As many of you know, 2003 marked the first year that Certification Maintenance applications were due. APICS has delayed the suspension process for the 2003 and 2004 candidates because there has been some confusion surrounding the deadlines and requirements. However, APICS is preparing to begin the suspension process for those CPIMs and CFPIMs with 2003 and 2004 deadlines who have not yet met the Certification Maintenance program requirements. I am writing to provide you with information on an amnesty period, the suspension schedule, and how chapters can help to support Certification Maintenance candidates.

Amnesty Period
Because of the apparent confusion surrounding the first two years of maintenance application deadlines and APICS' desire to avoid suspending the credentials of individuals who may have misinterpreted the deadline information, an amnesty period for individuals due to apply in 2003 and 2004 has been established.

The amnesty period is in effect through December 31, 2004, and offers 2003 and 2004 candidates an additional opportunity to apply for maintenance without having to earn the additional professional development points or to face suspension.

Candidates originally due in 2003 and 2004 may submit their applications, professional development journals, and processing fees to APICS before December 31, 2004, to maintain their certified status. Candidates can apply with the original 75 CPIM or 100 CFPIM professional development points through December. As of January 1, 2005, maintenance candidates originally due to apply in 2003 or 2004 will be required to accumulate the additional 15 CPIM and 20 CFPIM points to reinstate certification status. Applying late will not alter an individual's original maintenance cycle. For example, if a candidate originally due to apply for maintenance in July 2003 applies in November 2004, his or her certification status will be maintained and the next certification cycle will still end in July 2008, five years after the original due date, rather than in November 2009.

Deadlines for applications in 2005 and beyond will not be extended. The five-year cycle for candidates originally certified in 1999 and beyond is much more understandable and was advertised in the registration bulletins for all CPIM candidates. APICS believes that there should not be any confusion on the part of these individuals and extensions and amnesty periods will not be necessary.

Reinstating Certification
An individual may reinstate his or her certification status by either,

§       Acquiring an additional 15 CPIM points or 20 CFPIM points per year, over the core 75 or 100 points, for each year that lapses past his or her certification maintenance deadline OR

§       Completing the full CPIM examination process or the full CFPIM process, which includes passing all required CPIM exams and submitting a CFPIM application.