Certified Master Architect (CMA) FAQs
Article
KB0011011

Certified Master Architect (CMA) FAQs

Article metadata.
This article was updated This article has 2160 views.

Certified Master Architect (CMA) Program FAQs

CMA Overview

The CMA program is available to those who have met the program prerequisites, provided a stellar application, and are accepted into the 22-week program. The program involves participating in an immersive kickoff event with guest appearances from ServiceNow executives, live interactive webinars with ServiceNow subject matter experts, a mid-program exclusive product-focused immersion event, assessments, and cohort collaborative activities. The CMA certification is granted to candidates that successfully pass a time-based final board review, where they present and defend their value-based architectural solution and strategy, based on a real-world case study, to a panel of high-level stakeholder personas. 

 

When is the next program?

All dates for the upcoming CMA programs are located on the Expert Programs website

How much does it cost?

The cost of the CMA program is $17,000 USD with no discounts available. Additional costs include travel and accommodation to the kickoff immersion event, which are the responsibility of the candidate. Further details are available on the Expert Programs website.

 

How can I pay for the program?

Payment is due upon acceptance of an offer via credit card or learning credits. No discounts are available for Expert Programs and Impact credits cannot be used to pay for the program.

Can I use learning credits?

Yes. Learning credits must equal the full value of the program, so if you have purchased the learning credits with a discount, this will be reconciled to cover the full value of the program. Additionally, learning credits must not expire before the course is finished. This is the end of week 21 for the CMA program.

We recommend that you do not purchase learning credits to pay for the program until you have an accepted offer.

 

What are the prerequisites?

The prerequisites for the CMA program are as follows:

Experience

  • At least five years of ServiceNow consulting experience
  • Experience as technical lead in more than six large-scale ServiceNow customer implementation engagements
  • Experience in partnering with senior directors, leading technical solutions, and presenting to large audiences

Qualifications

  • Certified Administrator Certification (CSA)
  • Certified Application Developer (CAD)
  • ITSM Certified Implementation Specialist (CIS-ITSM)
  • Two other of the ServiceNow disciplines (CIS in CSM, HR, SecOps, ITOM etc)
  • ITIL v3.0 or v4.0 Foundation (recommended)

Please see the Expert Programs website for further details.

 

I have some prerequisites, can I still enroll/apply?

If you do not have all of the prerequisites, you can still apply; however, having the prerequisites is strongly recommended given the small number of spots in the program. All prerequisites must be completed before the program commences and must remain current and active through to course completion. Upon successfully passing the exam and becoming certified, all prerequisites must remain current as part of the CMA maintenance requirements.

 

How do I apply?

Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the CMA website
  2. Click Apply now

Note: this button only provides you with options for open cohorts. In some cases, no cohorts will be open and are full or the applications have closed.

Each applicant must complete and submit the application form during the eligible application window for their specific region. Candidates must meet the prerequisites, complete the application form, agree to the Terms & Conditions (including potential travel costs), and submit a 2-3 minute video to support their application. Dates are published on the Expert Programs website of when offers can be expected.

Notification of acceptance into the program is sent via email per the schedule on the website. Candidates can check their status at any time by going here.

Candidates may not be enrolled in overlapping CMA and CTA cohorts. 

 

Can I apply to a program out of region?

Yes, however preference is given to those in-region due to the ongoing time commitments of the program (over 3 days a week spanning over 5 months).

 

Why are my certifications not populating in my CMA application?

This is a known issue that we are working to resolve. In the meantime, we can see your certifications in the backend of the system, so please continue with your application. You may also have trouble uploading your video, in which case you may add a link to the video file to a chosen cloud service, and ensure access is granted so that the video can be played by Expert Programs staff.

 

Why didn’t I get selected?

The CMA is a highly sought after and very competitive program, with just a handful of places available for each cohort. We receive between 60-90 applications for each program, and can only accept a handful (between 24-30) of candidates. Each candidate is reviewed critically by our team (a team of 4, each with significant ServiceNow field experience), individually, and then we discuss each again as a group, effectively trying to figure out, based on the individual’s application, their contribution to the cohort.

 

How do I get on a waitlist?

For our CMA program, we make offers to our top candidates. In the rare event that one of those candidates declines the offer, we will contact those next on the ranked list.

 

I have accepted an offer for CMA – what are next steps?

Once payment has been processed, this will confirm your seat in the program. You can check the status of this at any time here

CMA candidates will receive communications from their Delivery Manager to arrange travel for the kickoff event. In the month leading up to kickoff, you will receive an email with access to our learning platform.

Is there travel involved?

Yes, the program kickoff immersion event is mandatory and in-person. It is scheduled within the region of the program and travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the candidate. (Note: Participants will need to obtain any necessary visas to attend these events.)

 

What if I change employers during my cohort?

You must use the same email throughout the course of the program. We cannot change the email associated with your CMA student profile once the CMA program has started. If you need to change your email or merge your accounts after the program has finished, follow these instructions.

 

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation must be completed via submission of a case in the Now Learning Help Center. Notice received less than 14 calendar days prior to the class start date will result in forfeiture of 100% of all training fees paid.

 

What if I need to drop out of a cohort I am enrolled in?

Per the Terms & Conditions, once a program has commenced you forfeit all fees and your student profile is set to withdrawn.

 

I did not pass my Board Review. Can I retake it?

Candidates have a total of four (4) attempts to successfully complete the Board Review. If the first retake of the final Board Review is unsuccessful, the candidates may request two (2) additional retake evaluations at the cost of $2,000 USD per attempt. After the fourth unsuccessful attempt, the candidate must compete the full program to attempt the Board Review again.

 

Alumni

Certified Master Architects have access to the Expert Programs alumni community, which includes discussions, announcements, continuing education events and opportunities, as well as information about the maintenance program. Please notify us if you need to change the account associated with your certification (such as after an account merge due to change in company).

 

CMA Maintenance Program

As an alumni, CMAs enter a professional alumni program and commit to develop themselves further professionally, as well as dedicate time to thought leadership across the ServiceNow ecosystem. In order to maintain their certification, CMA's need to fulfill continuing education and participation requirements across a two-year maintenance period. Re-certification validates the CMA designation for a further two years. Please review the CMA Maintenance Policy for further information.