Key Highlights
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CMRP certification validates skills across reliability, asset management, and leadership in manufacturing.
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Certified professionals boost performance, with 62% of leaders seeing measurable operational gains.
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Employers prefer certified hires—55% are more likely to choose candidates with a CMRP.
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Earning a CMRP supports career growth, with certified pros averaging an 8% salary increase.
The Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional program, or CMRP, is an aptitude test certifying the skills of “maintenance, reliability, and physical asset management.” The test measures a wide spectrum of expertise. The five pillars tested are:
- Business and Management
- Manufacturing Process Reliability
- Equipment Reliability
- Organization and Leadership
- Work Management
The test assesses ability to manage organizational changes, identify reliability and spot equipment failures, and engage with stakeholders effectively.
What does a CMRP do for professionals?
The CMRP is “the only certification program of its kind accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), an organization that accredits the procedures of many standards development organizations (SDOs).
The advantages of gaining your CMRP are three-fold:
● Hiring: According to the Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP), 55% of maintenance and reliability professionals are more likely to hire candidates with a CMRP certification.
● Savings: 62% of organizational leaders reported that hiring a CMRP/SMRP certified professional had a positive impact on operational performance metrics.
● Career Advancement: Professionals with a CMRP reported an average 8% salary increase after earning their certification.
What is the salary of CMRP certification holders in the U.S.?
The salary for those with a CMRP certification ranges based on experience and location factors. The certification does not directly boost salary, although it can be a factor in job promotions or professional development. Anyone from maintenance and reliability engineers, operations managers, to facilities coordinators can earn the CMRP; thus, salaries range.
How to earn the CMRP?
The CMRP aptitude test is administered by the SMRP. The organization offers a library of learning resources, the Body of Knowledge, as well as an online course, the Training Academy.
Applicants have six months after their exam registration to sit for the exam. The exams are held at Pearson VUE test centers. You can find your nearest test center here.
Applicants should expect to be tested on 110 multiple choice questions within 2.5 hours. The exam is administered on a Pearson VUE computer with a provided online calculator.
Upon passing the exam, the electronic certificate can be posted on LinkedIn, email signatures, and included in resumes. The certification is valid for three years. To maintain active certification status, a recertification application must be submitted, including documentation of continuing education and payment of the renewal fee.
About the Author
Maya Schwartz
Maya is a rising junior at Northwestern University, where she studies journalism and environmental engineering, along with a minor in business. She brings experience in technical writing, environmental consulting, and research-driven publishing, with a passion for bridging the gap between technical innovation and accessible communication.