Canadian Association of Management Consultants

What Canadian Association of Management Consultants does

The Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CMC-Canada) is a private, nonprofit professional association founded in 1963 and headquartered at 2 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario. It administers the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation—the only internationally recognized certification mark for management consultants, recognized in 49 countries. The organization operates through provincial institutes (CMC-Ontario, CMC-Alberta, CMC-BC) that confer credentials locally, and is a founding member of CMC-Global (formerly ICMCI). CMC-Canada serves approximately 2,000+ active CMC-designated members and has operated for over 60 years fostering professional standards, ethical conduct, and advocacy for the consulting profession in Canada. It is not a technology company; the association operates digital platforms including a member hub, event management system, podcast hosting, and a content/blog hub.

The association's product portfolio centers on the CMC designation, offered through the CMC Executive Program and CMC Foundations Program, supported by certification courses including Essentials of Management Consulting (EMC), Ethical Behaviour: Best Practices of Management Consultants, and Oral Assessment Preparation. Professional development offerings include Generative AI and ChatGPT for Management Consultants, Introduction to ESG Reporting, ISO 20700, and FlipU. CMC-Canada also operates four member programs: the Management Advisory Services (MAS) program, federally funded through NRC IRAP to deliver 40–60 hours of subsidized consulting to Canadian SMEs; the Academic Partner Program with seven partner universities (University of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ottawa, Toronto, Regina, Royal Roads, and College of Northern Canada); the Consulting Firm Partner Program including Big 4 firms KPMG, EY, and MNP; and the Pro Bono Consulting Program, expanded nationally in February 2025 beyond its initial Ontario mandate. Ancillary offerings include the 'Your Expert Advantage' podcast, the 2022 Industry Report (with Nanos Research), a mentorship program launched March 2022, and a Member Benefits Program with affinity discounts from Bell, GoodLife Fitness, Intuit QuickBooks, BMS Insurance, Staples, belairdirect, and Erickson Coaching International.

CMC-Canada's revenue model combines recurring membership dues from 2,000+ members (subscription model), one-time certification and professional development course fees, managed-services administrative revenue from the federally funded MAS program (NRC IRAP, 20+ years, hundreds of SMEs served), and partnership-driven program revenue. Pricing is tiered—industry reports are $75 for members versus $400 for non-members, and QuickBooks subscriptions are offered at 70% off for new member subscribers. The organization is member-funded, governed by a National Board of Directors (chaired by Michael Ennis, FCMC since April 2025), and operates without private equity, venture capital, or parent company ownership. As of May 2025, the association underwent leadership transition with Executive Director Donna Ringrose's departure and elevation of Josée Lemoine to Vice-Chair.

Name

Canadian Association of Management Consultants

Legal name

Canadian Association of Management Consultants

Website

https://cmc-canada.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CMC-Canada is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1963 that administers the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation in Canada, serving 2,000+ management consultants through certification, professional development, and federally-funded SME advisory programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Project, Program & Portfolio Management Certifications (EDAAANAB)

Keywords

• Professional certification services
• Management consulting credentialing
• Professional association services
• Continuing professional development
• Consultant designation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from 2,000+ members provide recurring revenue. Members pay dues to access certification, professional development, networking, and member benefits including insurance programs, affinity discounts, and resources.
2. Industry Reports and Publications: Sale of industry reports such as the 2022 Industry Report ($75 for members, $400 for non-members) and other publications generate revenue.
3. Professional Development Courses: Revenue from certification courses including Essentials of Management Consulting (EMC), Ethical Behaviour, Oral Assessment Preparation, Executive EMC, and professional development offerings like Generative AI and ChatGPT, FlipU, Introduction to ESG Reporting, and ISO 20700.
4. Management Advisory Services Administration: CMC-Canada administers the MAS Program, funded by NRC IRAP, which provides management consulting services to SMEs. While the program is federally funded, administrative oversight generates operational revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CMC-Canada administers the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation, the only internationally recognized certification mark for management consultants (recognized in 49+ countries), and provides certification programs, professional development courses, and member services for individual consultants, consulting firms, SMEs, and academic institutions in Canada. It also operates the federally-funded Management Advisory Services (MAS) Program, the Consulting Firm Partner Program, the Academic Partner Program, and the Pro Bono Consulting Program.

Product overview

CMC-Canada offers a comprehensive suite of professional certification, development, and support programs for management consultants in Canada. The core offering is the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation—the profession's only internationally recognized certification mark. The portfolio includes certification programs (CMC Executive Program, CMC Foundations Program), professional development courses (Generative AI and ChatGPT, ESG Reporting, ISO 20700), the Management Advisory Services (MAS) program for SMEs, the Academic Partner Program for universities, the Consulting Firm Partner Program for large firms, and the Pro Bono Consulting Program for charities. Additional offerings include the CMC-Canada Podcast, Industry Reports, and an extensive Member Benefits Program covering insurance, office solutions, health & travel, and consulting resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Management Advisory Services (MAS): A federally-funded initiative designed to help SMEs in Canada access management consulting services, supported through funding from NRC IRAP.
• Academic Partner Program
• Consulting Firm Partner Program
• Pro Bono Consulting Program

Products and services

• Certified Management Consultant (CMC) Designation The CMC designation is the profession's only international certification mark for management consultants, recognized in over 49 countries, and represents commitment to the highest standards of consulting and adherence to the ethical canons of the profession. It is conferred by provincial Institutes and administered by CMC-Canada for individual management consultants.
• CMC Executive Program Executive-level certification program for experienced management consultants seeking the CMC designation through a tailored pathway for senior practitioners.
• CMC Foundations Program Foundational certification program for consultants beginning their journey toward the CMC designation, providing the entry-level pathway to certification.
• Management Advisory Services (MAS) Program A federally-funded initiative supported through NRC IRAP that provides 40-60 hours of subsidized business management advice and support to Canadian SMEs, delivered by Certified Management Consultants.
• Academic Partner Program Provides academic institutions the opportunity to map their educational requirements to the CMC designation from within current course offerings, allowing students to graduate with a clear path to the designation (partner schools include University of Alberta, University of Saskatchewan, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Royal Roads University, and College of Northern Canada).
• Consulting Firm Partner Program Enables large and mid-sized consulting firms (KPMG, EY Canada, MNP LLP) to pre-approve their consultants for CMC certification readiness, institutionalizing the designation within firm practice.
• Pro Bono Consulting Program Provides high-quality consulting services delivered by Certified Management Consultants to qualifying charitable and non-profit organizations, expanded nationally in February 2025 beyond its initial Ontario mandate.
• Generative AI and ChatGPT for Management Consultants Standalone professional development course teaching management consultants how to leverage generative AI and ChatGPT in their consulting practice, generating CPD points toward annual compliance.
• Introduction to ESG Reporting Standalone professional development course covering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting standards for management consultants.
• ISO 20700 Management Consulting Standards Course Standalone professional development course covering ISO 20700 international management consulting standards.
• Industry Report Annual industry report providing trends, practices, challenges, and outlook for the management consulting industry in Canada, conducted in partnership with Nanos Research and sold to members and non-members at differentiated pricing.
• CMC-Canada Member Insurance Program Exclusive professional and business insurance program for management consultants, provided through partnership with BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. as exclusive broker, with online application, competitive rates, and specialized brokers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40-60 hours of consulting support provided to SMEs through MAS program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered academic, major, core and affinity.

• Edwards School of Business at University of SaskatchewanacademicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2025Academic Partner Program partnership focused on preparing Edwards School of Business Bachelor of Commerce graduates for the CMC designation.
• Alberta School of Business at University of AlbertaacademicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Academic Partner Program preparing University of Alberta MBA graduates for the CMC designation through course mapping.
• KPMG in CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2024Collaboration under the Consulting Firm Partner Program to foster excellence and ethical integrity in management consulting. KPMG consultants can access CMC certification preparation through the partnership.
• EY CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2024Consulting Firm Partner Program enabling EY Canada to pre-approve 30 consultants for CMC certification readiness, raising standards of management consulting excellence.
• College of Northern Canada (CNC)academicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Newest member of Academic Partner Program, reflecting CNC's commitment to professional development and career growth through industry-tailored training.
• University of Ottawa Telfer School of ManagementacademicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2023Enhanced partnership allowing MBA students in the Management Consulting Concentration to graduate with maximum equivalencies towards CMC designation.
• MNP LLP CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2023Large firm partnership allowing MNP to pre-approve consultants for CMC certification readiness as part of raising standards for management consulting in Canada.
• University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and EngineeringacademicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2018Partnership to prepare students within U of T's Master of Engineering (MEng) program for careers in management consulting and CMC designation.
• NRC IRAP (National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally-funded initiative through NRC IRAP supporting the MAS (Management Advisory Services) Program. The program provides 40-60 hours of subsidized management consulting to Canadian SMEs, administered by CMC-Canada with funding from NRC IRAP for over 20 years.
• Erickson Coaching InternationalaffinityGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership offering CMC-Canada members 30% off any Erickson Coaching International enrollment. Erickson has over 75,000 alumni and 40 global partners, providing solution-focused coaching and professional development programs.
• University of Regina Levene Graduate SchoolacademicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU facilitating Levene Graduate School students in achieving the CMC designation through mapped educational requirements.
• Royal Roads UniversityacademicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing pathway to CMC designation for Royal Roads graduates.
• CMC-Global (formerly ICMCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMC-Canada is a founding member of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes, now known as CMC-Global, the global body for management consulting certification.
• YouExecaffinityGTM or Marketing PartnerConsulting resources partner providing members with access to professional slide presentations, business book summaries with audio, and spreadsheet templates (valued at $360 US).
• BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive broker for CMC-Canada Member Insurance Program, providing professional and business insurance coverage. Offers online application, competitive rates, and specialized brokers for members.
• Bell CanadaaffinityGTM or Marketing PartnerTelecommunications partner offering members up to 30% on plans, preferred pricing on phones, and same rates for up to 5 family members.
• Staples Business AdvantageaffinityGTM or Marketing PartnerOffice supplies partner offering approximately 10% savings compared to retail pricing on 535+ commonly used office products.
• Intuit QuickBooksaffinityGTM or Marketing PartnerAccounting software partner offering CMC-Canada members 70% off QuickBooks subscription for new subscribers.
• belairdirectaffinityGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance partner offering exclusive savings on car, home, condo, and travel insurance through group rates and enhanced coverage options.
• GoodLife FitnessaffinityGTM or Marketing PartnerFitness partner offering 25% off memberships with access to 250+ clubs across Canada, plus discounts on car rentals, hotels, and events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• International Coaching Federation (ICF): Global credentialing body for professional coaches with chapter structure and membership benefits; comparable as a professional association offering globally recognized designations and affinity partnerships (ICF actually awards an affiliate partner).

Direct peers

• Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMC USA): US counterpart administering the CMC designation in the United States under the same CMC-Global framework; directly comparable as a national professional association certifying management consultants.
• Association of Management Consulting Firms (AMCF): Industry association for management consulting firms; comparable as a membership body representing consulting professionals, though firm-rather than individual-focused.
• CMC-Global (formerly ICMCI): International umbrella body for management consulting certification, of which CMC-Canada is a founding member; directly comparable as a credentialing authority for management consultants.

Broad incumbents

• Project Management Institute (PMI): Global professional association administering the PMP and other project management certifications; comparable business in operating a large-scale professional certification program with chapters and member benefits.
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI): UK-based chartered body awarding management and leadership credentials (Chartered Manager); comparable in offering recognized professional designations for managers and consultants across a national membership.
• CFA Institute: Global professional association administering the CFA designation; comparable as a large-scale professional credentialing body with member benefits, continuing professional development, and global recognition.

Regional players

• Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD): Canadian national designation body for directors (ICD.D); comparable as a Canadian credentialing authority conferring a nationally and internationally recognized professional designation.
• Canadian Institute of Management (CIM): Canadian chartered management body offering the Chartered Manager (C.I.M.) designation; directly comparable as a Canada-based professional designation body for managers and management practitioners.

Others

• Consulting Engineers of Ontario / Association of Consulting Engineering Companies: Canadian associations administering consulting designations in adjacent professional services (engineering); comparable as a Canadian credentialing membership body for consultants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CMCCanada1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-association-of-management-consultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Association of Management Consultants