The Chartered Institute of Management Specialists is a legally registered professional membership organization. Here's a clear, transparent account of our registration, licensing and professional status.
The Chartered Institute of Management Specialists (CIMS) is an Independent Professional Membership Organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and actively licensed in the State of Alaska for professional management training and assessments. We do not teach standard academic theory – we certify real-world execution.
CIMS was founded on a simple, powerful premise: decades of elite leadership, strategic problem-solving, and corporate operational experience are just as valuable as a traditional classroom degree. Through our structured Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework and comprehensive peer assessments, we allow seasoned executives, consultants, and business owners to formalize their years of practical expertise into prestigious, proprietary Chartered Awards and designations.
CIMS is registered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA, under the guidance of Secretary of State Michael G. Adams. This legal standing reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and quality in management education.
The Chartered Institute of Management Specialists (CIMS) is an Independent Professional Membership Organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and maintains an active Business and Professional License in the State of Alaska for management training, assessments, and professional development.
CIMS is a voluntary professional body; it is not an accredited educational institution, college, or university, and it does not issue academic degrees, diplomas, or statutory state licenses. CIMS does not claim to be accredited by any government agency or department.
Our Chartered Awards and designations are proprietary professional memberships based on verified peer experience, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), and specialized management assessments. CIMS holds no government, royal, or statutory charter. Recognition, acceptance, and portability of our designations are entirely at the discretion of individual employers, corporate industries, and regional regulatory bodies.
At CIMS, we uphold high standards in awarding our professional certifications. Every recipient demonstrates knowledge, experience and competence through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or structured assessment.
Every Chartered Award is earned through professional experience or assessment, ensuring it has real value.
Our approach aligns with professional bodies that recognize expertise through RPL and competency-based evaluation.
We are a registered professional body with legal standing, ensuring legitimacy.
The most recent resolution from the CIMS Governing Council, USA.
The Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Management Specialists (CIMS), USA has approved enhancements to the Institute’s Professional Recognition Framework to further strengthen the quality, clarity, and international standing of its professional qualifications and membership pathways.
These enhancements reinforce the Institute’s commitment to competency-based professional assessment, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), independent evaluation, and internationally verifiable digital credentials.
All qualifications, memberships, and professional recognitions previously conferred by the Institute remain valid, retain their full standing, and continue to be recognised in accordance with the policies in force at the time of conferment.
Applicants are encouraged to review the updated qualification pathways, which reflect the Institute’s ongoing commitment to professional excellence, governance, and internationally recognised professional standards.
Effective Date: 7 August 2026 · Approved by Resolution of the Governing Council
Chartered Institute of Management Specialists (CIMS), USA
Have a question about our registration, licensing, or how our Chartered Awards work? We're happy to walk you through it.
