Membership Grades

There are five grades or levels of personal membership and these are as follows:

• Fellow (FInstCM)
• Member (MInstCM)
• Graduate Member (GradDipCM)
• Associate Member (AMInstCM)
• Student Member

Although there are clear and very specific entry requirements for each grade of membership, the Institute recognises that not all individuals share the same educational or academic background, sector knowledge, level of responsibility or work experience and, as a result, there are a number of different routes to membership.

The following is designed to act as a guide to the expectations of the Membership Committee:

Fellowship (FInstCM)

Fellowship is reserved for Commercial Directors, Contract Directors and Senior Managers.

An ICM Fellow will be a high flyer, at the top of their profession. They will be a team player holding a Board level commercial, business development, marketing or HRD appointment in a major corporate.

Fellows will be noted for their outstanding commercial skills, their excellent negotiating, relationship and influencing skills, their ability to manage contract processes, and their track record for meeting significant commercial targets.

Procurement experience and overseeing large-scale projects will be an essential part of their role.

By virtue of their position, a Fellow will have demonstrated his or her ability to establish successful collaborative relationships with other business leaders in both the public and private sectors.

Member (MInstCM)

A Member is likely to be working as a Commercial Manager, Team Leader, Section Head, Line Manager or Functional Specialist for a public or private sector project-orientated organisation. They will be commercially aware and astute, have excellent listening, negotiating and people skills, be capable of working in a complex environment, and be able to plan and prioritise workloads for themselves and other team members.

Within the workplace, key accountability, knowledge and experience should cover one or more of the following areas: the identification of business opportunities and the establishment and maintenance of commercial income streams; the evaluation, preparation and negotiation of commercial bids, proposals and tenders; the evaluation of commercial risk in line with corporate policy; the provision of commercial advice and support to company personnel; the formulation of commercial strategy; the negotiation and management of contracts and contract terms; sustaining partnering and other relationships; and the implementation of measurement systems for performance and service levels.

Depending on the nature of the Member’s industry and specific responsibilities, they should be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of, and skill in one or more of the following areas: Project Management; Operations Management; Procurement; Bidding; Accounting and Finance; Sales and Marketing; Supply Chain Management; Subcontracting; Training or HRD.

Members will be expected to hold one of the following qualifications:

• A BA, BSc, MSc or MBA in Commercial Management or
• The ICM Graduate Diploma in Commercial Management or
• A business related degree or equivalent level professional qualification

Graduate Membership (GradDipCM)

Graduate Membership is reserved for those who have completed degree level studies and are in employment, but lack the necessary years of practical work experience. The GradDipCM designation indicates that the Member holds a degree level qualification. Graduate Members may apply for full membership when they have completed a three-year qualifying period of relevant work experience.

Associate Membership (AMInstCM)

Associate Membership is available to all those over the age of 21 who are employed in the commercial sector.

The minimum entry requirement for Associate Membership is a degree, an HND level qualification or an ICM Advanced Diploma.

Exceptions: Applications for Associate Membership will be considered from those who can demonstrate that they have a minimum of seven years practical experience in one or more of the areas shown below. (Subject to the nature of the candidate’s employment and their level of experience, the Membership Committee may require the applicant to undertake one or more of the Institute’s CPD modules).

• Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations
• Contract Drafting & Administration
• Commercial Relationship Management
• Negotiating
• Risk Management
• Bidding & Pricing
• Marketing & Sales
• Procurement
• Finance, Accounting or Costing
• Project Management
• Operations Management
• Conflict & Dispute Resolution
• Outsourcing & Subcontracting
• Contract Management
• HRM, Leadership & Team Management
• Purchasing & Supply Chain Management

Special membership arrangements are available for senior lecturers and academics who are involved in the delivery of tuition for business, management or commercial subjects, which directly relate to any commercial management area, skill or topic.

Student Membership

Student Membership is available to any individual, over the age of 18, who is studying for, or preparing to undertake, examinations leading to the award of any ICM qualification.

Any candidate wishing to enter for an ICM examination must be a fully paid-up and registered Student Member at the time they submit their examination entry forms.

ICM Examinations take place four times each year, in March, June, September and December (Republic of Ireland: March, May, September and December).

In order to become a registered Student Member to study ICM courses and programmes, we have provided further information for you here: Further information about Student Membership.

For general enquiries about Student Membership, please complete the contact form detailing your request here: Student Membership General Enquiries.

Or to locate an ICM Approved Teaching Centre near you, please complete the contact form detailing your request here: Student Membership Contact Form.

Membership Application Details: How to Apply for Membership