The Importance of CCM Certification

Christopher Meherin

Department of Geosciences

San Francisco State University

Often times situations arise where people need to seek the advice, counsel, or professional expertise of others. You may think to yourself, how does one assess the competency of an individual to determine if this person has the qualifications that he or she claims? A college degree from a major university may be one way, but that does not guarantee the person is capable of demonstrating adequate skill in his or her profession. For example, a contractor is hired to do some work on a house. The contractor becomes injured on the job and claims that “strong winds” knocked him or her off a ladder causing serious injury. The contractor decides to sue the manufacture of the ladder claiming that the ladder was faulty. The opposing attorney may have to seek advice from another party to truly determine whether or not “strong winds” was really an issue the day of the accident. The attorney decides to appeal to the knowledge of an independent source, someone who knows something about the winds. Your first thought might be someone who studies winds or more generally someone who studies weather, a meteorologist perhaps, but not just any meteorologist, a certified consulting meteorologist (CCM). Individuals who wish to consult meteorology should seek certification through the American Meteorological Society (AMS). CCM status ensures that the individual’s work has been subjected to pier review and that the AMS has reviewed the applicant’s competency level and certifies that the individual is qualified to consult.

As a consulting meteorologist, it is important that my clients understand that my academic background is not the only basis for which I consider myself qualified to consult. When people seek my expertise, I want them to feel confident that they chose a person that can adequately, professionally, and skillfully provide them with the information they need. Therefore, it is to my own benefit that I prove to potential clients that I am qualified and competent enough to support the claims I have made upon myself to consult. As a result, I have chosen to seek CCM certification to prove that I have achieved a high level of specialized academic advancement and scientific skill.

I know many people who practice consulting meteorology who are not CCM certified even though they claim to have the academic background to support their level of competence. Does that mean they may consider themselves exempt from the certification process? In my professional opinion, these individuals may possess the level of competency necessary to consult; however, those initials following your name, CCM, not only capture the attention of a potential client, but they specify that you are a dedicated, hardworking, knowledgeable scientist in your specific field and that you have subjected your alleged abilities to the fullest extent of the consulting practice.

CCM certification not only shows individual dedication and prestige, it proves that you have been willing to work hard and make the necessary sacrifices to better ones self and get ahead of the next person. Even though certification is not required, it shows the validity of intellectual honesty and that ones commitment to the pursuit of a successful career may better suit those who seek the professional advice of others.