How to Choose an ACMP® QEP™ Provider: Eight Questions

Oct 16 / Marc-André Rochefort

Version française : Choisir un organisme QEP™ ACMP® : huit questions à poser

By Marc-André Rochefort, Eng., MBA, CCMP®, MCMP™, Prosci® certified, founder of Leanova Academy, an ACMP® Qualified Education Provider™.
Last reviewed: October 2026

Disclosure: Leanova Academy sells CCMP® training, so we have a stake in this topic. ACMP® rules below link to official sources so you can check them yourself.

Key takeaways

  • Before paying a QEP™ provider, check eight things. Start with the course code, the directory listing, the accredited hours and the access window, then ask about unfinished courses, exam prep, languages and refunds.
  • Every ACMP® QEP™ course has a code, such as Q000607, tied to the exact course version that was accredited.
  • ACMP®'s QEP™ Registry is the primary source for accreditation status, not a badge or logo on a provider's website.
  • The CCMP® application requires 21 hours of change management training, and some providers sell shorter modules that have to be combined to reach that total.
  • A non-QEP™ course stays eligible for the CCMP® application, but ACMP® reviews its content and credits only the portion aligned with the Standard's five process groups.
  • Leanova Academy offers two QEP™ accredited versions of its 21-hour CCMP® exam prep course: self-paced under code Q000607 and live virtual classroom under code Q000609.

An ACMP® Qualified Education Provider™ has had its course assessed against the ACMP® Standard in advance. Its hours then count toward the CCMP® application without a separate content review, but only if the course you book is the one that was accredited. Before paying, check the course code in the ACMP® directory, then confirm the accredited hours, the access window, exam prep, languages and refund terms. A non-QEP™ course is still eligible, but ACMP® reviews it directly and credits only the part that matches the Standard's five process groups.

1. What is the course code, and does it match what you're buying?

Every ACMP® QEP™ course has a code, something like Q000607, tied to one specific course as it was submitted for accreditation. If a provider advertises "ACMP® accredited training" and never mentions a code, ask for it before you pay anything. The code is how ACMP® checks, and how you check, that you're enrolling in the approved course. Without it, you could end up in a different or updated version that hasn't been through the same review.

2. Can you find it in the ACMP® directory?

ACMP® runs the QEP™ Registry, a search tool launched in May 2024 that lists qualified courses and lets you filter by language, format, hours and price. Before booking, look up the provider and the course there. Don't rely on a badge or logo on the provider's website, since anyone can add a logo to a page, whatever their current accreditation status. Checking takes a few minutes, and afterward you know the hours you're paying for will be accepted.

3. How many hours does the accreditation actually cover?

The CCMP® application requires 21 hours of change management training. The full list of CCMP® certification requirements also covers experience and fees. Some courses are accredited for exactly 21 hours, some for more and some for less. Some providers also sell shorter modules you'd need to stack to reach the full requirement. So compare the accredited hour count with what the application needs. A course's length in weeks or its number of video lessons tells you very little, because neither converts neatly into accredited training hours.

4. What is the access window, and does it fit your schedule?

Self-paced courses come with a set access period to get through the material, often around a year. Instructor-led and cohort formats follow a fixed calendar. Hold the access window up against your real timeline. If you're still pulling together your experience documentation and you're months away from applying, a short access window is the wrong fit. If you plan to apply within weeks, the structure of a cohort may suit you better.

5. What happens if you don't finish?

Ask the question outright, because policies vary and it matters more than it seems on the day you sign up. Some providers extend access on request. Others charge a renewal fee, and some simply close the course when the window ends, however far you've got. A provider that can't answer this clearly before you've paid is telling you something about how they'll treat you once you have.

6. Does it include exam preparation, or only the 21 hours of content?

A QEP™ course meets the education requirement, but the CCMP® exam is a separate hurdle. It means 150 multiple-choice questions over three hours, testing whether you can apply the Standard to scenarios under time pressure. Some accredited courses are built only to deliver the required content efficiently, with no dedicated exam practice. Others add practice questions, timed mock exams or exam-specific coaching. Both are legitimate, as long as you know which one you're buying. A candidate who assumes exam prep is included and finds out it isn't loses time they'd set aside for something else. If exam prep matters to you, look for a practice exam with a full rationale for every answer, such as Leanova's 450-question CCMP® practice exam (US$95).

7. What languages is it actually delivered in?

If English isn't your working language, check that the course content itself is available in your language, not only the sales page. Some providers put a translated landing page in front of English-only material, and that isn't bilingual delivery. It affects how well you understand the content. Later on, it also affects how easily you match the vocabulary you learned to the Standard's own terms when you write your application.

8. What is the refund policy before you commit?

Refund terms for online training vary a lot. Some providers refund nothing once you've accessed the course, while others give you a set window to cancel. Read the policy before you pay, not after you've decided the course isn't for you. It's usually published and worth reading in full, because standard e-commerce terms don't necessarily apply to accredited professional training. The course fee is also only one line in what the CCMP® certification costs overall.

What if the course is not QEP™ accredited?

A non-QEP™ course is still eligible for the CCMP® application, but the procedure changes. The hours don't count automatically. You submit the course's objectives, outline, description, duration and interactive elements, and ACMP® assesses the content itself. Only the part that aligns with the Standard's five process groups gets credited. A course covering broader leadership or management topics can therefore come back with a fraction of its advertised hours. We wouldn't rule out non-QEP™ training on that basis, especially if it covers material you need for other reasons. Just plan extra time for the review and accept some uncertainty about the final hour count. The 21-Hour ACMP® Education Requirement: Which Training Qualifies goes into this distinction in more detail.

How do you compare formats once the list is short?

Once you've checked accreditation, hours, access and refunds for a shortlist of providers, what's usually left is format. You'll choose between self-paced study and instructor-led, cohort-based delivery. Self-Paced or Instructor-Led CCMP® Training: How to Choose covers that trade-off, and it applies whichever provider you pick.

Here is how Leanova Academy answers its own eight questions:

  • Course codes: the 21-hour self-paced course (US$595) carries ACMP® course code Q000607, and the live virtual version (US$795) carries Q000609. Check both in the QEP™ Registry.
  • Hours: 21 accredited hours, the full CCMP® education requirement in one course.
  • Access: one year, extended on request at no charge. The live version (US$795) also includes the self-paced course, the 450-question practice exam and the 10-hour MCMP™ course.
  • Exam prep: included with the live version, or sold separately as a 450-question practice exam (US$95), or together with the self-paced course in the CCMP® Confidence Bundle (US$695) with a 5-hour AI change management certification.
  • Languages: English, plus French audio (US$795) and Spanish audio (US$595) under code Q000607, with course materials in English, and live in French (US$995) under code Q000609. The CCMP® exam itself is offered only in English.
  • Refunds: 100% within 14 days of purchase.

Whoever you go with, put these eight questions to them before you pay, because that's what protects your application.

This article is also available in French: Choisir un organisme QEP™ ACMP® : huit questions à poser.

Sources, checked October 2026: ACMP® QEP™ courses and Registry, Registry launch, training FAQ and CCMP® FAQ (exam language). Accreditation status changes, so verify any provider and course code in the QEP™ Registry before enrolling. Leanova prices and policies are current and may change. ACMP®, CCMP®, MCMP™ and QEP™ are trademarks of the Association of Change Management Professionals.