, AGU, CMOS, WMO, etc.) 2.000 points per appointment per year
13) Serve as Editor, Associate Editor of a refereed technical journal. 1.000 point per year
14) Review of a manuscript for a peer reviewed publication or of a proposal from a scientific or regulatory agency. 1.000 point per review
15) Obtain a new professionally relevant certification (PE, QEP, Broadcast Seal, etc.) 5.000 points each
16) Maintain a professionally relevant certification (PE, QEP, Broadcast Seal, etc.) 1.000 point per five year period for each certificate maintained
17) Provide atmospheric, earth or related science content to newspaper, radio, syndication or web outlets in addition to your primary employment. 0.500 point per 6-month period