1. Tell us about your experience putting together your portfolio for the AL-CIP?
Putting together the AL-CIP portfolio was a personally meaningful and satisfying experience. It gave me the opportunity to pause and reflect on the work I’ve done over the years, and to recognize how those efforts contribute to the field. I especially appreciated that the AL-CIP framework allows for a variety of work products that meet the criteria, it doesn’t have to be a published manuscript to demonstrate leadership and impact. Regardless of the outcome, compiling the portfolio was a valuable moment of professional reflection and growth.
2. Can you provide tips for writing a successful rationale?
My biggest tip is to start by thoroughly reviewing all the guidance on the CBIC website and watching the instructional videos by Jessica Dangles, they were incredibly helpful. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jessica, so hearing her walk through the process felt like getting advice from a trusted colleague.
I created a dedicated folder on my computer to organize my evidence by section. Then, I copied the rationale requirements for each domain into a Word document, which became my working draft. This helped me focus on aligning my rationale directly with the criteria. Once everything was polished, I carefully transferred the content into the AL-CIP application to minimize errors or formatting issues.
3. What advice would you give to someone considering the AL-CIP?
My advice? Do it! If you meet the minimum requirements and are due to recertify anyway, chances are you’ve already been doing the kind of work that qualifies, you just may not have taken the time to reflect on it yet.
Take the process seriously, be honest with yourself, and don’t overthink it. Even if your submission isn’t successful the first time, it’s still a valuable opportunity to grow, reflect, and refine your rationale. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
4. What does earning your AL-CIP mean to you?
When the AL-CIP was released, I felt a strong pull to apply, I’ve dedicated my career to this field, and it felt important to see if my work aligned with this new recognition of advanced leadership.
Earning the AL-CIP is deeply meaningful to me. It affirms that the projects, mentorship, and initiatives I’ve poured myself into over the years truly represent leadership within our profession. I hope my experience encourages others to take that leap, if I can do it, so can you. It’s incredibly satisfying to have that dedication formally recognized.