Certification is for a period of one year, and can be renewed annually. Renewals are billed by the AMS in conjunction with annual membership and subscription notices. If an individual fails to renew certification or fails to achieve an acceptable level of continuing professional development during the five-year period following certification or the completion of the most recent continuing professional development period, the certification will be considered Inactive.

Inactive Status

Inactive CCMs can’t practice as a CCM or market themselves as CCMs. Those wishing to acknowledge their past active CCM status in resumes may do so, but must list the years from initial certification to when they lapsed into Inactive status.

Retired Status

Retired CCMs may request that their status be changed to 'retired'. CCMs with a retired status are no longer required to pay the CCM renewal fee and do not need to complete the professional development requirement. Those wishing to acknowledge their past active CCM status in resumes may do so, but must list the years from initial certification to when their status changed to retired.

Reactivation

Reactivation of an Inactive certification can be obtained under the following situations:

1. If the certification has become Inactive due to failure to pay the renewal fee, and has been Inactive for less than three years, active status can be obtained by paying the renewal fee for the inactive year(s) and the current renewal.
2. If the certification has become Inactive because insufficient continuing professional development activities or insufficient documentation had been completed in the required five-year continuing professional development period, and the certification has been Inactive for less than three years, the certification can be reactivated upon completion of sufficient continuing professional development activities in the five year period preceding the request for reactiviation and with the payment of the renewal fee for the inactive year(s) and the current renewal.
3. If the individual has been inactive in the atmospheric, hydrospheric, or related sciences for three or more years or the individual’s certification has been inactive for some other reason for more than three years complete reapplication for certification may be necessary.  Individuals in these circumstances should contact the CCM Board chair for guidance.